As the GVPI Director, Ms. Lemon is responsible for coordinating all efforts between community groups and law enforcement to prevent gun violence by addressing trauma, lack of services, and other root causes. Ms. Lemon will not only lead the State’s Attorney’s Office’s day-to-day prevention efforts but will also develop long-term safety strategies by enhancing victim support, building data infrastructure, and securing additional private and government funding.  

“As the GVPI Director, I am most excited to be part of developing a program that emphasizes collaboration throughout the community to build the necessary preventative measures. By working together, we can reduce gun violence and make Lake County a safer place for all community members,” Ms. Lemon said.  

Ms. Lemon says one of her goals as the GVPI Director is to become familiar with statistical prevalence of gun violence to better understand trends in Lake County and to allocate resources to under-served areas of the county. She also plans to collaborate many community-based organizations that have the same mission as the GVPI.  

“Tierra will be an amazing leader who will bring a comprehensive approach to ending gun violence. We have neglected the long-term causes of violence for too long. We should have developed a strategic plan many years ago to prevent violence. I am so proud of our county board for funding this proposal we first made in 2021. Our state and federal legislators have assisted us in allocating even more funds for this critical work,” State’s Attorney Rinehart said after the board meeting today.  

Tierra Lemon is a Licensed Master Level Social Worker who earned her degree at Columbia College in New York. She was most recently part of The University of Chicago’s Violence Recovery Program and worked as a Victim Recovery Specialist. In addition, Ms. Lemon has years of experience advocating for and working with those who have been impacted by violence and the criminal justice system. 

In 2021, Ms. Lemon founded and serves as the chair of The Therapeutic Trap, Inc., a non-profit aimed to create a safe space for adolescents and young adults who have experienced traumatic events by using creativity as a healing technique.  

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office is excited about having someone who is as passionate and experienced as Ms. Lemon as the GVPI Director.