Our Story:
The Little Resource Center (TLRC) is a family and parenting resource center located in Carbondale, IL. We serve families, parents, and caregivers in the Southern Illinois region through material, educational, and emotional support. We also provide case management and health and social service referrals free of charge.
We are a non-political and non-religious organization and believe that families are their own best experts. We work hard to identify service gaps and respond to the needs of the communities we serve thorugh evidence-based and trauma-informed programs.
TLRC Carbondale was orignally part of a local network of free diaper cabinets (similar to “free little libraries”) but the need we saw in the Carbondale region far surpassed our expectation. Since late 2023, we’ve grown rapidly and are now an autonomous program with a full line of social and educational services. Our work aims at addressing disparities in Black and rural maternal health outcomes, perinatal mental health, rural food deserts, and reproductive choice.
Who We Are:
Chastity Mays
MS. Ed. (CD)DONA
Chastity has held formal doula certification for almost 5 years and has been working in family service and peer-support spaces for over 15 years.
Among the many committees and councils she is a part of, Chastity leads the Carbondale Cabinet for Children and Youth, and sits on the boards of the Carbondale Public Library and the Birth Equity committee for the Southern Illinois Healthcare Labor and Delivery Unit.
Chastity is routinely involved in state and regional political efforts around Black Maternal Health and frequently presents her expertise and experience in public forums, conferences, and through legislative testimony.
Claire Hughes
MSW, LSW
Claire is a licensed social worker who completed graduate fellowship training in Trauma-Informed Behavioral Health at SIU School of Medicine. Claire also holds formal training in Perinatal Mental Health from Postpartum Support International. She has been working in Maternal and Child healthcare and social service spaces for over 10 years.
Claire sits on the board of the Illinois Rural Health Association, the strategic planning committee of the Illinois Public Health Association, and the Workforce Development Committee for the National Association of Community Health Workers.
Yahaira “Yaya” Vargas
BA, MPA
Yaya brings a versatile passion for community outreach, event planning, and public administration to TLRC team. She holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), where she was a Ronald E. McNair Scholar and a Celia Howard Fellow.
Inspired by the resilience and humanitarian spirit of her rural Puerto Rican upbringing, Yaya is committed to serving her community. With years of case management and social service experience, Yaya’s talents allows TLRC to provide language services for Spanish-speaking families.
Drawing on her diverse interests in social sciences, arts, culture, language, and economic development, she currently serves as the Executive Director of SICABE! Southern Illinois Culture and Art in Bilingual Education.