The HAP Foundation | Grief workshop at TFD

The HAP Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides guidance, direction, and grief support for all ages.

The Grief Workshop, held at The Firehouse Dream with the HAP Foundation, gave community members a safe space to talk about grief, learn about the different stages, and understand the emotions one may be feeling during these stages. Participants shared, reflected, and created memory jars as a way to cope and honor their people and moments in their lives. They also learned that grief can show up in many different ways, and everyone was encouraged to honor their own experiences. One of the Community Health Workers, Kaitlyn Macias, also shared resources, including information about their grief circles to support our community.

Dream Chasers United | Fashion Show

Dream Chasers United invited us to photograph a fashion show runway for the students they have been working with at Washington Dual Language Academy. Each student was given the opportunity to design their own t‑shirt. This fashion show was a way to showcase their own identity, creativity, and voice. Each shirt reflected something personal, like the colors they love, messages they stand by, symbols that represent who they want to become. 

As they walked the runway, each student also shared an original “I Am” poem, offering a glimpse into their stories, strengths, and dreams. These poems added depth and heart to the show, reminding us that fashion isn’t just about what we wear—it’s about how we express ourselves and the truths we carry.

To honor their hard work, every participant received a Certificate of Completion, recognizing not only their creativity but also their courage to show up, share, and shine. The room was filled with applause, smiles, and genuine admiration from staff and peers. Moments like these remind us why youth-centered spaces matter and when students are given the tools and freedom to create, they rise with confidence, imagination, and community.

We are so proud of each student who participated in the fashion show, and thank you, Dream Chasers United, for having us there to capture these proud moments. 

Art Therapy: Affirmation Mirror

To welcome the new year with intention, we hosted a Creative Affirmation Mirrors workshop led by our facilitator, Yekseny Guerrero. We created a space for community members to set positive affirmations and reflect on the energy they want to carry into the year ahead.

Throughout the session, participants shared, connected, and created through thoughtful, reflective conversations. Using colors, designs, beads, and meaningful words, everyone crafted their own affirmation mirror. After, we circled up and invited everyone to share the meaning behind their mirrors. Every mirror held a story, and intention for what was put on their own mirror. 

Youth Dreaming Session at Maywood Public Library

We invited our youth to share their thoughts and ideas, as we are working towards co-creating a new design for the teen space at The Maywood Public Library.

Both our Community Engagement Coordinator, Jess, and our Program Assistant, Itzel, opened the session with a community circle. Everyone wrote down their names, then shared them along with a word that started with the same first letter of their name to describe how they want others to feel when they walk into a shared space. We followed with a name-memory game that helped break the ice as well. Then, we shifted to discussing the teen space. The youth split into three small groups to brainstorm ideas and share with one another what they wanted. Each group explored questions like:

• What makes a space feel welcoming?

• What colors and furniture would you like to see?

• What other things would make the space feel more comfortable?

After sharing, everyone came back together, and each team presented their ideas. Some shared about wanting bean bags, games, and others said snacks and fuzzy carpets. It was great to see the youth excited about participating and sharing their vision. Thank you to the Maywood Public Library for providing a space to connect with our youth.

Winter/Spring Youth Programming Showcase

Thank you to the Village of Maywood for putting together the Youth Programming Showcase. We had such a fun time connecting with our neighbors as we shared our programs and initiatives. We shared resources that are available, from our one-on-one talk therapy program, our financial counseling, art therapy at the firehouse and more. We also shared about volunteer opportunities coming up for our Mental Health Kit giveaway at our local schools.

It was so great to meet new neighbors and see familiar faces, and to get the chance to connect and learn more about the different types of resources Maywood has to offer for our community!