Calm Room Makeover at Proviso East

The Calm Room is a space where the youth can take a moment for themselves, so we wanted to transform it so the students of Proviso East can come and take this space to reflect or take a break.

During the three days we spent as a team at the school, we were able to transform the Calm Room with new and comfy furniture and new colors painted all throughout the room. Yekseny, who painted the mural, filled the entire wall with the rich, beautiful colors of browns, blues, and greens, and with the detailed designs that are painted over an entire wall. Seats were placed by it, to admire and hopefully bring inspiration to the students who see it. The room was also filled with comfy seating throughout the space, as well as a corner with sofas and games. The Calm Room consists of vibrant colors of green and yellow all over, these colors bring a sense of calmness but also uplifting feelings.

Check out the images to see the process from the beginning and how each day was filled with new and exciting things that filled up this space. Thank you to our partners, Loyola University Chicago, Niehoff School of Nursing’s School-Based Health Center, Yekseny Guerrero (mural artist), and Mylene Rapasado (interior designer) for making this dream come true!

2nd Annual Black and Brown Art Convening

Our 2nd Annual Black and Brown Solidarity was successful! We had over a hundred people attend the event to experience cultural food, dancing, music, and more!

The event opened with a moving spoken word performance by one of the youth on the B&B committee, Itzel. Right after was the reveal of the mural painting, made by Gabe, Amie, and Yekseny. The Mural, titled "Under the Same Sun," features vibrant colors of reds, oranges, and yellows. The imagery - hands formed in fists, raised in unity. This mural is to show that when we come together as a community, from different backgrounds, we come together as one and become stronger. Additionally, there was more artwork that ranged from self-drawn portraits and paintings. Thirteen youth artists from Proviso Township submitted their work! Additionally, we had various foods and desserts from Black and Brown cultures for guests to enjoy while appreciating the art. Tacos Regio also provided delicious tacos for event attendees! After the mural reveal, the B&B youth committee introduced community circles, explaining the importance of community healing. Soon, four circles formed at every table, with community members of different ethnicities, generations, and towns. To end the night of performances, dancers blended a variety of music styles, transforming them into dances that combined hip-hop, salsa, reggaeton, and more. The night was filled with so many aspects of culture; it was beautiful to see them all put together.

The committee also invited various non-profits to share their mission and services. Yosoyella, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting women’s emotional and mental healing. People also had fun at the Picture Perfect Photobooth, led by Radiant Vessels Community Services, capturing memories to take home in photo strips. The event wrapped up with an exciting raffle, where we announced the winners of Cubs tickets, a birthday party at Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor, a slow cooker, and others.

A heartfelt thank you to the youth committee for their dedication to this event, and we are also grateful for all our guests who came and showed their support!

Circle Training Part 2

For our Circle Training Part 2, we continued our discussion about Restorative Justice and what it looks like to us. Understanding and finding ways to tend to conflict and our relationships. This is important because it is a way to find an understanding on both sides, a way both can heal. We engaged in an activity with sticky notes by writing down times we have felt hurt, but also considering times when we ourselves caused hurt.

Staff Retreat | 2025

Our team came together for a refreshing and productive staff retreat, building connection and collaboration. Through brainstorming and thoughtful discussions, we strengthened our vision and goals for what we aim to do for both The Firehouse Dream and Maywood. We are excited for what comes next and what it could look like for The Firehouse Dream!

Black & Brown Solidarity | Continuation of the Mural Painting

In this continuation of our mural project, we witness the artwork truly come together - gaining a deeper understanding of what is being presented visually. This mural painting serves as a reminder, upon completion and presentation, that there is a community comprising individuals from diverse ethnicities and races. See the full completed mural June 5, 6PM-8PM!