Mentorship 2.0 | A Panel Discussion

Last week’s mentorship session, Jasmine invited two photographers, Adri and Jamilla, to join our group and share the stories that shaped their careers. Both photographers started by introducing themselves and explaining how they started. Listening to them talk about their stories, the type of work they do, and personal experiences is a reminder that everyone’s creative path is different. They showed their websites and the work they have done; one photographer focused on family portraits, graduation portraits, corporate, and maternity photos. The other focused more on maternity, newborn, and family portraits.

The session ended with an open Q&A, and answered any questions the mentees had. Overall, this mentorship session went over pricing, confidence, networking, and experiences. Bringing in photographers who have walked this path for years was a great opportunity for the mentees to connect. We are grateful to Adri and Jamilla for sharing their time, their stories, and their knowledge.

Mentorship 2.0 | Collaborative Project

For this week’s Mentorship session, our mentees gathered to work on their collective project, a magazine dedicated to Proviso and Maywood. Each mentee is highlighting different things about Proviso. Mya is photographing families, capturing the heart of Proviso through the people of the community. Saffron is photographing local businesses, spotlighting the owners who keep the community moving. Melina is capturing events and highlighting the history, putting together past and present, honoring the stories held in Proviso. Haley is documenting sports, the athletes, teams, and traditions that energize the neighborhood. Ethan is designing the layout of the magazine, bringing every piece together visually, and finalizing the magazine.

The mentees had a quick check-in with Jasmine on their project progress, then moved on to giving each other feedback and updates. We also spent time interviewing the mentees, giving them time to speak about their experience and things that they have learned so far during mentorship. As it gets closer to finalizing their project, the mentees are learning how to collaborate, communicate, and create with purpose.

Legal Wellness Clinic at TFD

This month, we were grateful to host with the Legal Wellness Clinic team for their very first Legal Check-Up at The Firehouse Dream. Community members had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with a licensed attorney and walk through a series of questions covering key areas such as immigration, housing, family matters, employment and public benefits, debt and credit, and future/safety planning.

After each conversation, participants received a personalized Legal Wellness Plan outlining any areas of concern and next steps they could take. It was a meaningful way to offer clarity, support, and peace of mind to our community.

We’re thankful to the Legal Wellness Clinic team for partnering with us and for their commitment to making legal guidance more accessible to our community.

Tequihua Self-defense at TFD

Last week, we hosted a Tequihua self‑defense workshop led by our facilitator, Valerie Sanchez, welcoming a space dedicated to empowering women through practical self-defense and martial arts. We brought together ten community members, including four moms who brought their daughters to learn alongside them. The room filled quickly with curiosity, laughter, and a shared commitment to learning how to stay safe and confident.

We opened with stretches and introductions. Adults shared their names and what they do, while the kids lit up as they told us who they hope to become when they grow up. From there, Valerie guided everyone into a proper fighting stance and introduced basic techniques called cookies and turtle stance.

Participants paired up to practice what they learned, cheering each other on as they tried new movements. Valerie then led a round of punches and kicks, giving everyone a chance to build strength and trust in their bodies. We wrapped up the workshop with a circle of team high‑fives!

Pocket Hugs workshop with Yekseny | Art Therapy

The Pocket Hugs Workshop, led by our Art Therapist, Yekseny Guerrero, was a fun and creative workshop that fell under the theme of February, the month of love! The atmosphere was calm, safe, and comfortable for the community. Yekseny encouraged everyone to slow down, be present, and create with intention. Participants were given time to reflect on who they wanted to show appreciation for and share their pocket hug. The workshop highlighted the importance of practicing gratitude in everyday life and showed how love and care can be shared in a simple but meaningful way.