TFD Volunteer Day | Mental Health Kits

As we prepare for Mental Health Awareness Month, we had an amazing volunteer night where we built community while packing stickers, assembling mental health kits, and sharing a meal together. In total, we packed 500 “Bag of Big Feelings!” We usually need two volunteer days to pack all 500 Mental Health Kits, but we had a dream team of volunteers who worked so hard to get all the kits packed and ready for our youth!

Our volunteer day has a packing station to put the stickers together, a station for packing the “Bag of Big Feelings”, and volunteers who made this day successful and fun!

Painting Pots with Yekseny | Art Therapy

Our Painting Pots workshop, led by Yekseny, centered on reflecting on growth while painting pots. Yekseny talked about how spring is a reminder of growth and noticing change over time. Our community members painted terracotta pots as a personal expression of where they are in life. They used the process to reflect on accomplishments and goals for continued growth this year. Each potted plant was selected, connecting intention to a physical action, and group conversations allowed everyone to share the meaning behind their designs and choices. Overall, it created a grounding space for creativity, reflection, and community connection.

Japanese Doll Making with Yekseny | Art Therapy

For our Art Therapy, we invited community members into a gentle space of reflection, creativity, and cultural appreciation. Yekseny Guerreo facilitated the workshop and began with a check‑in, asking everyone to share their sunny spot, rainbow, and rainy moment from the week.

This grounding ritual helped us reconnect with ourselves and each other before moving into the creative process. After revisiting our group norms, we shifted into the history of Kokeshi dolls. Originating in the Edo Period of Japan, these wooden dolls were crafted by Kijishi, and a group of Japanese artisans skilled in lathe work whose decorative styles were unique to each maker. Traditionally used as children’s toys, Kokeshi dolls also carry symbolic meaning like wishes for good luck, hopes for a bountiful harvest, and appreciation for craftsmanship and culture. With this history in mind, we invited participants to create their own Kokeshi-inspired dolls rooted in personal intention. Everyone took a few minutes to reflect on what they hope or wish for in their lives right now, letting those thoughts guide their color choices, facial expressions, and symbolic designs. Some dolls leaned traditional, others resembled loved ones, and some became small self‑portraits.

Community members went over what they were wishing for, where they planned to keep their doll, and of course, the names they chose for their creations. We closed the session with space for final questions and a brief preview of our next activity. Everyone left carrying a hand‑painted doll, a small and bright reminder of intention, optimism, and the power of creating something with care.

Legal Wellness Clinic at TFD

We recently welcomed the Legal Wellness Clinic back to The Firehouse Dream for another Legal-Aid Wellness Check-Up for the community. Just like the first visit, community members had the chance to sit down with a licensed attorney and walk through a series of questions covering key areas like housing, immigration, family matters, employment, debt and credit, and future and safety planning. These conversations offered space for clarity, reassurance, and help with next steps. After each check-up, our community members received a Legal Wellness Plan outlining any areas of concern and resources to help them move forward.

We are grateful for this continued partnership and for the opportunity to bring accessible legal support directly to our community.

When Parents Lean In: Practical Sexual Awareness for Parents at Every Stage

This workshop, led by La Toya Lee, was an intentional and reflective one. It wasn't just about listening, but also about sharing what we already knew and learning from each other in a safe space. The conversations focused on how adults approach topics like safety, boundaries, and sexual awareness with children, while also looking at different signs and behaviors that might show when a child needs support.

During the workshop, a moment that stood out to everyone was the self-reflection activity where we used mirrors. It was a simple but powerful reminder to pause and think about how we show up and the role we play in helping create safer environments for youth.