Self Esteem in Clay

We gathered for a workshop called Self-Esteem in Clay, led by Yekseny Guerrero. Tables were set with clay and tools ready for sculpting. Yekseny began by introducing the workshop and inviting everyone to reflect on the connection between creativity and self-esteem. As the group settled in, each participant took a moment to introduce themselves.

With clay in hand, participants shaped and molded their ideas into form. The process wasn’t just about technique - it was about expression. When everyone was done, we went around and everyone shared what they had made and why. These reflections led to further conversations about emotions, identity, and the way we express ourselves.

A heartfelt thank you to all who joined us. Your openness, honesty, and willingness to share what each of you are going through made the workshop a meaningful one.

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

PMSA MHC | Grief Workshop Pt 1 & 2

At PMSA’s Mental Health Club, we welcomed Kaitlyn Macias, who is part of the HAP Foundation. She shared valuable resources on grieving and coping. She guided the students in identifying ways to support themselves and others through loss. Additionally, offering tools and sources of support for navigating difficult emotions. As part of the session, students created grief jars that were about someone they had lost. They wrote down the memories they shared with them and placed it in the grief jars.

Mental Health Giveaway | Walther Christian Academy

We are excited to share that we had another giveaway of our Mental Health Kits at Walther Christian Academy. 74 Mental Health kits were given away, and the students were happy to look into their kits and see all the items. Other students came up asking about our programming, our workshops, and how they could get involved.

Thank you to Walther Christian Academy for having us and allowing us to give out more Mental Health Kits for the youth!

Community Yoga

This week’s community session was yoga, led by Daisa Key, a yoga instructor who previously led multiple yoga sessions in our community. Dasia guided the participants through a mix of stretches and grounding poses. There were also quiet moments on the mats, with calming music playing in the background. Daisa gave everyone space to pause and lie back.

Big thanks to Dasia for holding the space with so much care and being attentive to each participant.

Mental Health Giveaway | PMSA

We had another giveaway but this time at Proviso Mathematics & Science Academy (PMSA). We are excited to share that we were able to give away 119 Mental Health Kits to the students at PMSA! It was great to see the students engaging and the excitement about seeing The Firehouse Dream team. We also got to share information and our upcoming workshops and programming. We also are thankful for our volunteers for helping out and West40 for being a part of the giveaway!

Thank you PMSA for having us - we are grateful for the chance to connect and share resources.