This time in the Calm Room, we invited students to slow down and shape something with their hands. We brought different colors of clay, tools, and open space - letting creativity lead the way. It was fun to see the students come up and make their clay creations come to life! These moments remind us that creativity does not always need words, but you can also create something in different ways.
The Calm Room Space is now complete - and it’s everything we hoped it would be. A space where the students of Proviso East High School can step away and return to themselves.
The Calm Room is an alternative space to the lunch room. It allows for a less-stimulating environment. A place where students can connect, work on school, or spend some time relaxing before their next period. Jasmine, Creative Director, Mylene (Interior Designer), and Yekseny (Muralist) took this into mind while designing the space. After a little but more than a year, their work has finally come to fruition.
When first arriving at the space and seeing the empty walls, we couldn’t wait to start the transformation of the Calm Room. It was exciting when the first brushstroke of color went on the wall, and from then the transformation began! Even the choice of colors was intentionally chosen to evoke tranquility. Adding the last touches of decor really pulled it all together. There are multiple corners of the room with couches, desks, and comfy floor seating. The space is embellished with plants, patterns, paintings, and even games to bring in the purpose of an emotional reset. It is truly amazing to see everything come together.
We are grateful for our contributors; your vision and partnership made this possible. Our Creative Director, Jasmine Lopez, Interior Designer, Mylene Raspado, the muralist, Yekseny Guerrero, Proviso East High School, Loyola School-Based Health Center, and Transforming Communities Initiative. Everyone’s involvement in the Calm Room - we thank you. You didn’t just help with the transformation, but you made a safe space.
During our Circle Keepers Hangout, we started off by conversing over food and catching up with one another. As we started to make our way to gather around, we lightened the mood by playing some games, a way that we can build trust and our relationships with each other. After, we added new pieces to the circle and each of us went around explaining the meaning and what that piece meant to us. As we continued to go around we also disussed how we use this outside of TFD and in our daily life.
It was great to be a part of District 89’s Annual Back-to-School Picnic! We were able to get the chance to share information about The Firehouse Dream and how students can get involved with our upcoming programming at our Proviso East Calm Room and PMSA Health Club. In addition, The Firehouse Dream has workshops that the entire family can attend! We gave away resources with additional information and displayed the mental health kits for our community to see. Lastly, we shared our upcoming Mental Health Kit giveaways at Proviso schools. Families are invited to help us pack Kits in preparation for our giveaway on September 10th, 6 PM to 8 PM!
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!
