Community Art Therapy | Memory Bracelets

This workshop was focused on creating meaningful memory bracelets to honor our loved ones who have passed and celebrate cherished relationships with those still in our lives. Through the art of bracelet making, we explored grief, memory, and the ways we carry connection.

This workshop was led by Yekseny Guerrero, MA, ATR-P, starting the process by asking “What does grief mean to you?” Participants shared openly - describing their own experiences and feelings. Yekseny continued by asking “Do you go through the grief stages in order?” and reminded everyone that grief is different for everyone. Before we began crafting, Yekseny invited everyone to relax in their chairs, take some breathers, and to focus on a on loss of a loved one or someone personal to them - telling them to allow themselves to feel.

It was time to make bracelets. Yekseny went through each charm/bead, as everyone chose their own. Each charm/bead represented their loved one’s favorite things and what reminded them of their loved ones. Once finished, each bracelet was tied and worn.

Thank you Yekseny for guiding with such care, and to every participant who showed up with openness.

Youth Mental Health First-Aid Training

We gathered at The Firehouse Dream for Youth Mental Health First Aid Training (MHFA) in partnership with Community Outreach at Family Service & Mental Health Center of Cicero. Designed by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, MHFA equips community members with the tools to identify, understand, and respond to signs of Mental Health and substance use challenges among Youth. Throughout the training, we explored how to recognize when a young person might be struggling and how to approach them in ways that foster trust rather than fear. We practiced listening without judgment, asking open-ended questions, and learning how to offer support that honors each person’s mental health. We talked about depression, anxiety, and trauma, the real challenges that young people in our communities face every day. We learned how to respond in moments of crisis and how to connect youth to professional help when needed. Also, learning to support others, learned self-care as self-aiders - recognizing that tending to our own wellbeing is part of how we show up for others.

We are grateful to Family Service & Mental Health Center of Cicero for their partnership, and to every participant who was a part of it, ready to learn, reflect, and support the mental well-being of the Youth.

Mental Health Kit Giveaway at Proviso East | September 2025

At Proviso East High School, we did a Mental Health Kit Giveaway! We were able to give away 139 Mental Health Kits to the Proviso East students. Our intention to give away the kits this month was in honor of Suicide Prevention Month. We plan to give 500 kits away this semester! Each kit includes items chosen with intention: calming tools, stickers, and our new custom journal. Students came up to us, showing interest and asking questions about the Mental Health Kits.

We are grateful to every student who received a kit. Thank you PEHS, for having us and giving us this opportunity.

Calm Room: Self Guided Coloring

In the Calm Room, we leaned into quiet creativity with a self-guided coloring session. The setup was simple but intentional: stacks of coloring books, vibrant colored pencils and markers, and a special set of coloring pages that read “I choose kindness.” Students were invited to settle in and go at their own pace with this coloring session. These self-guided sessions remind us that healing doesn’t always require direct guidance. Sometimes, students just need space to follow their own rhythm.

Mental Health Journals

We are excited to share that The Firehouse Dream has received a new addition to our Mental Health Kits. A custom-designed journal created with intention and care. Our journals are designed to serve as a tool to support and process your thoughts and feelings. Inside the journal, each page is crafted to support emotional wellness. You will find: Journal Prompts - these prompts guide reflection, helping explore your thoughts, experiences, and hopes. Affirmations to remind us all of our worth. A page to read more about The Origin Story on our Mental Health Kits: how they came to be and why they exist. A Doodle Space for free expression, a Feelings Check-In, and a Breath work exercise. The journal consists of so many different things!

Healing takes many forms. This journal is just one tool, but it’s yours to shape. To doodle, to reflect, to breathe. Your story matters - and we are honored to be a part of it. These journals are included in our Mental Health Kits, which we distribute to students across the youth of Chicago and Las Vegas.