OUR MISSION
To be a safe space for BIPOC creatives to thrive.
OUR VISION
THE FIREHOUSE DREAM provides young adults from communities that have experienced disinvestment with opportunities to DISCOVER creative skill sets like photography, cinematography, brand identity, while being EQUIPPED with financial wellness and other tools needed to create an income, and to partner their lived experiences with purpose allowing them to THRIVE.
OUR VALUES
Our stories Matters
We believe our stories matter.
Thrive
We believe everyone should have an opportunity to thrive not just survive.
Love
We believe love should be at the core of “why” we do what we do.
Community
We believe we weren't designed to do life alone.
authenticity
We believe it's important to be honest with where we are at, and to share ourselves wholeheartedly.
identity
We believe everyone is made in the image of God, and that at our core we have purpose, and destiny.
JUSTICE-Minded
We believe our lived experiences makes us the experts, and that our voices are needed at the table for greater impact.
This dream was birthed after going to El Salvador in May of 2017 with my church, Soul City Church . It was through this vision trip where I learned about a non-profit called Enlace . Enlace partners with local churches to create lasting change in their own communities. They teach and equip them to know they can be the change and help meet the needs of their neighbors. Their passion and in-depth knowledge of who specifically needed help in their own community spoke volumes to me. So much so, when I came back home, I asked God how I could partner with Him to be more involved in my own community (Maywood,IL). As I began to do research and better understand our community’s history and context, it made me think of my own story, and how I was raised by a single mom, in a low income home, and how my lived experiences has shaped the way I saw myself and the world. It's barely now where I see how God has connected the dots of my story, and is using everything that was meant for bad, for His good. Looking back I see the influence of my high school photography teacher, Mr. Bullen, and how it was through his encouraging words that I decided to become a photographer. His words gave me the hope to believe I could be more, and that I was actually good at something. If it wasn't for him I don't know where I'd be today. So, I began wondering what would it look like if we had a space to host events and workshops, where I, along with other boss friends, taught creative skillsets like photography, graphic design, video, podcasting, hand-lettering and more, partner that with financial literacy, such as how to budget, save, and business plan. I can imagine how learning a creative skillset could provide opportunities for our young adults to not only make an income, but find something they are passionate about, and in turn thrive.
Jeremy and I are living examples of what it could look like to learn a creative skillset, and make an income off it. Together we have photographed, filmed and created graphic/photo content for both small and large companies/non-profits.
However, what we didn’t have or know when we first started was how to manage money or have an understanding in how our lived experiences would influence or affect how we would value our services. However, through our own individual healing process and wise friends, we have learned to overcome scarcity mindsets and so much more. So friends....this is what THE FIREHOUSE DREAM is!
We hope that you are inspired, encouraged, and would consider partnering with us!
Sincerely,
Jasmine Lopez
Co-Founder/Executive Director
MOVED TO MAYWOOD | NOV 2016
SEASON OF WAITING | 2018-2019
FORMED A COALITION FOR FOOD RELIEF | MARCH 2020
LAUNCHED OUR THIRD MENTORSHIP | SEPTEMBER 2021
GAVE AWAY OUR FIRST BATCH OF MENTAL HEALTH KITS | DECEMBER 2022
COLLECTIVELY GAVE AWAY 450+ KITS AWAY | OCTOBER 2023
STARTED DREAMING OF TFD | MAY 2017
501C3 IS FINALLY APPROVED. | AUG 2019
LAUNCHED PROGRAMMING AT FIREHOUSE | JULY 2020
CREATED OUR FIRST MENTAL HEALTH INTENSIVE | JANUARY 2022
HOSTED OUR FIRST FINANCIAL WELLNESS COHORT | MARCH 2023
LAUNCHED PROGRAMMING AT PMSA | NOVEMBER 2023
PURCHASED THE FIREHOUSE | JUNE 2018
DIY THE REST OF THE RENO | AUG 2019-MARCH 2020
LAUNCHED OUR MENTORSHIP | MARCH 2021
LAUNCHED OUR FOURTH MENTORSHIP PROGRAM| FEBRUARY 2022
COLLECTIVELY GAVE AWAY 1,000+ KITS | JUNE 2023
STARTED RENOVATIONS | JULY 2018
TEACH PHOTOGRAPHY AT PROVISO EAST | JAN 2020
LAUNCHED OUR SECOND MENTORSHIP | JULY 2021
CREATED OUR SECOND MENTAL HEALTH INTENSIVE | MAY 2022
STARTED OUR COMMUNITY TALKS SERIES | SEPTEMBER 2023
We’ve partnered with several locations in order to operate our programming, such as Proviso East, Casa Esperanza,
Authentic Adventure Co., and more!
Want to partner or have us do a workshop at your location
please email us at: connect@thefirehousedream.org
As a community-led non-profit,
we believe collaboration and partnership is key!
community & CREATIVE Partners
PP4H
NEXT generation church
impact church
God’s heritage church
THE PEACE GARDEN
The Latinas RISing up in HR
Chase Bank
Yo Soy Ella
Jessica Galvan | Writing workshops
Quinn Center
ADRI DE LA CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY
JALEEL ANTHONY | BUSINESS WORKSHOP
DELAINA DOSHI | HAND-LETTERING WORKSHOP
rebecca bustamente
The Nehemiah Community Project
I Paint On Purpose
Inellas Restoration Center
Daisy Flow Yoga
proviso east High school
Proviso West High School
Proviso Math and Science Academy
Walther Christian High School
dreamchasers united NFP
Cook county health
buddy’s place
Casa Esperanza
Girl Behind The Hustle
NDVU + LAB
Juice Vibe Bar
So So Social
Toria Baez | Yoga and Breathwork
Maywood Youth Mentoring
JASON NELSON | FINANCIAL LEADER AND ADVISOR
AMANDA LEON CALLIGRAPHY
ERIKA PEREZ | HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS WORKSHOP
healthy coin
The Hap foundation
COMMUNIty Alliance
HOJO
Best of Proviso Township
Authentic Adventure
KARINA MORA
The Full Story Resumé Writing Services
Andre Jamar Photography
Stephanie Gill | Financial workshops
Real Foods Collective
Reuse Depot
KEVYN TAPIA | YOUTUBE WORKSHOP
MARIAH FRANK | TIK TOK TUTORIAL
that girl + co
artclan
A Beautiful Project
West40
Oasis Project Therapy
Yeskseny Guerrero | Leyden Family Services
Liberated Learning
Become a Partner
If you would like to partner with us, fill out the form below and one of our staff members will get back to you.