community projects

Art Therapy

This week, we hosted Art Therapy for our community! This session, we painted sunflowers, to resemble that we can still grow within hardships. Sunflowers take up lots of sunlight but they are still able to survive off little water. Additionally, they produce many seeds when they are fully grown. Dana thought that this was a good symbolization that although sometimes there is no water in our cup, we still have the opportunity to grow and present seeds for out future. As the session went forward, the community talked about their experiences living in Maywood, and what they did to be a good neighbor!

Thank you to those who joined us! Thanks again to Dana for leading another session!

Proviso East | Mental Health Kit Giveaway and Health Fair

Yesterday, the Firehouse Dream Team went to Proviso East to hand out 153 more kits to the high school students. Thanks to our team, we ran out once again at each lunch period, but thanks to our partnership with the Loyola Health clinic, we can now do weekly drop offs to the students who have not received one. In total, we have now given away 600 kits to our local high school students. Thank you so much to our supporters for believing in this mission!

While the team was in the lunch room passing out kits, Jasmine and Maya went around to a couple of class rooms to educate our students on how money can impact mental health! Jasmine shared her story on how money has impacted her personal life. She presented '“money truths” to help the students believe in themselves and that money is a tool.

The Firehouse Dream has been making an impact in our community! Thank you all for following along in our journey!

Our First Open House!

Photo Credit: Mya Rose

Last month TFD hosted our very first Open House Fundraiser! We wanted to give our donors a chance to view the space and meet the youth they have made such an impact on. Our group of 4 mentee alumni employees planned this entire event over the Summer with our Treasurer, Karina. They worked hard to plan the layout, decor, food, invites, and more, all while applying their creative skills learned at TFD!

The event went smoothly and it was a blast! From dinner and conversation, to mentees expressing how TFD has impacted them, and presenting the work they have created. New connections were made and old ones strengthened. Opportunities like this are something we strive to provide. After this incredible experience, we are so excited to be hosting our second Open House Fundraiser at the end of Sept. Want to join us? You can RSVP Here!

It is a pleasure getting to build impactful relationships with those who have helped TFD become what is it and we are grateful for each and every one of you who supports this DREAM!

If you would like to partner with TFD, you can do so by visiting the give page on our website.

Thank you!

Photo Credit: Mya Rose, Amie, Mariah

Amie Isfan | One Year Later

Video Credit: Kevyn Tapia

Amie has been a part of TFD since September of 2021! She began her journey here as a mentee in Fall ‘21 mentorship and shortly after joined staff as our Social Media Coordinator. One year later, Amie is preparing to enter her freshman year of college at Temple University and plans to major in journalism! She also plans to take on virtual jobs assisting other brands with their social media planning. We’ll miss working with Amie but we are so excited to support her in this next chapter!

“The easiest way to get somewhere in the creative field is to make connections. Network.”

- Amie Isfan

Photo Credit: @mya_rose7

Maya Hill | One Year Later

Video Credit: Kevyn Tapia

Maya Hill is a past mentee from Forest Park. Maya first got connected with TFD through workshops hosted in the Firehouse space back in 2020. Shortly after, the idea for a mentorship program came to life, which Maya then began in Spring ‘21. Now, she is our Executive Assistant here at TFD and is in school to become a physicians assistant! We are so proud of Maya and we are excited to continue to support her in her journey!

“No matter who you are or who is impacting you at the moment, you should do what you want to do.”

- Maya Hill

Photo Credit: Mya Rose