Limitless Dreaming at PMSA's Mental Health Club

We are continuing our workshops back at PMSA’s mental health club after spring break! The team went to PMSA last Wednesday to talk about limitless dreaming! Jasmine, ED of The Firehouse Dream, led the students through, what she calls, creative provision. This is a tactic used to use imagination to dream up possibilities that may feel impossible. Then creating an action plan, we ponder what it could look like to have this in our lives. Jasmine shared her experiences with the creative provision and how no dream is limited.

Thank you to the students who continuously participate with us, we appreciate you being so open to learning! In two weeks, we will be back at PMSA with Sarah from Yo Soy Ella, leading a talk on identity frustrations and expectations. See us in Ms. Garts classroom, room 213.

Black and Brown Solidarity | Creative Dreaming, Second Session

We hosted our second creative dreaming session last night on black and brown solidarity. After dinner, we opened up with reminders of our values on what creates a safe space. The youth then answered some of our reflection questions on black and brown communities, some of the biases we may have, and what we can learn from them. Then we continued building on ideas and topics we came up with last session. For inspiration, Maya showed the youth some of the past creative projects TFD has done. Each youth took one topic we came up with last time and brainstormed some creative projects that related to the topic. After, they shared their ideas and commented on others they found interesting.

Thank you so much to everyone who came yesterday! We are still looking for more youth who are passionate about black and brown solidarity. Contact Maya (maya@thefirehousedream.orga) for more information. Our last dreaming session is March 6th, 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM.

Team Building at PMSA's Mental Health Club

This week, we were back at PMSA again! We have been loving the relationships we built with PMSA’s mental health club. The students are supportive and receptive to the workshops we bring. For this week, Clarybelle of A Beautiful Project led the students through team-building exercises. First, the students started with a check-in and to meet Clarybelle. Then they started playing puzzling games that required teamwork to accomplish. They walked around the classrooms timing their steps to work with others and played hand games with one another. One of the final activities was to write negative or intrusive thoughts the students had about themselves. They would build up a tower with these cups and knock it down after. They finished with some positive thoughts about themselves and one another.

Thank you Clarybelle for leading such an engaging workshop! We will be back at PMSA for a storytelling workshop led by Jasmine, on February 21st. See you soon!

Black and Brown Solidarity | Creative Dreaming

We recently received a grant from Healing Illinois that allows us to create programming to amplify black and brown voices. Specifically, we are working toward how can we bridge this gap in our community. Through storytelling, creativity, and trust, we plan on working as a community to bring more light to Maywood and Proviso. Our young adults were passionate and well-spoken about the issues they face in Proviso. We held this session for out youth to use creativity and tying in the topics of black and brown experiences.

Thanks to the youth who came out today! If you know any one interested, our next dreaming session is February 21st, 6:30 Pm to 8:00. Participants must identify as a black or brown ethnicity and come from Proviso schools. Email maya@thefirehousedream.org for more info!

Boundaries at PMSA Mental Health Club

This week, Remona of Inellas Restoration Center led the PMSA Mental Health Club through a boundaries workshop. The students did an exercise were they stood up every time they agreed or disagreed with a prompt. The purpose was to show the students how boundaries are based on personal perspective and we should respect others. It is important to build that mutual respect so their is room for understanding when someone’s boundaries may differ from another.

Additionally, WGN News was following Inellas Restoration Center for the day, so the students and TFD will be featured along with Inellas! We are so excited for Remona and this oppurtunity!