The Chill Spot, is a brave space spearheaded by Strength and Stability Instructor and Coordinator Jai Thompson and Director of Grant Administration and Communications, Alyson Showell LaPorta. The space teaches mindfulness tools to teens most impacted by gun-violence in a way that is responsive to the lives these students live.

A typical day at the Chill Spot can look like mindful art workshops, discussion groups, or in this case, redecorating. Last Friday, Chill Spot students and Bartram honor students collaborated to revitalize the space. With brightly colored chalkboard trim, artwork, origami sculptures and construction paper, students made the space feel completely new.

Students and Strength and Stability staff bonded over sharing vision ideas for the space, chowing down on pizza (courtesy of Assistant Principal Reed), and attention and memory games like Zip-Zap-Zop and And So….

The following week, Chill Spot regular attendees were so impressed with the changes, they spent hours working on origami structures to hang around the room.