Center for the Empowerment of Families Inc.

These play groups engage students at Crete Academy, identified by school staff as experiencing recent loss or being unhoused. Peer groups are formed to explore therapeutic sensory benefits from working with clay. Students receive support during the on set of crisis, helping to prevent mental health diagnosis. Professional artists and therapists create culturally inspired clay molds like sneakers, to engage in healthy coping mechanisms. Students learn to communicate their challenges and strengths in a supportive healing centered environment.