05/19/2026
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to teach a quick little class with Deerfield’s 5th graders, and it was such a meaningful experience. Watching them light up while sharing what they would love to see in our community and what helps them relieve stress was honestly so inspiring.
The students spent the day making their way around Main Street visiting local businesses, and SWA was one of their last stops. One little girl came up to me and said that out of everywhere they visited, SWA was her favorite. That moment truly touched my heart.
I love that we’re creating a space where conversations about mental health feel fun, open, and safe for kids. It meant so much to be able to listen to these little humans, encourage them to speak freely about their feelings and ideas, and remind them that their voices matter and deserve to be heard.
One of my favorite parts was hearing their ideas for the community. Several kids said they wished we had boba nearby, and I got to excitedly tell them that my daughters will be serving bursting boba lemonades at the farmers market and concerts all summer long. Another student shared that he’d love to see a car museum, and I was able to tell him about the amazing car shows already happening in our area starting this weekend. There were so many moments where the kids discovered that some of the things they dream about are already hidden gems right here in our community.
Sometimes I wonder if I truly have enough time to give to this amazing organization, but experiences like yesterday remind me exactly why I do it. I’m beyond grateful and incredibly blessed to be even a small part of what SWA is doing for these kids and our community. Start with Art