During Easter weekend, Cleveland Job Corps Center Residential Counselor Wally Espada initiated a wave of kindness and positivity. She arranged for the students to engage in various events that would allow them to spark their creative side and express themselves.

The weekend began with an egg hunt that signified inspiration and hope for a better future today. Each egg was filled with candy, money, and positive affirmations. The candy represented sweetening the path of tomorrow, money signified prosperity and self-improvement, and the affirmation quotes signified claiming positive things to come.

Afterward, the group engaged in discussions about current events and the effects they are having. The insightful conversation inspired several ideas that led to creating Positive Affirmations Boulders and a Friendship Wall. The group of enthusiastic students met with Residential Counselor Janelle Saldana, who demonstrated her art talents by showing the students how to make drawings, discussing ideas for the friendship wall, and encouraging students to tap into their artistic ability.

Residential Counselors, Cierra Lozada and Shamalee French, helped students painted a boulder. “The experience was phenomenal, relaxing and enlightening as [we] created works of art with dedication and enthusiasm [alongside the students],” stated Wally Espada. They completed eleven boulders. Some of the students assisted with painting the boulders, while others created illustrations and wrote positive messages

The Friendship Wall was created to spread a message of hope and encouragement. “IF YOU SEE SOMEONE WITHOUT A SMILE TODAY, PRACTICE KINDNESS. GIVE THEM ONE OF YOURS…,” sits atop the wall. The students will be able to write positive messages to inspire others on the wall in chalk. Each student that assisted in creating the Friendship Wall will sign their name in permanent paint in recognition of their contribution and efforts. Staff and students worked on these projects for several days. They plan to continue the work when campus reopens, so returning students can contribute too.