HWI at Parkrose High School

After collaborating with Dr. Sonja Taylor through my work as Wellness Coordinator for the Inquiry for Justice program, she invited me to bring the Holistic Wellness Initiative (HWI) to her students at Parkrose High School as part of my internship. Through this opportunity, I facilitated HWI programming with a group of 15 students every Monday and Friday. Together, we explored topics such as mental well-being, food justice, gun violence, art therapy, and yoga—creating a space where students could reflect, express themselves, and connect with one another on a deeper level. As part of this work, I partnered with the Lewis & Clark Art Therapy program and Vision Quilt to create powerful visual art panels advocating against gun violence in schools. These pieces became not just creative expressions, but calls for awareness, healing, and change, led by the students themselves.