Baldwin Students Donate Mindfulness Artwork to Nassau and Suffolk Family Courts

Excerpt from article:

For children and families navigating the uncertainty of family court, a colorful sunset, peaceful landscape or serene photograph may offer a brief moment of calm. 

That is the goal of Baldwin School District's Mindfulness Through Art program, which celebrated its third annual exhibition on June 5 at Baldwin High School before donating more than 30 student-created works for permanent display in Nassau and Suffolk family courts. 

The initiative, inspired by the district’s Assistant Director of Instructional Programs Gabriella Franza's experiences as a foster and adoptive parent, brings together student artists, educators and court officials to create more welcoming spaces for families facing difficult circumstances. 

"There's a lot of uncertainty about family, and that can be the core support to our lives," Franza said. "Having and creating a space in there that can support the mental health, the mindfulness of anyone, was really important." 

The exhibition featured paintings, drawings and photographs created by students from across the district. Before the pieces are installed in courthouses throughout Long Island, students had the opportunity to display their work gallery-style and discuss the inspiration behind it with judges, court staff, family members and district administrators. 

Read the full story online in the Baldwin Herald>>