Last spring, Therapicasso hosted their first community workshop at the Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library, in partnership with the MPBL Junior Friends. The Origami Stars Event taught people of all ages how to create star-shaped mood trackers — a creative way to visualize and reflect on their emotional well-being. 

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Led by Gabby Wong (CEO), Joshua Ferriere (COO), and a team of teen volunteers, including Therapicasso’s youth board, the workshop guided participants through the process of folding origami stars. Each participant selected various colored papers to represent their different emotions, and the finished stars were added to their personal “star jars”. These jars became vivid emotion-tracking archives that combined creativity with mindfulness in a tangible way.

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“It was our first event in partnership with Bruggemeyer Library and our first big event that wasn’t a part of a summit.” said Gabby Wong, CEO of Therapicasso. “We were able to recruit more people and it taught us some really valuable lessons about buying materials in advance, collecting contact information, and honestly, how to make origami stars. Even some of our board members (myself included) didn’t know how to make origami stars before this activity, so it was a great learning experience for everyone.“

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With mental health resources still limited—especially for youth—Therapicasso strives to bridge that gap by providing accessible and engaging artistic outlets. Partnering with the Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library - an organization recognized for the positive impact it has on its community members - allowed Therapicasso to provide an engaging activity that emphasized the value of self-reflection for participants of all ages. 

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The simple act of folding thin strips of colored paper into mini stars acted as a gentle reminder that mindfulness can take infinitely many forms–whether it’s journaling, walking to a nearby boba shop with friends, or creating origami. Through activities like these, Therapicasso continues to provide innovative and accessible mental health resources for individuals across communities. 

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