TACTILE MURAL AND SENSORY WELLNESS SPACE
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A new tactile and sensory project aims to foster mental and emotional wellness for students and faculty
The B.WELL Foundation Receives $20,000 Grant From GreenState Credit Union to build a first-of-its kind student-inspired tactile and sensory wellness space at King Elementary.
Des Moines, Iowa — The B.WELL Foundation, a Des Moines-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to supporting underserved and underrepresented youth and families in the Des Moines metro, has received a two-year pledge of $20,000 from GreenState Credit Union to build a sustainable tactile mural and sensory wellness space at Des Moines Public School, King Elementary.
“The mission behind this project perfectly aligns with the vision we have for the communities we serve,” says GreenState Credit Union’s Vice President of Public Relations Director Tara Wachendor. “We believe that we have a responsibility to address the mental-health needs of our children and this project provides a direct solution to improve the quality of life impacting our most underserved families.”
King Elementary is a Title 1 public school that provides supplemental educational services so that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education. Nearly 100% of its enrollment identifies among historically marginalized populations, with 94% coming from economically despaired communities.
The vision for the wellness space was conceived in partnership with educators and administration at the Northeast-side public school, who identified the need for a supplemental environment where children can decompress and reset their mental and emotional wellness while still engaging and empowering their creativity. The tactile sensory and wellness space will be the first-of-its-kind in the Des Moines Public School district. The B.WELL Foundation procured renowned local artist and accessibility and diversity advocate, Jill Wells to bring the vision and design to life.
"This multi-sensory, tactile mural and wellness space means we are truly respecting the diversity and needs of our community," says Wells. "This mural stands for youth and community betterment, disability awareness, the power of arts in education and looks to a new future of accessibility in arts and culture."
The project will be a student-inspired environment, giving the students a hands-on experience to gain a better understanding of their ability to influence and change the environments around them. Once completed, the space will provide individualized sensory input, prepare students for learning and interactions with others, and will serve students of all ages and with multiple disabilities, as well as facilitators, teachers, parents, caregivers, and therapists.
“The elementary school years are critical to youth development, forming the foundation of cognitive skills that greatly impact decision-making, interpersonal relationships, and managing emotions—all of which are critical skills into adulthood,” said Katelyn Stessman, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the B.WELL Foundation and a former DMPS teacher. “This project will allow staff to address these foundations effectively and in the best environment for each child individually."
“Bringing together community leaders and building creative avenues to support the unanswered needs of our children is more of what our community needs to ignite and uplift the next generation,” said Billy Weathers, CEO and Co Founder of the B.WELL Foundation. “By amplifying the voices of our educators and bridging the gaps in our public schools to find meaningful and sustainable solutions that address the well-being of our young people is only another win for our communities alike.”
The tactile mural and sensory wellness space will open this Spring as King Elementary celebrates its 50th anniversary on May 4 with a community event and concert performance by the Foundation’s CEO and Co-Founder, Billy Weathers (B.Well).
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ABOUT GREENSTATE CREDIT UNION: GreenState Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative and serves over 400,000 members with 33 office locations and has grown to be Iowa’s largest credit union and one of the top financial institutions in the United States for returning profits to members in the form of better rates and lower fees. Learn more at www.greenstate.org.
ABOUT THE B.WELL FOUNDATION: The B.WELL Foundation is a Des Moines-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to supporting underserved and underrepresented youth and families. The Foundation provides programming and resources focused on education, mentorship, and community prosperity. Learn more at www.bwellfoundation.org.
ABOUT JILL WELLS ART: Iowa-based artist, advocate and mentor, Jill Wells (she/her) has firmly situated herself within art and advocacy work. A 2005 graduate of Drake University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, she is well known for her dynamic, colorful, and tactile multimedia works investigating race, history, stereotypes, accessibility, and human experiences. By exploring the powerful alignment between arts integration and Universal Design, Wells' work seeks solutions for innovative pathways into accessible art. Learn more at www.jillwellsart.com.
