LUV Institute gears up for its Wreaths of LUV project
BY TIA CAROL JONES
What started out as a pop-up shop where 200 wreaths were sold has grown. Eight years later, 12-15 young people create wreaths for six to eight weeks, selling almost 700 door wreaths and 150 Holiday Décor Wreaths. The young people who participate in the program are provided with a stipend, which allows those young people to receive more income.
LUV Institute has a social emotional approach to college and career readiness, using restorative practices to help young people manage their behaviors and create community.
“This program really supports them getting a taste of that. Because when you provide something that’s artistic for young people, it helps them channel those emotions and that energy in a way that helps them to be able to move on to more full-time and part-time placement,” Nazon-Wilburn said.
LUV Institute serves a number of young people who are in the foster care system. The social emotional tools that the LUV Institute uses can make a difference with young people who carry emotional baggage.
In addition to selling the wreaths, LUV Institute’s wreaths also serve as decoration in seven communities: Douglas, Grand Boulevard, Kenwood, South Shore, Washington Park and Chatham. In Bronzeville, a string of garland will be added to the signature Candy Cane Stripe decoration.
Each wreath will come with a Breast Cancer Awareness ornament that reads “Spread LUV, Spread Awareness.” The ornaments are in memory of
Gwendolyn Barnes-Gooden, the co-instructor for Wreaths of LUV, who passed in October of Breast Cancer. She volunteered her time to mentor young people who participated in the LUV Institute’s program.
Inside each ornament, there will be a card that tells about Barnes-Gooden and how Breast Cancer claimed her life. Nazon-Wilburn hopes it will
encourage women, especially Black women to get Mammograms.
LUV Institute also will sell the ornaments for $25 as a way to support Mt. Sinai Hospital and raise money for the Barbara Bates Imaging Center. The hope is to raise $10,000 for the effort.
Barnes-Gooden left the program well equipped. As LUV Institute is gearing up for the Wreaths of LUV program, it is looking for craftsman and creative people to help them create nearly 1,000 bows for the wreaths.
“This year is important because it is our 10th year, it is our 10th year anniversary and this has pulled on us to really make a greater difference in the community. This Breast Cancer Awareness opportunity is just one of the ways in which we are renewing our commitment for the next 10 years to have the kind of legacy organization that really answers the needs of the
community,” Nazon-Wilburn said.
Those interested in purchasing the wreaths can visit www.
luvinstitute.org.
