Every year, communities across the country come together for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s (AFSP) Out of the Darkness walks, these events shine light on hope, remembrance, and connection. For eight of the community walks in, the heart of the event beat a little brighter, thanks to a group of 43 students from The School at Springbrook whose artwork would carry an extraordinary message.
What began as a creative project shared by Deb France, a physical therapist assistant and supporter of the AFSP, quickly grew into something far more impactful. Deb, who lost her son to suicide at the age of 23, participates in AFSP walks to give his life purpose and to support others in their journeys toward healing. Deb was the one who introduced the AFSP t-shirt design challenge to The School, recognizing it as a meaningful way to merge her passion for suicide prevention with her work alongside Springbrook students.
She shared the idea with Art Therapist Tiffany Brzenk, who immediately understood the project’s potential. The theme was hope, a word that can feel abstract, but one Tiffany carefully grounded in ways her students could understand.
She introduced examples of hope, images of hope, and symbols that represented it. Students chose the symbol that resonated most with them, everything from hearts and flowers to religious symbols and imagery of growth. Some drew independently; others worked hand-over-hand with Tiffany. Each contribution mattered equally.
One by one, the symbols came together into a powerful collage, a tapestry of hope created by many hands, many minds, and many stories. Tiffany assembled the drawings into a unified design, never imagining what would come next: their design was selected as the official t-shirt for the Greater Central NY AFSP Chapter (GCNY).
When the final shirts arrived, students lit up with pride. Staff did too. “It was the best feeling,” Tiffany shared. “Seeing their joy in the finished product reminded all of us how deeply this message resonated.”
The design struck a chord beyond the school walls. More than 100 shirts were sold at the community walks. For Deb, who walked surrounded by the hope-filled artwork of her students, the moment was indescribable.
“I could see the students in each of the symbols they chose,” Deb said. “It touched my heart to watch them create something so meaningful.”
The project also strengthened the school community. Students who rarely interacted found connections through shared symbols and common meanings. Younger and older students discovered that despite age differences, their understanding of hope was remarkably similar. The project also supported Springbrook’s Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS) values: Be Kind. Be Safe. Be Springbrook.
Alyssa Horton, Principal of The School at Springbrook, saw the transformative impact firsthand. “Deb brought her passion to the school, Tiffany brought it to life with the students, and our students created something extraordinary,” she said. “The thoughtfulness of their work made me incredibly proud.”
For Alyssa, the project held personal meaning. She showed it to her family, who were deeply moved by the students’ design and the story behind it. Tiffany echoed this sentiment and shared the students’ work with those close to her, expressing pride in their accomplishment.
As Springbrook continues to introduce opportunities around mental health and wellness, including potential future work with The Gizmo Initiative, the school remains committed to supporting students in navigating feelings and building coping strategies. This project stands as a message to the wider community that Springbrook students understand hope, and they express it beautifully.
Deb hopes that families, community members, and supporters take this achievement as a reflection of the students’ creativity, empathy, and courage. “I hope people see what our students can do, and what hope means to them,” she said.
This t-shirt project is only the beginning. The Out of the Darkness walks will continue, AFSP’s mission will continue, and at The School at Springbrook, hope will continue to shine, symbol by symbol, student by student, story by story.