Image Courtesy of Kalasho Education and Youth Services
Kalasho Education & Youth Services is a nonprofit organization focused on empowering Michigan’s youth through various educational and extracurricular programs. Its mission is to foster academic excellence, leadership, and personal growth among young people across the state. The organization is actively working to provide valuable resources and opportunities to underserved communities, and its efforts are making a significant impact as it continues to expand its reach and influence with programs like MINDgarden.
MINDgarden, recently launched through Kalasho Education & Youth Services with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, embraces a unique approach that blends holistic practices with scientific research that supports children’s mental wellness. This philosophy emphasizes the program’s commitment to providing an integrated therapeutic experience that addresses the immediate symptoms and the root causes of mental health challenges.
Nathan Kalasho, President of Kalasho, expressed that he and his team have spent most of their lives servicing immigrant communities, particularly those from war torn regions.
“MINDgarden got started after we identified this need for additional behavioral health and mental health support that was becoming a significant issue before COVID and then exacerbated post-COVID,” Kalasho said.
Sumaiya Sheikh, who recently became CEO at Kalasho, has highlighted the significance of catering to the needs of the youth joining the program, many of whom come from war-torn countries and immigrant or refugee families. She emphasized the importance of ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background, has access to these valuable resources.
Sumaiya Sheikh, CEO of Kalasho
“As someone who’s come from the Executive Office of the Governor, we are honored to carry out this vision to ensure that all students and all youth have access to state of the art resources,” Sheikh said.
“We don’t just want to identify problems, we also want to work to solve them and ensure that when we’re solving them, to the best of our abilities.”
MINDgarden is dedicated to integrating healing practices with modern, scientifically proven techniques to offer every child a comprehensive healing and growth experience. Their personalized approach takes into account each child’s mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual needs, nurturing a well-rounded journey towards overall well-being.
“This program and this building, particularly, is for the youth. We’re pretty much focused on school-aged kids. The idea is the incorporation of a lot of play therapy,” Kalasho expressed.
“The moment you walk in, it gives off an environment conducive to playing but also cultivating a level of innovation, not just with what we have here, but with the kids that we’re going to be servicing.”
MINDgarden also provides a personalized environment for the little ones and teenagers. With dedicated play areas and themed rooms. There are distinct spaces for art therapy, music therapy, and life skills therapy, to name a few. There is a city-themed room featuring a miniature box city that includes a barber shop, post office, gas station, restaurant, and market, offering a nontraditional, diverse, and engaging setting for the youth.
The organization’s efforts are supported by a dedicated team of educators, volunteers, and community partners who collaborate to create a supportive, unconventional learning environment.
“A lot of times, six and a half or seven hours a day just doesn’t provide enough time for school-age children to receive the necessary instructional time in the classroom, but also the accommodation and support,” Kalasho said.
“That helps stimulate the kids that we’re servicing. It helps stimulate their emotions. It gives us a better picture of, what helps these students thrive, and not just an environment like this, but specifically the types of therapy rooms that we’re offering here.”
These initiatives are designed to equip students and immigrant youth, especially, with hands-on skills and opportunities in real-life settings to ensure their success in both their academic journeys and their future careers.
“Immigrant communities sometimes grow up with barriers that include cultural taboos and lack the basic lack of knowledge of where to seek help for basic mental health issues, and so it’s desperately needed,” Sheikh said.
“We’re servicing these communities; we’re recognizing this is creating that one-stop-shop of whatever your family needs to make sure that that child can get in the door. We are happy to help provide that here at MINDgarden.”
Image Courtesy of Kalasho Education and Youth Services
As Kalasho Education & Youth Services continues to grow, MINDgarden is the first facility of it’s kind to open, and October is when parents and garudians can start enrolling thier youth. By fostering academic achievement and personal development, the organization is helping to shape the next generation of leaders in the state.
“We’re hoping to accept youth as early as October. We also are a very family-friendly place,” Sheikh said.
“So if families even want to just come to take a visit and see what they’re getting themselves into before signing up, we’re happy to walk them through the center and do that as well.”
For more information on Kalasho Education & Youth Services and MINDgarden, visit www.kalasho.org
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