Fresno County Art

Directing Change is an evaluated suicide prevention and mental health program with the mission to educate young people about critical health topics through art and promote social justice and health by changing conversations in schools and communities.
2025

Friends

Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt
2025
Artist: Gurneet Kaur
Fresno County
Grade: 8
John Sutter Middle
Advisor: Maria Rodriguez
Mental health issues can stick with you your whole life, even as you heal. Young people need the support of the older generations of people in their lives. Knowing you ...

Let Go

Honorable Mention Hope & Justice
2025
Artist: Gurneet Kaur
Fresno County
Grade: 8
John Sutter Middle
Advisor: Maria Rodriguez

I know how it feels to be in hopeless situation where letting go is scarier than the abuse you endure by staying. Sometimes, your anchors aren’t enough to keep you ...

My Little Blue Box

Second Place Monthly Prompt - Middle School
2025
Artist: Gurneet Kaur
Fresno County
Grade: 8
John Sutter Middle
Advisor: Maria Rodriguez

Life is never easy, but it’s harder on some people than others. Sometimes as friends or family members, we can’t tell when a person needs our help or support. I’d ...

Headphones

Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt - Film, Visual Art, and Written Works
2025
Artist: Gurneet Kaur
Fresno County
Grade: 8
John Sutter Middle
Advisor: Maria Rodriguez

Sometimes we have to take things a day at a time, and for many people the melodies of their favorite songs are the reason why they persevered to tomorrow. Some ...

2024

Colors of Love

Third Place Hope and Justice - Monthly Prompt
2024
Artist: Gurneet Kaur
Fresno County
Grade: 8
John Sutter Middle
Advisor: Maria Rodriguez

People shouldn’t be judged by the colors of their flags. Those flags represent their home, their loves, and themselves. In an election, I think it’s important to first assess what ...

Anchors

Third Place Monthly Prompt - Middle School
2024
Artist: Gurneet Kaur
Fresno County
Grade: 7
John Sutter Middle School
Advisor: Navpreet Pannu

Anchors come in different shapes and sizes. Your anchor might not be the same as someone else’s, but that doesn’t matter – if it makes you happy, it’s for you. ...

Not A Burden, A Gift

Third Place Monthly Prompt - Middle School
2024
Artist: Gurneet Kaur
Fresno County
Grade: 7
John Sutter Middle School
Advisor: Navpreet Pannu

The little things about you that make you ‘you’ can never be replaced. Never be afraid to ask for help because you’re not a burden, and you never will be.

...

What I Wish You Knew

Third Place Monthly Prompt - Middle School
2024
Artist: Gurneet Kaur
Fresno County
Grade: 7
Sutter Middle School
Advisor: Navpreet Pannu

A ‘perfect’ conversation requires effort from both ends. The person struggling has to open up and trust the other person they’re asking for help, whilst the person being reached out ...

2023

Thank You

Second Place Monthly Prompt - Middle School
2023
Artist: Gurneet Kaur
Fresno County
Grade: 7
John Sutter Middle School
Advisor: Maria Rodriguez

“Someone who needs help should get it, even if they won’t ask for it themselves. Something as simple as showing that you care can change a million things. I want ...

Grow

Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt - Art
2023
Artist: Kansas Stewart
Fresno County
Grade: 7
John Sutter Middle
Advisor: Maria Rodriguez

I know that a lot of people experience mental health differently and the things holding people back from being happy can be one thing or many. People can’t just “be ...

You Matter

First Place Monthly Prompt - Written Works
2023
Artist: Gurneet Kaur
Fresno County
Grade: 6
John Sutter Middle
Advisor: Maria Rodriguez

My entry is a poem that talks about the struggles of going through any rough part in someone’s life. It serves as a reminder to those who need it that ...

The Eye Mountain

Honorable Mention Hope and Justice 
2023
Artist: Maliyah Guajardo
Fresno County
Grade: 6
John Sutter Middle
Advisor: Maria Rodriguez

My drawing is about the way we see nature and the way we see the world overall. I feel strong when I’m near nature because it is peaceful and I ...

Friends

First Place Hope and Justice 
2023
Artist: Kansas Stewart
Fresno County
Grade: 7
Fowler Unified 
Advisor: Maria Rodriguez

My art shows three people of different races all together. I’d like to think it shows that regardless of skin or culture, what really matters is your kindness and personality.

...
2022

The Guide of Life

Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt - Art
2022
Artist: Damian Martinez
Fresno County
Grade: 8
John Sutter Middle School
Advisor: Maria Rodriguez

I chose my dog, his name is S’mores, as my mental health hero. After a long day, going home and spending time with my dog always makes me happy. I ...

Angry monument

Honorable Mention May 2022 Hope
2022
Artist: Dulce Maria Garcia
Fresno County
Grade: 7
Community Day School
Advisor: Nancy Alba-Garcia

I allow myself to display my anger through my art. I remind myself I am more than a mental illness by telling myself I am creative, artistic and inventive. I ...

Grateful

2022
Artist: Tylee Mitchell, Luke Sanchez Boele
Fresno County
Grade: 10
Sierra High School
Advisor: Andrea Marjala

We put small images and messages in a collage that represent the things we are grateful for.

Thank you from me to you

2022
Artist: Jaidyn Holt
Fresno County
Grade: 9
Sierra High School
Advisor: Andrea Marjala

“The poem I wrote about is how I am grateful for everyone in my life. How it relates to everyday life, and how gratitude is shown and appreciated.”

Gratitude Poem

2022
Artist: Taryn Esajian
Fresno County
Grade: 9
Sierra High School
Advisor: Andrea Marjala

I wrote a poem about gratitude and how I see it around me every day. I wrote specifically about the people that mean the most to me.

Don’t Lose Sight of Hope

Third Place - October 2021
2022
Artist: Beverly Douglas
Fresno County
Grade: 10
Sierra High School
Advisor: Andrea Marjala

“This poem provides ideas and insight on ways you can find hope in dark times. It advises readers to never stop searching for hope and that hope. That the reader ...

You have value, there is always hope

2022
Artist: Abbey Cetin, Maddy McDivitt
Fresno County
Grade: 10
Sierra High School
Advisor: Andrea Marjala

A student cries out for help at school, as the stress of life proves to be overwhelming just as it feels hopeless to continue, a NAMI activist showcases a helping ...

Gratitude

2022
Artist: Avery Jones
Fresno County
Grade: 9
Sierra High School
Advisor: Andrea Marjala

My entry is a poem about what I am grateful for.

2021

The Black Dot

2021
Artist: Tylee Mitchell
Fresno County
Grade: 10
Sierra High School
Advisor: Andrea Marjala

My poem discusses feelings people feel while experiencing suicidal thoughts and depression.

Don’t Lose Sight of Hope

Third Place September 2021 - Hope and Justice
2021
Artist: Beverly Douglas
Fresno County
Grade: 10
Sierra High School
Advisor: Andrea Marjala

I chose this category because I know many people who struggle to find the good in life. I wrote it in the hope of advocating to look for the good. ...

Holding On

Honorable Mention September 2021 Monthly Prompt: "You Are Not Alone"
2021
Artist: Luke Sanchez-Boele
Fresno County
Grade: 10
Sierra High School
Advisor: Andrea Marjala

I wanted to try and help people with the things I have gone through. Knowing these things bring more understanding towards these types of issues and I hate to see ...