CHICAGO, IL — September 11, 2026 — (NOTICIAS NEWSWIRE) — Janie’s Art Journals has been selected as one of the artists presenting work at the Salud Chicago Inaugural Gala, an elegant evening supporting Salud Chicago’s nonprofit community mental health work, on Wednesday, September 16, at Chicago’s National Museum of Mexican Art.

For the occasion, Chicago paper artist and Janie’s Art Journals founder, Janie Flores, created a special series of five handmade art journals titled “Joy In Resilience.” The series celebrates the resilience of Chicago’s neighborhoods and communities as they navigate the daily challenges to their life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 

The "Joy In Resilience" journals are stories made from the very materials and experiences of the communities they represent. Each journal in the series incorporates reclaimed materials, including protest signs and materials gathered from local communities and businesses, along with discarded papers, vintage materials, repurposed fabrics, and special touches of handmade art sourced from Oaxacan artisans in the Mexico Cultura y Orgullo collective. Together, these materials tell a story about the interconnectedness of immigrant life in Chicago and reflect lived realities shared by immigrant communities throughout the United States.

“This series celebrates the incredible resilience that exists within our communities,” said Flores. “Our communities continue to thrive amidst uncertainty, fear and struggle, because there is joy. There is family. There is culture. There is unity. There is hope. That is the joy in resilience.”

The concept is deeply aligned with the foundation of Janie’s Art Journals, a sustainable art initiative that transforms materials that might otherwise be discarded, including old books, cardboard packaging, vintage papers, reclaimed fabrics and other found materials, into unique handmade works of art.

Founded in 2023, Janie’s Art Journals emerged from Flores’ return to paper arts during a deeply personal period following the loss of her mother. What began as a creative outlet and a way to process grief has grown into an art initiative centered on storytelling, sustainability, connection, curiosity and healing.

“Joy In Resilience” builds on that philosophy by looking beyond the individual journal and asking a bigger question: What can discarded materials tell us about the people and communities that refuse to be discarded?

From protest signs to packaging from neighborhood businesses, every element carries a piece of a larger story. The journals become both art and archive by preserving fragments of community life while reimagining them into something new.

The opportunity to present “Joy In Resilience” at Salud Chicago’s Inaugural Gala is especially meaningful because the event will benefit their ongoing community mental health work while bringing together art, community and a shared commitment to making mental health resources more accessible in ways that are affirming and rooted in community.

JOIN US: https://saludchicago.com/#events

Salud Chicago Inaugural Gala
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
6:00 – 9:00 PM
National Museum of Mexican Art
1852 W. 19th Street
Chicago, IL 60608

Janie’s Art Journals is honored to be among the artists presenting work and looks forward to introducing “Joy In Resilience” as part of an evening celebrating the power of community, culture, creativity and connection.

About Janie’s Art Journals Janie’s Art Journals is a Chicago-based sustainable art initiative founded by paper artist Janie Flores in 2023. Each handmade journal is a unique work of art created by reimagining discarded book pages, cardboard packaging, vintage papers, reclaimed fabrics and other materials destined for the landfill.

A former award-winning publicist, radio host and conference speaker, Flores returned to paper arts as part of her own creative and healing journey. Today, Janie’s Art Journals brings together her love of storytelling, sustainability, art and community—one repurposed page at a time.

Facebook: facebook.com/JanieFloresLive Instagram: instagram.com/janiefloreslive Artist Website: https://ko-fi.com/janiesartjournals

CONTACT:
305.345.3461
BuenaVidaMedia@gmail.com