Youth Programs

As far as Kissandra Hernandez is concerned, creating art is the ultimate pleasure.

So when the nine-year-old, a resident at Springfield Housing Authority’s Sullivan Apartments, took a top prize at a public safety poster contest, she knew she was on the right track with her passion.

“Oh, I love drawing. I live for drawing,” said Kissandra, whose detailed poster features a four-story burning building, a fire truck with a tall pink ladder holding a firefighter spraying a hose on bright rooftop flames. The sun shines brightly above all.

Kissandra Hernandez, 9, stands in front of her winning poster at SHA’s Deborah Barton Neighborhood Network Center, where it is on display.

Inside the apartment building are residents with sad faces, waiting on their rescue.

Kissandra, one of four contest winners, said she has little trouble finding inspiration for her art.

“I had something else in mind when I first heard about the contest, but then I thought of a fire truck with a big basket on top, and people inside. I just thought it would be nice,” said the fourth-grader.

“When I draw, I forget about everything else and I think only about drawing,” she noted.

Kissandra is one of about two dozen who entered the SHA-sponsored contest, and four who won prizes. Winners took home stuffed animals, certificates of honor, and gift cards to Toys “R” Us.

SHA Director of Public Safety and Investigative Services Rosa Lebron said the contest was a way to promote public safety among families and to focus children on a positive and fun activity. Posters featured a variety of themes, including fire safety, pedestrian rules, bullying, a police cruiser riding down a city street, and a group of gown-clad girls crossing a street with the help of a crossing guard.

Contestants got together recently at Sullivan Apartments to show their artwork and receive recognition. Besides SHA officials, the event included members of Springfield Fire Department, the Springfield Police Department and Baystate Medica Center, to talk about public safety.

Poster contestants, their parents and officials from Springfield Housing Authority, and the Springfield Police and FireDepartments gather at the contest event.

In addition to Kassandra, winners were her sister Xyomara Hernandez, 7, Shyzel Rosado, 13, and Fergie Perez, 15. Posters are on display at SHA’s Deborah Barton Neighborhood Network Center at Sullivan.

Lebron said the contest will likely be repeated.

“It was a fun way to get families together and to put the focus on public safety, and how important that is,” Lebron said. “Everyone enjoyed it.”

Xyomara Hernandez, 7, smiles in front of her winning poster.

Xyomara Hernandez said she enjoyed everything about the contest, from drawing and coloring her scene of formally attired girls crossing a street, to attending the event, and to picking up her prizes, which included a stuffed dog she has named ‘Daisy.’

Her poster shows four girls and a crossing guard in long, colorful gowns, waiting to cross a street where rainbow-colored cars are driving. The four girls are labeled for Xyomara, her sister Kissandra, another sister JoJo, and their mother, Natasha Hernandez.

“When I think of safety, I see in my mind crossing the street with a crossing guard, so we know we’ll be safe,” explained Xyomara, a second-grader. “And I love to draw dresses so I put them all in long pretty dresses.”

Their mother Natasha said she encourages all five of her children to be creative and to do their best. Her two middle daughters have taken up drawing with a fervor, she agreed.

Mom Natasha Hernandez stands between daughters Xyomara and Kissandra Hernandez, both winners of the recent SHA-sponsored public safety poster contest.

“They loved this,” she said, smiling. “I think they’re both awesome, very creative. They both love to draw,” Hernandez said.