A community event for mental health
It’s Okay to Fall
Co-hosted by Illini Union Board and Illini Creative Impact
What if an entire campus came together to make one artwork?
On November 10, add your mark to a collective artwork for mental health. Together, we’re making a reminder that no one has to face hard things alone.
Free to attend, free giveaways, no art experience needed.
- Date
- Nov 10, 2026
- Time
- 10 AM – 8 PM
- Where
- Illini Union, Illini Room C (first floor)
More to explore
The centerpiece
Leave your mark on something bigger.
Throughout the day, the Illinois community turns blank boards into one collective artwork for mental health. Add a drawing, a color, or a few words. Every contribution becomes part of something we make together.
- Materials provided
- No experience needed
- Drop in any time
10:00 AM · A blank beginning
8 PM · Created together
A community-wide beginning
We’re bringing together students, faculty, university leaders, and community partners to begin a shared work of art. Each contribution is a message of encouragement, connection, and support for mental health across our campus.
In the room
What you’ll find at the event
Add to the collective artwork
Add a drawing, a color, or a few words to the shared artwork, any time from 10 AM to 8 PM. Drawing materials are provided.
Sit down and make something
Tables anyone can join, no art experience needed: mandala coloring with colored pencils to keep, a sticker check-in for how your energy is today, and 3D-printed coping skill leaves to take home.
See work by student artists
Student art about mental health, on the walls all day.
Meet community and wellness organizations
Learn about mental health support on campus and in Champaign-Urbana from health and counseling organizations, and pick up free giveaways: fidget spinners, Calm Strips, stickers, notebooks, and candy, plus a self-care raffle basket.
At the event
Mental health support
Come for the artwork and find out where to turn when things get hard. These health and counseling organizations are part of the day, so you can learn what support is out there on campus and in Champaign-Urbana.
Wellness education and giveaways on finding the good in everyday life.
Call to Care
MyIntent bracelet-making, a moment to reflect on your intentions and well-being.
Coloring calendars, mental health pamphlets, and a table where you can sit and talk with their staff.
Rooted Pathways Counseling & Consulting
Mandala coloring with colored pencils to keep, plus candy, notebooks, and stickers.
3D-printed coping skill leaves to take home, plus guides to finding a therapist.
Sticker energy check-in, fidget spinners, Calm Strips, and a self-care raffle basket.
Jamie Stevens Counseling
Educational brochures, with two of their team on hand from 4 to 6 PM.
A campus-wide invitation
Bring your organization
Mental health is easier to talk about when there’s a low-pressure way in. Making something side by side, and seeing what others have added, opens that conversation without asking anyone to speak first.
Students in Illini Creative Impact are organizing the day, but it’s meant to belong to the whole campus. We’re inviting student organizations, departments, and community groups to help make it, as contributors to the work rather than names on a banner.
Ways to contribute
Bring your members
Come together and add to the artwork as a group.
Lead an activity
Host a drawing or craft station that reflects your community.
Contribute art
Share work from your members on the walls.
Share mental health resources
Help visitors find information and support.
Help spread the word
Share the invitation with your members, students, or colleagues.
Student organizations
Host a drawing table, bring your members to add to the artwork, or share artwork.
Mental health and community organizations
Share information and resources with students at the event.
Faculty, departments, and university leaders
Tell your students about it, stop by during the day, or help with the opening.
Collaborating with us
Creative Collective (ClubHub)
Game Builders
Life Drawing
Call to Care
Amateur Artists
Illini Union Board
Jamie Stevens Counseling
Opening ceremony · 10:00–10:30 AM
Make the first mark.
Before the rest of campus adds their voices, we’re inviting leaders from across Illinois to make the first contributions to a collective artwork for mental health awareness.
One small mark. A few minutes of your time. A reminder that no one in our community stands alone.
10:00 AM
A shared beginning
A brief welcome and a few words on creativity, mental health, and community.
10:10 AM
The first marks
Invited campus leaders and student representatives make the first contributions to the artwork together.
10:30 AM
The artwork opens to everyone
Students, faculty, staff, and community members keep building it for the rest of the day.
Making the first marks
Robin Kaler
Chief of Staff to the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor for Administrative Strategy
Stephen Bryan
Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Advocacy and Dean of Students
Lynford L. Goddard
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, The Grainger College of Engineering
Shandra A. Summerville
Cultural and Linguistic Competence Coordinator, Champaign County Mental Health Board
Domonic R. Cobb
Assistant Vice Chancellor and Senior Diversity Officer, Student Success, Inclusion, and Belonging
Diane M. Beck
Head of Department and Professor, Department of Psychology
Corky Emberson
Superintendent of Recreation, Urbana Park District
Joining us during the day
Jacob D. Pinholster
Dean and Professor, College of Fine and Applied Arts
Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko
Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate College
Gioconda Guerra Pérez
Interim Vice Chancellor and Executive Associate Vice Chancellor for ACRC
Medra Roberts-Southerland
Associate Director, Community and Strategic Engagements
Lowa Mwilambwe
Associate Vice Chancellor for Auxiliary, Health & Wellbeing
Can’t make the opening?
Your mark still matters.
Stop by any time from 10 AM to 8 PM to add to the growing artwork. It takes a few minutes, and no art experience is needed.
Bring your community along. Whether you represent a college, department, student organization, or campus office, encourage the people you work with to add their voices too.
Make your mark
Add a drawing, a color, or a few words to the collective artwork.
Share the moment
Take a photo in front of the artwork. Our team is happy to take it for you.
Inspire the next
If you’d like, post it to your story or your department’s channels, tag @uiuc_creativeimpact, and invite others to add theirs.
The first marks begin the story. The rest of campus makes it ours.
Call for student artists
Submit your artwork
We’re looking for student art about mental health. Selected pieces will be shown at the event on November 10.
Submit your artworkThemes we’re looking for
- Emotion
- Resilience
- Identity
- Personal experience
- Recovery
- Connection
Artwork we plan to show
Selected from our Earth Day Every Day contest.
Royal GazeTamara · Croatia 
Snow LeopardAlex · Illinois 
Spring SquirrelsJasmine · Illinois 
The Messy GeniusKevorkk Steven · Lagos, Nigeria 
Mullaghmore Unesco Site, IrelandFiona 
RainJeff 
M Elizabeth PhotographyMegan · Indiana 
São Jorge e o DragãoEdiomar · Santa Catarina, Brazil 
BloomingOrnela · Mallorca, Spain 
i will remain the sameParidhi · Illinois 
PlatasiJuana Perfecta · California 
Forces of NatureKrešimira · Croatia 
Along The StreetLeila · Illinois 
Mycelial MemoryGen · Illinois 
ConnectionsMalia · California 
ButterfliesAliyah · California 
At the Limits of Our KnowingTripp Baird · California 
Enduring ScrapsEthan · California
November 10, Illini Union
Plan your visit
- Date
- Tuesday, November 10, 2026
- Time
- 10 AM – 8 PM, the artwork grows all day
- Where
- Illini Union, Illini Room C (first floor), 1401 W Green St, Urbana, IL 61801
- Co-hosted by
- Illini Union Board and Illini Creative Impact
- Admission
- Free and open to everyone, with giveaways while they last. Drop in any time, RSVP optional.
- 10:00–10:30 AMOpening ceremony
- 10:30 AM–8:00 PMExhibition and collaborative artwork, open to all
Questions
Do I need to be an artist?
No. A color, a line, or a single word counts. The artwork is made of small contributions from people of every skill level.
Do I have to share anything personal?
No. Taking part is voluntary, and so is anything you choose to say. You can add a mark without writing about yourself at all.
Are materials provided?
Yes. All drawing materials for the collective artwork are provided.
When should I come?
The artwork is open from 10 AM to 8 PM and grows all day, so whenever you come, you’ll see it at a different stage.
How can my club or organization take part?
Student organizations can use the club collaboration form. Other organizations, faculty, and departments can email the organizers, Alex Zhang and Amelia Carpenter.
Support
Campus resources
The end of the semester can be a lot, and you don’t have to handle it alone. These services are here for UIUC students, on November 10 and every day after.
On campus
Counseling Center
217-333-3704Counseling for students, including same-day appointments by phone. For urgent needs, walk in during business hours, no appointment needed.
Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. 610 E. John St., Turner Student Services Building, second floor.
McKinley Health Center
217-333-2700The Mental Health Clinic offers evaluation, medication, and short-term therapy. Students in a mental health crisis can be seen on weekdays, 8 AM to 4 PM.
Call during business hours to book. Dial-A-Nurse at the same number, 24/7. 1109 S. Lincoln Ave., Urbana.
Any time, day or night
- Call or text 988
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text, in English or Spanish.
- 815-720-4953
Rosecrance Crisis Line
The Counseling Center’s after-hours line.
- Text HOME to 741741
Crisis Text Line
Text with a trained crisis counselor.
- Call 911
Emergency
If someone is in immediate danger.
Help make it happen
Volunteer or join the organizing team
Sign up for a shift on Nov 10, or help plan the day with us. No experience needed.
