• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Advertising
  • Join PGM
Pepperdine Graphic

Pepperdine Graphic

  • News
    • Good News
  • Sports
    • Hot Shots
  • Life & Arts
  • Perspectives
    • Advice Column
    • Waves Comic
  • GNews
    • Staff Spotlights
    • First and Foremost
    • Allgood Food
    • Pepp in Your Step
    • DunnCensored
    • Beyond the Statistics
  • Special Publications
    • 5 Years In
    • L.A. County Fires
    • Change in Sports
    • Solutions Journalism: Climate Anxiety
    • Common Threads
    • Art Edition
    • Peace Through Music
    • Climate Change
    • Everybody Has One
    • If It Bleeds
    • By the Numbers
    • LGBTQ+ Edition: We Are All Human
    • Where We Stand: One Year Later
    • In the Midst of Tragedy
  • Currents
    • Currents Spring 2025
    • Currents Fall 2024
    • Currents Spring 2024
    • Currents Winter 2024
    • Currents Spring 2023
    • Currents Fall 2022
    • Spring 2022: Moments
    • Fall 2021: Global Citizenship
    • Spring 2021: Beauty From Ashes
    • Fall 2020: Humans of Pepperdine
    • Spring 2020: Everyday Feminism
    • Fall 2019: Challenging Perceptions of Light & Dark
  • Podcasts
    • On the Other Hand
    • RE: Connect
    • Small Studio Sessions
    • SportsWaves
    • The Graph
    • The Melanated Muckraker
  • Print Editions
  • NewsWaves
  • Sponsored Content
  • Digital Deliveries
  • DPS Crime Logs

RISE Solidifies Community With Art at Creative Cafe

April 21, 2024 by Ivan Manriquez

Students and staff gathered March 23, in the Fireside Room for Creative Cafe. The hour of rocking creativity was a perfect way to unwind and enjoy food and coffee provided by RISE. Photos by Olivia Schneider
Students and staff gathered March 23, in the Fireside Room for Creative Cafe. The hour of rocking creativity was a perfect way to unwind and enjoy food and coffee provided by RISE. Photos by Olivia Schneider

RISE’s latest community effort — Creative Cafe — mixed all of the ingredients of delicious coffee from JV Espresso, fresh food from Chipotle and supplies for coloring rocks March 24. RISE, which stands for Resilience Informed Skills Education, has been working on campus to build community and foster a stronger sense of resilience among students.

The presentation began with a necessary message of the work RISE does — not to promote toxic positivity but to “embrace challenges,” said RISE program specialist Jackie Nat.

The short presentation from RISE transitioned into an introduction led by the event’s organizer, Dr. Khanh Bui, a Psychology professor of 27 years, who brought a special message of resilience through creative expression to the event on Saturday.

Transformed Through Art

Bui found a book titled “Your Brain On Art,” which explains how art is important for resilience, she said. The book by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross further fueled her fire to work with RISE and make an event like Creative Cafe happen.

“I feel like I am most alive when I teach, and I love sharing what I have learned,” Bui said.

RISE initially intended for this workshop to be split into two events: one for faculty and staff and one for students.

“Why don’t we do one for both?” Bui asked, bringing the students and staff together to learn and paint together.

Bui navigated this two-hour-long workshop in an engaging manner, which allowed attendees to experience creative relief and learn to combat stress through social connections, enjoying music and painting rocks.

As the workshop began, the audience of 80+ attendees learned facts about stress and how art can combat it. Art cultivates well-being, and people attending art events such as a museum, a play or an opera report higher life satisfaction, according to “Your Brain On Art.”

Bui then introduced her student who performed some opera for the group. As soon as she opened her mouth to sing, the room fell silent, and the sounds of vibrato and skilled opera techniques took over the room.

“Whenever I hear Peyton sing, my soul soars,” Bui said.

Bui continued the workshop embracing music and she called on everyone to get up and let loose. She began to play the song “Y.M.C.A.” by Village People, causing everyone to dance for a few minutes and allowing a gentle moment to unwind through music.

Sophomore Carly Duerre smiles as she dances the "Y.M.C.A." at Creative Cafe on March 23, in the Fireside Room. The group of 80+ people spent time together engaged in creative relief activities like dancing and coloring rocks.
Sophomore Carly Duerre smiles as she dances the “Y.M.C.A.” at Creative Cafe on March 23, in the Fireside Room. The group of 80+ people spent time together engaged in creative relief activities like dancing and coloring rocks.

“This RISE event was more calming and engaging than other RISE events I’ve attended,” sophomore Sydney Tejada said. “There were also peaceful-minded activities and how to calm yourself back down.”

After the active dance segment, Bui then transitioned to mindful breathing exercises.

“Breathe in calm. Breathe out stress,” Bui said to the audience.

First-year Bella Alfonso poses with her Hello Kitty-designed rock at the Creative Cafe on March 23, in the Fireside Room. Many students colored animals, mandalas or characters on their rocks.
First-year Bella Alfonso poses with her Hello Kitty-designed rock at the Creative Cafe on March 23, in the Fireside Room. Many students colored animals, mandalas or characters on their rocks.

 

After the moment to breathe, the workshop became a creative space for coloring rocks.

After over 20 minutes of mindful meditative coloring, the professor had people share a few words of reflection. Many students and staff painted rocks of relaxing landscapes, meaningful mantras, animals or intricate patterns. All artwork featured students tapping into their creative side.

(From left) Student employees junior Mariah Hernandez, junior Steven Cordova, and first-year Sofia Preston, smile for a picture March 23, for Creative Cafe in the Fireside Room. RISE student employees alongside their program specialists and Dr. Bui Khanh, were responsible for putting the event together.
(From left) Student employees junior Mariah Hernandez, junior Steven Cordova, and first-year Sofia Preston, smile for a picture March 23, for Creative Cafe in the Fireside Room. RISE student employees alongside their program specialists and Dr. Bui Khanh, were responsible for putting the event together.

The workshop was an excellent way to creatively unwind and recognize creative relief as a crucial ingredient for mental health, Bui said.

“The stress is definitely building up as we enter that last month, so taking the time to be able to sit and be creative with people is very helpful for me mentally — to process and relax a little bit,” senior Anne Towles said.

_________________

Follow the Graphic on X: @PeppGraphic

Contact Ivan Vicente Manriquez via email: ivan.manriquez@pepperdine.edu

Filed Under: Life & Arts Tagged With: Anne Towles, art, art expression, Chipotle Mexican Grill, creative cafe, creative outlet, Ivan Vicente Manriquez, Khanh Bui, Life and Arts, pepperdine graphic media, Resilience, RISE, Sydney Tejada

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Featured
  • News
  • Life & Arts
  • Perspectives
  • Sports
  • Podcasts
  • G News
  • COVID-19
  • Fall 2021: Global Citizenship
  • Everybody Has One
  • Newsletters

Footer

Pepperdine Graphic Media
Copyright © 2025 · Pepperdine Graphic

Contact Us

Advertising
(310) 506-4318
peppgraphicadvertising@gmail.com

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
(310) 506-4311
peppgraphicmedia@gmail.com
Student Publications
Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Hwy
Malibu, CA 90263
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube