Mindfulness Practice “When you own your breath, nobody can steal your peace” –Author Unknown What is Mindfulness?

History of Holistic Life Foundation

Challenges of Working with Underserved Youth Missing generation Love is a bad word Lack of interconnectedness Lack of role models Not a neighborhood just a hood Trauma and PTSD Compassion = SOFT Drug Abuse Poverty Lack of access to opportunities Violence Lack of Healthy Food Hypervigilance Gangs

Yoga & Mindfulness Tutoring & Homework Assistance Community Service Environmental Education & Advocacy Athletics Music Art Holistic Me after school program

of 20 graduated from high school 19 of 20 either in college or working full time None incarcerated All still practice yoga in some form Academic Support Life Skills Job and College Readiness Community Service Diversity of Experiences Mindfulness

Program Growth: 3: school year 7: school year 17: school year Residency and Training Program Concentrations: Yoga and Mindfulness Instructor Training Annual Workforce Development Retreats Job Skills Training Begin Training Early HLF Programs: Workforce Development

Provides exposure to the world beyond Baltimore:  Assisting with Residency in Madison, WI  Assisting with HLF-led retreats at Omega and Garrison Institutes  Osterloh, Germany Trip Providing service and work opportunities:  Summer teaching in Bloomsburg, PA  Summer teaching at Y in Charlottesville, VA  Participants training peers in Charlottesville, VA Workforce Development: Notable Accomplishments Expansion Plans: Develop and implement a formalized curriculum for training to include:  Professional Development  Trauma-Informed Training  Working with Youth Number of Targeted Youth: For 2015, 45 intended trainees to result in 25 staff

Mindful Moment Daily Program Robert W Coleman Elementary 346 students daily, plus staff Patterson High School 1300 students daily, plus staff 15 Minute Practce Twice Daily Mindful Moment Room 4 Full Time Staff Mindful Ambassadors Teacher and Self Referrals

Mindful Moment Teacher Survey 68% observed some positive or significant positive change in classroom climate 73% observed some positive change or significant positive change in school climate 96% Feel that with increased engagement, the program has the chance to improve Patterson’s learning environment.

Suspensions for fighting – Down from 49 in school year to 23 in Suspensions in hallways and stairwells – Down from 62 in to 35 in Suspensions in the classroom – Down from 36 in to 17 in Attendance – Up from 71.3% in to 74.2% in th graders promoted to 10th grade – Up from 45% in to 64% in Average GPA of first time 9th graders – Up from 1.06 in the to 1.51 in Mindful Moment: Patterson High School Outcomes

Holistic Life Foundation Mindfulness Based Programs School Programs Substance Abuse Mental Health Juvenile Justice Workshops & Trainings Elderly Populations Environmental Gang Outreach Professional Development for Teachers and Administrators

Benefits of Mindfulness Self-Regulation & Self-empowerment Improved Concentration and Focus Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Awareness & Wellness Stress Reduction Anger Management Peaceful Conflict Resolution “Think Before You Act” Interconnectedness Foundation For Future Success

Come From a Place of Love

Be Present

Have Your Own Mindfulness Practice

Don’t Be Tied to Results

Make it Practical

Working with Problem Students

Make it Fun

Use Pop Culture

Principal, Teachers, then Students

Teaching Yoga and Mindfulness to High- Risk Youth Training Manual Whil Gro App Expanded International Programming Forthcoming book, with the publication and production team of Mindful Magazine Coming Soon From HLF

Holistic Life Foundation, Inc N. Howard Street Suite 140 Baltimore, MD Questions ?