Mindfulness – Peace Learning Center

30 09, 2022

Recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month 2022

Brandi Metzger2022-09-30T12:54:47-04:00September 30th, 2022|Tags: awareness, community, education, indianapolis, Mindfulness, Social and Emotional Learning, social justice|

Peace Learning Center joins the nation in celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15). We believe this country is made greater by the culture, history, and contributions of Hispanic Americans. In this blog we have included 1.) a brief explanation of terms, 2.) local groups whose work center the Hispanic community, and 3.) local events where we can join others in celebrating this special time! 1. Terms Hispanic refers to people of Spanish-speaking origin. “Hispanic” is an ethnicity. The term was adopted in the 1970s by the U.S. government to try to classify people from Latin America under a common identity (NPR). Under federal policy, Hispanic is not a race. However, many multiracial Americans consider their Hispanic background as part of their race (Pew). Latino (grammatically masculine) or Latina (grammatically feminine) refers to people residing in the U.S. who are of Latin-American descent (NPR). Some use Latinx or Latine as gender-neutral terms. “Brazilians are Latino because the country is located in Latin America. But Brazilians aren’t considered Hispanic because the country’s primary language is Portuguese. Meanwhile, Latinx identity brings together people in South and Central America, who may share a history of Spanish colonization, but that category isn’t defined by having Spanish-speaking ancestry,” (Vox). 2. Local Groups La Plaza OUR MISSION: La Plaza strengthens Central Indiana by advocating and preparing Latino students for educational success and by connecting Latino families to health and social services. OUR

11 11, 2015

The Mindful Path – Grounding Your Day

Brandi Metzger2021-05-20T17:42:03-04:00November 11th, 2015|Tags: Mindfulness|

Hello from guest blogger, Lisa Robinson! Personal mindfulness can help to ground your day. Something that I really benefit from is to start my day quietly with a cup of coffee and a journal. I write down the first three things that come to mind for which I'm grateful. These can be very simple things. Sometimes, I'm grateful for the cup of coffee in my hands (yes, it's a large cup). It's good to go with what comes to mind first and not overthink it. Then, I write down what will bring me joy. It can be something that I know will happen during the day, or something that I will make the time to do. For me, it can be listening to specific music on the drive to work. It could be planning to bake something after work, or relaxing with my husband and our cat, or exercising. It's easy to make this practice your own. You might want to use a computer to document your thoughts. You might want to do it at the end of the day instead of at the start. I flex off an approach in the wonderful book "The Joy of Appreciative Living" by Jacqueline Kelm. Click here for more info: Book Link My morning mindfulness practice helps me to step back from the jumble of thoughts in my head and to be present in a moment of peace. I hope that

27 10, 2015

The Mindful Path – Healing Our Wounds

Brandi Metzger2021-05-20T17:42:04-04:00October 27th, 2015|Tags: healing, Mindfulness|

Hello from guest blogger, Lisa Robinson! In this post, I want to share a wonderful article from Mindful magazine. It’s about one of the most intense healing opportunities there is – to help war veterans use mindfulness to return to life after their military service. The article is called “Healing Waters,” and it brought tears to my eyes. You can find it here: Healing Waters Article The article presents what a group of veterans experience on a whitewater rafting trip offered by the program “Honoring the Path of the Warrior.” Here’s a short video from one of the founders explaining why she got involved in this work: Warrior Video After returning from the sorrows of war, veterans can be broken in many ways……physically, emotionally, spiritually. The whitewater experience is “group work toward recovery with a daily routine that includes training in mindful breathing and instructions on nurturing compassion for themselves and each other. The vets, in turn, help each other as they dare to be increasingly honest about their struggles and triumphs.” I am moved by how this example of mindfulness for healing speaks to the power of the human spirit and to our need to receive and give compassion. For more information about “Honoring the Path of the Warrior,” see here: About the Organization I look forward to being back with you again in my next post.

13 10, 2015

The Mindful Path – Courage & Renewal

Brandi Metzger2021-05-20T17:42:05-04:00October 13th, 2015|Tags: courage, Mindfulness, renewal|

Hello from guest blogger, Lisa Robinson! In this final quarter of the year, my posts on mindfulness will focus on how it can be used for healing and renewal. I want to share information about the work of the Center for Courage & Renewal. This organization was founded by Parker J. Palmer, a speaker and activist who focuses on issues in education, community, leadership, spirituality and social change. The Center’s mission is to “create a more just, compassionate and healthy world by nurturing personal and professional integrity, and the courage to act on it.” How does this work? Through mindful practices and programs that enhance awareness and intention, the Center’s Circle of Trust® approach provides a process of shared exploration where people can find safe space to nurture personal and professional integrity and the courage to act on it. Many resources are available on the web site: Center for Courage & Renewal Site Although mindfulness can be viewed as a solitary practice where each individual discovers it alone, the Center for Courage & Renewal’s group programs show that there can be wonderful support and shared growth when groups come together to enhance their awareness of what’s most important and how to more effectively express it in their life and work. In addition to programs for individuals, the Center provides profession-specific offerings for: • Clergy & people of faith • Educators • Health care professionals • Leaders Here’s a video from

22 09, 2015

The Mindful Path – Mindfulness Connects Police and Community

Brandi Metzger2021-05-20T17:42:07-04:00September 22nd, 2015|Tags: community, Mindfulness, police|

Hello from guest blogger, Lisa Robinson! In this last post of the quarter on Mindfulness and the Community, we’ll introduce how mindfulness practiced by police officers connects them to the community in a unique and meaningful way that improves outcomes. Let’s start with a video from mindful.org, the online home of “Mindful,” the print magazine, and lots of additional content. Watch Richard Goerling talk about how mindful policing can make a difference: Mindful Policing Video Below is a link in mindful.org to a related article that Goerling wrote for “The Police Chief,” where he discusses the reactive approach police generally use, and how applying mindfulness on the job can enhance officer performance in the most challenging situations, improving police-citizen encounters. Mindfulness Impacts Police Article Finally, in this article from the management consulting firm, Hay Group, see what happens to the brain under stress, and how mindfulness can make a difference: Brain Stress Article The Hay Group article demonstrates how awareness of what’s happening and taking mindful action can dramatically impact a stressful police situation. Every time I read the opening example, it gives me chills because it’s clear that mindfulness can mean the difference between life and death on any given day, depending on how a police officer decides to handle a situation. Mindfulness can be a powerful resource for our communities. Where do you see its application in the area where you live? Are there ways that you can

8 09, 2015

The Mindful Path – Impacting the Community Through the Arts

Brandi Metzger2021-05-20T17:42:08-04:00September 8th, 2015|Tags: arts, community, Mindfulness, transformation|

Hello from guest blogger, Lisa Robinson! I have a wonderful mindfulness story to share with you in this post. It’s about Bill Strickland, an incredible man with an amazing vision. Some years ago, I had the opportunity to see Bill make a presentation as part of a “Fast Company” magazine event, and the power of his story, passion for making a difference, and personal presence are forever in my thoughts. In high school, Bill found himself drifting without purpose. One day, he went by the classroom of Frank Ross, an art teacher who was making clay pots. Bill wandered in and asked Ross to show him how to do that, and the experience was the start of changing his life. Ultimately, with mentoring from Ross, Bill went to college. He found an audacious way to give back to his community, transforming the lives of young students and adults. Bill saw the impact the arts had on his life, and he had to find a way to share it with others. Bill is a community leader, author, and the President and CEO of the non-profit Manchester Bidwell Corporation based in Pittsburgh. The company's subsidiaries, the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild and Bidwell Training Center, work with disadvantaged and at-risk youth through involvement with the arts and provides job training for adults, respectively. Strickland is a winner of a MacArthur “Genuis” Award and the 2011 Goi Peace Award. The best way to really understand

18 08, 2015

The Mindful Path – Transforming the Corrections System

Brandi Metzger2021-05-20T17:42:09-04:00August 18th, 2015|Tags: community, corrections, Mindfulness|

Hello from guest blogger, Lisa Robinson! In this post, another in our series this quarter on mindfulness in the community, we’ll look at the great work of Prison Mindfulness Institute (PMI). See their web site here: https://www.prisonmindfulness.org/. You’ll find a lot of helpful resources and information at this site. Their mission: “is to provide prisoners, prison staff and prison volunteers, with the most effective, evidence-based tools for rehabilitation, self-transformation, and personal & professional development. In particular, we provide and promote the use of proven effective mindfulness-based interventions (MBI’s). Our dual focus is on transforming individual lives as well as transforming the corrections system as a whole in order to mitigate its extremely destructive impact on families, communities and the overall social capital of our society.” This work has the potential to make a significant difference in the communities where individuals are incarcerated. A major tool used in prison programs led by PMI is Path of Freedom®, a mindfulness-based emotional intelligence (MBEI) model for at-risk and incarcerated youth and adult prisoners developed by Kate Crisp and Fleet Maull. Here’s a link to a video about use of this program: https://vimeo.com/46701853 If you’re interested in finding out about where programs have been offered, here’s a link to more details: https://ow.ly/R2pqJ It’s great to see how mindfulness can be used in this unique way to serve not only a population of incarcerated individuals, but also to positively impact the communities in which prisons

4 08, 2015

The Mindful Path – Mindfulness for Community Improvement

Brandi Metzger2021-05-20T17:42:09-04:00August 4th, 2015|Tags: community, Mindfulness, volunteering|

Hello from guest blogger, Lisa Robinson! In this post, I’d like to share information about Tamarack, a nonprofit in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada that “develops and supports learning communities that help people to collaborate, co-generate knowledge and achieve collective impact on complex community issues.” The web site is here: https://tamarackcommunity.ca Tamarack offers three learning communities: • Communities Collaborating for Impact (Leading Collaboratively) • Vibrant Communities Canada (Poverty Reduction Strategies) • Deepening Community At the main web site, you’ll find links to additional sites for each of the learning communities. There are many, fine organizations around the world providing excellent services that encourage taking mindful action. Our own Peace Learning Center serves as a wonderful example of such an organization that makes a difference in the community. No matter where you live or work, I encourage you to think of the community where you live. In the context of Tamarack’s learning communities, where might there be opportunities for you to get involved in activities to support positive action in leading collaboratively, reducing poverty, or deepening community? If you live in the greater Indianapolis area, the annual Get On Board event is coming up on October 5. What’s Get On Board? It’s an opportunity to find out about area nonprofits looking for individuals who want to serve as board members or in other volunteer capacities. If you want to find out more, please see the site here: https://ow.ly/QtSCi There are so many ways

24 07, 2015

Take a Peace Hike!

Brandi Metzger2021-05-20T17:42:10-04:00July 24th, 2015|Tags: Mindfulness, nature, nature hike, peacefulness|

TAKE A PEACE HIKE! Taking a peace hike is one of the most anticipated activities for the hundreds of children who visit us at our home in Eagle Creek Park each summer for our Peacebuilders Camp program. For many, it's their only chance to get outside and explore nature each year. We have even heard our campers say, "Is that the ocean?" as they gaze at the reservoir. According to Richard Louv who wrote the book "Last Child in the Woods," nature deficit disorder is the psychological, physical, and cognitive costs of human alienation from nature which is especially detrimental for children in their developing years. Time spent in nature - even a walk through trees in an urban park - can have a positive impact on mental and physical health and enhance learning. Exposure to nature can improve resistance to negative stresses and depression. And the protective impact of nearby nature is strongest for the most vulnerable children - those experiencing the highest levels of stress from overwhelming life events. So, we hope you'll make some time to get your children outside and encourage them to enjoy the many benefits of nature. Learn more about Peace Learning Center programs by visiting our website atpeacelearningcenter.org/what-we-do/

21 07, 2015

The Mindful Path – A Special Mentoring Program

Brandi Metzger2021-05-20T17:42:10-04:00July 21st, 2015|Tags: community, mentor, Mindfulness, volunteering|

Hello from guest blogger, Lisa Robinson! With our focus on mindfulness in the community this quarter, I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to tell you about Starfish Initiative, a college access and readiness program serving economically disadvantaged high school students in Marion County here in Indianapolis. The program gets its name from the “Starfish Story,” where a man slowly and carefully rescues starfish stranded on a beach by gently tossing them back into the water. The beach is covered with thousands of starfish, and a passerby remarks that the man’s efforts aren’t very meaningful. As he tosses another starfish back into the water, the man replies, “It mattered to that one.” That same mindful action taken to make a difference permeates the work of Starfish Initiative. They match college-educated mentors with academically-promising, low-income high school students. A mentor serves as a “college coach,” helping their mentee, referred to as a Scholar, to stay on track to graduate from high school and prepare for college. Many Scholars will be first-generation college graduates, and benefit from the insight and guidance that a mentor can share because they have successfully navigated their own college journey. Mentors make a two-year commitment to their Scholar. They meet twice a month, and stay in touch by calling, texting, or emailing during other weeks. Many mentors ask to remain with their Scholar through the last two years of high school to conclude the formal relationship