Peace and Justice Institute

Mindfulness has swept the globe in the last decade, finding a home in both religious and secular communities. Plucked from the Buddhist practice of Vipassana meditation (insight meditation), mindfulness offers a method for training the brain that has influenced Western clinical therapeutic approaches. This workshop will explore those influences, offer testimonies from practitioners on the impact of regular sitting meditation, and provide opportunities to engage in varied short practices.

Brene Brown writes, “Empathy builds connection.” In fact, empathy is a critical tool in cultivating a compassionate presence to support others in times of need. Different from sympathy, this skill can be developed in each of us and begins with the ability to show self-compassion. This workshop will lead participants through exercises that build self-compassion and empathetic responses to others.

This presentation will provide an overview of the impact of adverse childhood experiences on latter development and explore ways to navigate through students' behavioral and emotional problems in our classroom.

Healing Circles are a safe space for conversation, designed to remove blaming and shaming and to welcome honest, open sharing of our personal experiences, struggles, and triumphs. Human connection and having a community of support are significant ways to build resilience.

Elementary aged children and their parents, guardians, and teachers are invited to learn simple ways to recenter after the school day. Join Valencia Librarian, Emilie Buckley for stories, art, and pebble meditation.  Children will need: 4 small pebbles (or beans, coins, legos, etc), paper, pencil, and crayons/markers.

Tomorrow’s Hope - The Promise of Early Childhood Education Reconnecting with three high school seniors who had started out in the Educare Preschool's first-ever class, the film explores how early education can set forth lasting pathways for brighter outcomes - even in the most brutally unforgiving of environments.