CenteredKids Classes & CenteredStudents Seminars
Transformational, evidence-based and powerful mindfulness and awareness training for youth to develop attention, empathy and emotional-regluation for life.
About You
About You
About Your Organization
Organization Name
The Mindfulness Project, LLC
Organization Website
Organization Country
United States, NJ, Neptune
Country where this project is creating social impact
United States, NJ
Is your organization a
Non‐profit / NGO / Citizen sector organization
Your role in Education
Counselor, Other.
The type of school(s) your solution is affiliated with
Other
How long has your organization been operating?
Less than a year
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Innovation
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Growth (your pilot is up and running, and starting to expand)
How long has your solution been in operation?
Operating for less than a year
The Need: What problem are you trying to solve?
Today, our children are being diagnosed with depression, anxiety, ADHD, eating disorders, addictions and other self-destructive behaviors at epidemic rates. Cruelty, bullying and violence are on the rise. Most children could benefit from enriching the capacity to pay attention, to become less reactive, and to be more compassionate with themselves and others.
Over 30 years of research proves “mindfulness”,"concentration” decreases stress, depression, anxiety, and hostility, and enhances executive function, compassion and empathy.
Educators benefit from understanding the evidence-based science and how to integrate it into their school day. Developing inner-peace and the quality of full presence is our ultimate goal for our children.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
It is safe to assume that the remarkable results of stress-reduction and better overall well-being that we find in applying mindfulness to adults would be proven with children if the same practices are re-crafted with a child-orientation and applied over time to their experiences. The CenteredKids Class and Coaching Series as well as the educator seminars "CenteredStudents" provide just this.
Through a series of 9 classroom visits over a month period, combined with educator workshops, class and home reminders and even "PResent-Moment-Parenting" groups to help support at home, our children enjoy calm, centered, emotional-regulation and a well-cultivated sence of empathy for themselves and eachother
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include your primary activities
he focus is on helping our children experience their natural inner stillness and quietness, what we call the Center. Engaging in a variety of explanations, examples and exercises to practice coming from Center supports the development of a new habit. That habit is self-regulation. With practice, children will naturally engage in the techniques and tools when they need to be calm, collected, controlled because they have had exposure and experience and they are familiar with how to get there.
In essence, we have the ability to empower them to deal with life in new and deeply effective ways. We can develop empathy in kids. Empathy as a learned response is the goal.
We deliver the program in 15 or 25-minute sessions. When working with parent/child coaching, we work with 45-minute sessions and increase practice and discussion components.
Ideally, three times per week will require one 3-week cycle for immersion into the program. From there, we suggest weekly Centeredkids Class or sessions for maintaining the positive results. These sessions are 30 minutes and open for discussion and sharing of experiences.
Mindfulness skills training is the perfect complement to any drug awareness & prevention initiative and works on the “development of empathy” core asset of Anti-Bully programming. Current research on these important links is provided and referenced.
All of the programs, class series as well as professional development workshops and one-on-one coaching are available and customized to the needs and budgets of schools and organizations.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others also working to address the needs you are and what differentiates you from them. What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
Competition in this space is very limited. I was trained by the Mind Up! organization who deals primarily with educators, and Mindful Schools, who's core program is encompassed inside of CenteredKids. There a few single and small companies offering mindfulness education to schools, but the sector is brand new, ripe with opportunity and huge in terms of need.
Now that you have thought out your entry, help us pitch it.
Define your company, program, service, or product in 1-2 short sentences [136 characters]
CenteredKids is dedicated to bringing mindful-based instruction to schools and community to help build empathy and resiliency in youth.,
Identify what is innovative about your solution in 1-2 short sentences [136 characters]
CenteredKids is a creative combination of techniques proven to develop emotional-regulation,empathy reflective dispositions in children.
Social Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
We work with content that has been provem with over 10,000 students at risk in inner-city CA. Our programs have been successful helping teens, children in recovery, young adults in recovery and professional staff be more inspired to learn and use mindfulness techniques. Feedback includes participants sharing experiences of being calm, better controlled and being able to make better choices.
What is your projected impact over the next 1-3 years?
Our short-term goals include:
Completing the packaging and organization of all programs under the umbrella of The Mindfulness Project, LLC by the end of 2012. This includes new websites as deemed appropriate to market and deliver services to unique target markets.
Design all marketing materials, complimentary on-line marketing, social media and full marketing plan by end of 2012
Continue to provide grant-paid programs in Asbury Park NJ and expand offerings throughout NJ
Launch 1st Certified CenterMentor Teacher Training program 3rdQ 2012 to prepare for school engagements Fall 2012.
6 Certified CenterMentor Teachers on-board by September 2012 – (the ability to secure 60 school contracts for the 2012/2013 school year)
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
By Sept/Oct 2012 - CenteredKids will be in 20 Monmouth/Ocean County Schools, providing instruction to 500 children
Identify three major tasks you will have to complete to reach your six-month milestone
Task 1
Complete 1st Teacher Training Practicum (4 month course of study launching May 2012)
Task 2
Introduce concept to 100 schools via tele-classes and visits
Task 3
Complete the remaining publication of materials, plan execution strategy and accounting systems
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
By April 2013 - CenteredKids will be in 60 Schools, providing instruction to over 1500 students with 12 trained Mentor/Coaches
Identify three major tasks you will have to complete to reach your 12-month milestone
Task 1
Complete web/social marketing programs with full-time resource dedicated to web, leads, sales
Task 2
Full Time Managing Director in place dedicating full time to program, contracts, training and quality instruction
Task 3
Full business plan, board of directors and co-manager on board and contributing to the success of The Mindfulness Project
Founding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world [125 words]
It was by default and not design that I discovered the miracles of mindfulness, meditation and breath to relieve stress from our home! In times of tension or “crisis” we now watch our children naturally reach deep inside themselves to manage their emotions and find a personal, serene and safe place of comfort.
These concepts were new to me and even more foreign as tools for discipline, communication and child-rearing. As a business counselor, and personal coach, I began to find many other people in need of such solutions. I began to learn and then share simple breath, awareness and mindfulness practices with others and was amazed at what I saw. Children were less reactive , more empathetic, more aware and able to regulate their internal condition! Magnificent and powerful, the practices grew into classes and classes grew into adult education programs. Over 5 years, we've added non-violent communication and special resilient life skills training necessary in tween and teen years.
Sustainability
Tell us about your partnerships
Currently, we partner with Mercy Charities of Asury Park, the Monmouth County Park System and local private schools, offering classes and workshops. Once we have our team in place and classes ongoing, we plan to secure relationships with school personnel and organizations that cater to the after-school needs of children, non-profits and social services.
What type of team (staff, volunteers, etc.) will ensure that you achieve the growth milestones identified in the Social Impact section? [75 words]
Myself, my current volunteer business manager, 3-6 teachers who are now beginning their training, a board of directors whom I report to, including businessmen, one accountant and one Student Counselor very networked in schools.
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
Mentorship and help with the navigation of Non-Profit, Grant Writing and dealing with government agencies would be very beneficial. Legal help in terms of large-scale distribution. Social Media, PR and building brand in today's ecommerce space.
 | 59 weeks ago Mariel Miller said: We, at the Mindulness Project, are very grateful to have found this amazing resource. After working to complete the entry, we are very ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 59 weeks ago Mariel Miller updated this Competition Entry. |
| 59 weeks ago Mariel Miller submitted this idea. |
