Chapters

Chapters are the heart of our mission and where inspired grassroots action happens. Our vision is to have free chapter meetings throughout each school year, happening virtually or in-person all across the world--communities of practice with educators supporting and mentoring each other as they implement holistic approaches to education at their schools.

Most chapter meetings are 1-1.5 hours long and have the following format:

Introductions
Mindfulness Practice
Presentation of Learning Topic (examples: guest speaker, a chapter from a book, lesson plan from a curriculum)
Discussion of Topic
Build Practice Toolkits for Teaching Mindfulness Practices to Students
Sharing and Information Exchange

We are seeking a Chapter Coordinator (or Co-Coordinators) in each US state (or country) to be the main email contact for their state (or country). The Chapter Coordinator does outreach to find chapter meeting host locations and facilitators in their state or country. They also mentor their state's local chapter meeting facilitators. We host bi-monthly support meetings for chapter leadership.

Each state or country's chapter will grow slowly and organically as more and more chapter meeting facilitators volunteer to host meetings in their areas. No mindfulness expertise is needed to be a chapter coordinator or meeting facilitator; just a personal practice and passion for connecting educators, building your leadership skills, and growing the movement.

Once state chapters get rolling and membership grows, they can also organize expert trainings, retreats, workshops, or conferences for educators with the support of our nonprofit's infrastructure. We envision forming partnerships with large corporations, insurance companies, local community organizations, and foundations to help bring free and low-cost learning opportunities to educators through our chapters--joining together to create flourishing communities.

Thank you in advance for your inspired action!

Alaska

Local Chapter Contact:

Monica Claridge

Kodiak, AK

Monica.Claridge@kibsd.org

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/EdMindfullyAK/

Upcoming Events: Coming Soon

Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon

Delaware

Chapter Co-Coordinators:

Ashlee Upp, Khayree Bey, Teri Lawler

DEChapter@educatingmindfully.org

Facebook group: Coming Soon

Upcoming Events: The last chapter meeting will be held virtually on Apr 14 at 3:30. Next one TBA. To RSVP and for questions, contact Ashlee at dechapter@educatingmindfully.org.

Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon

Georgia

Chapter Coordinator:

Caitlin Nisos caitlin@whatdoesgoodlooklike.com

Facebook group: Coming soon

Upcoming Events: Coming Soon

Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon

Illinois

Chapter Coordinator:

Tracy Heilers

COSEM Founder & Executive Director

hello@educatingmindfully.org

630 337 7452

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/EdMindfullyIL/

Upcoming Events: We will have chapter meetings in each of the locations below during the school year. During COVID, attend chapter meetings at any location virtually as listed below. If you can facilitate meetings in another section of the state, contact Tracy.

We partnered with Glenbard Parent Series to bring the author of Alphabreaths and Raising Resilience, Dr. Chris Willard, to our area on Mar 10 and 11, 2020 (see photo below).

Northwest Suburbs Section

Meeting Facilitators: Lindsey Frank-Arlington Heights SD59, Ella Prejzner-Grow Mindfully

Upcoming chapter meeting TBA. RSVP for chapter meetings HERE. Questions? Contact ILchapterNWSub@educatingmindfully.org. Chapter website HERE.

Chicago Section

Meeting Facilitator: Elspeth Stowe-Grant, U of C Lab Schools

Upcoming chapter meetings are on Zoom on May 6 at 4:00. To RSVP and for questions, contact Elspeth at estoweg@ucls.uchicago.edu.

In the future, they will be at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. Directions: The street address is 5835 S. Kimbark. The meeting will take place in Judd Hall C116. Participants should enter the building through Gordon Parks Arts Hall located at the corner of 58th and Kimbark. Everyone will need to ring the bell and check-in with security.

West Suburbs Section

Meeting Facilitators: Jenny Franz-Downers Grove South HS, Gene Olsen-SD 89

Chapter meetings TBA. Meetings are all at CASE DuPage, 22W600 Butterfield Rd in Glen Ellyn and they will provide 2 CEU/PD credits for each. Register for each chapter meeting separately HERE. Contact Jenny with any questions at jfranz@csd99.org.

North Shore Section

Meeting Facilitators: Lauren Beversdorf-Bannockburn School, Matt Dewar-Lake Forest High School

Next chapter meeting TBA. Non-COVID times, at North Shore Academy located at 760 Red Oak Lane in Highland Park. For questions and to RSVP, contact Lauren at lbeversdorf@bannockburnschool.org.

Dekalb Section

Meeting Facilitator: Miriam (Mimi) Ojaghi-SEL Consultant at Dekalb Regional Office of Education

Next chapter meeting is TBA. Non-COVID times at Dekalb ROE, 2500 North Annie Glidden Rd in Dekalb. For questions and to RSVP, contact Mimi at mojaghi@dekalbcounty.org.

Local Mindfulness Resources (contact Tracy to add to list):

Bring it! Home

Dr. Doug Bolton

Gail Kolbeck, MEd, Behavior and Trauma-Informed Practices Strategist, Presenter and Mindfulness Practitioner in Springfield

Grow Mindfully

Grow Through Mindfulness

Resilient Mind Consulting

Unity Wellness Group

Indiana

Chapter Coordinator:

Jennifer Haston-Maciejewski

jhaston@gcsc.k12.in.us

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/EdMindfullyIN/

Upcoming Events: Coming Soon

Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon

Kentucky

Chapter Co-Coordinator:

Cindy Plappert

cindy.plappert@gmail.com

Chapter Co-Coordinator:

Catherine Graber

cgraber@virginia.edu

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/EdMindfullyKY/

Upcoming Events: Coming Soon

Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon

Maryland

Chapter Coordinator:

Mia Donovan

MDchapter@educatingmindfully.org

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/EdMindfullyNewEngland/

Upcoming Events: The 1st Maryland COSEM Chapter Meeting is Wed, May 26 from 4:00-5:00 pm. Our agenda includes an overview of COSEM resources, networking with other educators, and participating in a mindfulness practice with Special Guest Ross Robinson from Holistic Life Foundation. Mr. Robinson will also share about bringing mindfulness to Baltimore City Schools.

Local Mindfulness Resources: More coming soon

Michigan

MC4ME Contacts:

Rita Benn---ritakbenn@gmail.com

Kristin Ervin---kristinervin@gmail.com

Michigan Collaborative for Mindfulness in Education (MC4ME) is an established nonprofit that has a mission much like COSEM. Rather than forming a Michigan COSEM chapter, if you are an educator from Michigan, we'd like to connect you with this outstanding organization.

Minnesota

Chapter Coordinator:

Kathy Flamino

kathy@1000-petals.com

Facebook group: Coming Soon

Upcoming Events: Coming Soon

Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon

New Jersey

Chapter Coordinator:

Maral Varjabedyan

mvarjabedyan@gmail.com

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/EdMindfullyNJ/

Upcoming Events: Coming Soon

Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon

New Mexico

Chapter Coordinator:

We are seeking this position

Santa Fe

Meeting Facilitator:

Yvonne Sebastian

yvonne@mountaincloud.org

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/EdMindfullyNM/

Upcoming Events: Coming Soon

Local Mindfulness Resources:

Rio Grande Mindfulness Institute

New York

Chapter Coordinator:

Sharyn Hahn

nychapter@educatingmindfully.org

Wantagh Section

Meeting Facilitator:

Jennifer Vizina

bluebuffaloyoga@gmail.com

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/EdMindfullyNY/

Upcoming Events: The next chapter meeting is TBA.

Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon

North Carolina

Chapter Co-Coordinator:

Melinda Willingham

Alamance-Burlington School System

melinda_willingham@abss.k12.nc.us

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/EdMindfullyNC/

Upcoming Events: Coming Soon

Local Mindfulness Resources:

Integrity Movement Studio

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Pennsylvania

Chapter Coordinator:

Cindy Goldberg

Mindfulness Consultant and Coach

Jenkintown, PA

mindfulnesswithcindy@gmail.com

215 901 4383

Philadelphia Section

Meeting Facilitator:

Stacey Mandel

Founder of Bubbles and Flashlights

Bryn Mawr, PA

bubblesflashlights@gmail.com

Pittsburgh Section

Meeting Facilitator:

Ursula Lesic

urlc@verizon.net

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/EdMindfullyPA/

Upcoming Events: Summer Summit, August 3 from 9-12, see below for details and RSVP HERE

Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming Soon

CLICK HERE TO RSVP FOR FREE

The Pennsylvania Chapter is hosting a Summer Summit to bring together all PA educators who practice, teach or are interested in mindfulness to share, learn and grow. Join us to harness our collective wisdom! Attendees can earn CEUs and PDs and we'll have a mindfulness gift basket raffle. Guest Presenters:

Cindy Goldberg, Chapter Leader, "Flourishing with Mindfulness & Applied Positive Psychology"
Stacey Mandel, Chapter Facilitator,"Trauma-Sensitive Considerations"
Brigid Ryan, "Kidding Around Yoga"
Alyson Showell LaPorta, "Digital Teen Mindfulness Engagement"
Jesse Frechette, "Cultivating Our Inner Ally"
Peter Moses, "The Elementary Classroom"
Bonnie Weiss, "Teacher Self Care"