CHAPTERS
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Click your state in the list below for state and local chapter details
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Regional Directors
Central & Western US Chapters: Lindsey Frank, lindsey.frank2016@gmail.com
Eastern US & International Chapters: Ohilda Holguin, ohiholguin@gmail.com
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Western USA
Hawaii-none yet
Idaho-none yet
Montana-none yet
Nevada-none yet
Oklahoma-none yet
Oregon-none yet
Utah-none yet
Wyoming-none yet
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Central USA
Alabama-none yet
Arkansas-none yet
Iowa-none yet
Kansas-none yet
Louisiana-none yet
Mississippi-none yet
Nebraska-none yet
North Dakota-none yet
Ohio-none yet
Tennessee-none yet
Eastern USA
Delaware-coming soon
Georgia-coming soon
Maryland-none yet
South Carolina-none yet
West Virginia-none yet
International
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, with educators supporting and mentoring each other as they implement holistic approaches to education at their schools.
Most chapter meetings are 1-2 hours long and have the following format:
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Introductions
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Mindfulness Practice
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Presentation of Learning Topic (examples: guest speaker, a chapter from a book, lesson plan from a curriculum)
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Discussion of Topic
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Build Practice Toolkits for Teaching Mindfulness Practices to Students
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Sharing and Information Exchange
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By the end of 2021, we are hoping to have a Chapter Coordinator (or Co-Coordinators) in each US state 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.
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 coordinator or facilitator; just a 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 mini-conferences for educators. Our vision is to create partnerships with large corporations, insurance companies, local community organizations, and family foundations to help bring free and low-cost learning opportunities to educators through our chapters, especially in areas that would not otherwise have access to trainings.
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Thank you in advance for your inspired action!
Alaska
Chapter Coordinator:
Monica Claridge
Kodiak, AK
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: We haven't had any chapter meetings yet. Click the join link above to let us know what area of the state you live and once we gather some interested educators, we'll plan some chapter meetings in the areas where they live. Until then, let's stay connected on our Facebook group.
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
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Arizona
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: We haven't had any chapter meetings yet. Click the join link above to let us know what area of the state you live and once we gather some interested educators, we'll plan some chapter meetings in the areas where they live. Until then, let's stay connected on our Facebook group.
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
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California
San Diego Section
Meeting Facilitator:
Craig Collins
Santa Clara Section
Meeting Facilitator:
Jennifer Holling-Blake
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: We haven't had any chapter meetings yet. Click the join link above to let us know what area of the state you live and once we gather some interested educators, we'll plan some chapter meetings in the areas where they live. Until then, let's stay connected on our Facebook group.
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
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Colorado
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: We haven't had any chapter meetings yet. Click the join link above to let us know what area of the state you live and once we gather some interested educators, we'll plan some chapter meetings in the areas where they live. Until then, let's stay connected on our Facebook group.
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
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Florida
Chapter Coordinator:
Mary Torres
Facebook group: Coming soon
Upcoming Events: We haven't had any chapter meetings yet. Click the join link above to let us know what area of the state you live and once we gather some interested educators, we'll plan some chapter meetings in the areas where they live. Until then, let's stay connected on our Facebook group.
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
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Illinois
Chapter Coordinator:
Tracy Heilers
COSEM Founder & Executive Director
630 337 7452
Facebook group:
Subscribe to Chapter Updates:
Upcoming Events: We will have chapter meetings in each of the sections below during the school year. If you can facilitate meetings in another section of the state, contact Tracy. Subscribe for reminders to IL chapter meetings and other chapter-hosted events.
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).
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Northwest Suburbs Section
Meeting Facilitators: Lindsey Frank-Arlington Heights SD59, Ella Prejzner-Grow Mindfully
Chapter meetings start at 4:30 on Apr 15, May 14, and June 4 at Arlington Heights Village Hall, 33 S. Arlington Heights Rd. RSVP for chapter meetings HERE. Questions? Contact . Chapter website HERE.
Chicago Section
Meeting Facilitator: Elspeth Stowe-Grant-U of C Lab Schools, Annmarie Chereso-Bring It! Home
Chapter meetings will be from 4:30-6:00 on Apr 14, and May 19. They will be at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. RSVP for chapter meetings HERE. Contact Elspeth at if you have questions or are able to co-facilitate the meetings with her.
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 will be from 4:30-6:30, the next one on April 7. 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
Chapter meetings will be on Mondays from 4:30-5:30, the next one is April 20 at North Shore Academy located at 760 Red Oak Lane in Highland Park. RSVP for chapter meetings HERE. Contact Lauren with any questions at
Dekalb Section
Meeting Facilitator: Miriam (Mimi) Ojaghi-SEL Consultant at Dekalb Regional Office of Education
Chapter meetings will be on Thursdays from 4:30-6:00, on Apr 9, and May 14. They will be 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):
Gail Kolbeck, MEd, Behavior and Trauma-Informed Practices Strategist, Presenter and Mindfulness Practitioner in Springfield
Indiana
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: We haven't had any chapter meetings yet. Click the join link above to let us know what area of the state you live and once we gather some interested educators, we'll plan some chapter meetings in the areas where they live. Until then, let's stay connected on our Facebook group.
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
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Kentucky
Chapter Coordinator:
Monica Delano
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: We haven't had any chapter meetings yet. Click the join link above to let us know what area of the state you live and once we gather some interested educators, we'll plan some chapter meetings in the areas where they live. Until then, let's stay connected on our Facebook group.
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
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Michigan
State Chapter Co-Coordinators
Kristen
Brittany
Grand Rapids Section
Meeting Facilitator:
Patti Ward
Hancock/Houghton Section
Meeting Facilitator:
Liz Leach
West Shores Section
Meeting Facilitator:
Lisa Cobb
Traverse Bay Section
Meeting Facilitator:
Kristen Ryder
Montcalm County Section
Meeting Facilitator:
Kire Wierda
SW/St Joseph Section
Meeting Facilitator:
Kathleen Belonga
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: We haven't had any chapter meetings yet. Click the join link above to let us know what area of the state you live and once we gather some interested educators, we'll plan some chapter meetings in the areas where they live. Until then, let's stay connected on our Facebook group.
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
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Minnesota
Note: This is not a chapter, but just an existing educator group that has a Facebook group and meets in the Minneapolis area. Contact us if you'd like to coordinate a MN chapter or facilitate meetings in different areas of the state.
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Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/185438905146332/
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
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Missouri
Chapter Coordinator:
Jennie Young
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: We haven't had any chapter meetings yet. Click the join link above to let us know what area of the state you live and once we gather some interested educators, we'll plan some chapter meetings in the areas where they live. Until then, let's stay connected on our Facebook group.
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
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New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT)
Massachusetts Section
Meeting Facilitator:
Gretchen Hibben
P. Brent Trottier Middle School
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Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: We'll no longer have this regional chapter, but instead will be creating separate chapters for each state. We'll update this webpage soon to reflect this.
Local Mindfulness Resources: More coming soon
CT Teachers for Yoga and Mindfulness in Schools Facebook group
New Jersey
Chapter Coordinator:
Nicole Meyrick
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: We haven't had any chapter meetings yet. Click the join link above to let us know what area of the state you live and once we gather some interested educators, we'll plan some chapter meetings in the areas where they live. Until then, let's stay connected on our Facebook group.
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
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New Mexico
Chapter Coordinator:
We are seeking this position
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: We haven't had any chapter meetings yet. Click the join link above to let us know what area of the state you live and once we gather some interested educators, we'll plan some chapter meetings in the areas where they live. Until then, let's stay connected on our Facebook group.
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
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New York
NYC Chapter Coordinator:
Ohilda Holguin
Rochester Section
Meeting Facilitator:
Sara Oliveiri
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: We haven't had any chapter meetings yet. Click the join link above to let us know what area of the state you live and once we gather some interested educators, we'll plan some chapter meetings in the areas where they live. Until then, let's stay connected on our Facebook group.
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
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North Carolina
Chapter Co-Coordinator:
Melinda Willingham
Alamance-Burlington School System
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: Thank you to the educators that attended the mindfulness retreat in August 2019 hosted by York Elementary!
Click the join link above to let us know what area of the state you live and once we gather some interested educators, we'll plan some chapter meetings in the areas where they live. Until then, let's stay connected on our Facebook group.
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
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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
Pittsburgh Section
Meeting Facilitator:
Tina Raspanti
Mt. Lebanon School District
CARE Facilitator
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: Thank you to the 40+ educators who attended our first event at Arcadia University on August 5, 2019 in Glenside. Click the join link above to learn about our next events. Share your ideas for next events with us!
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming Soon
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South Dakota
Chapter Coordinator:
Sheila Anderson
Britton, SD
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: We haven't had any chapter meetings yet. Click the join link above to let us know what area of the state you live and once we gather some interested educators, we'll plan some chapter meetings in the areas where they live. Until then, let's stay connected on our Facebook group.
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
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Texas
Chapter Coordinator:
We are seeking this position
Houston Section
Meeting Facilitator:
Athea Davis
Facebook group: Coming soon
Upcoming Events: We haven't had any chapter meetings yet. Click the join link above to let us know what area of the state you live and once we gather some interested educators, we'll plan some chapter meetings in the areas where they live. Until then, let's stay connected on our Facebook group.
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
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Virginia
Chapter Coordinator:
Julie Chamberlain
Williamsburg, VA
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: We haven't had any chapter meetings yet. Click the join link above to let us know what area of the state you live and once we gather some interested educators, we'll plan some chapter meetings in the areas where they live. Until then, let's stay connected on our Facebook group.
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
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Washington
Chapter Coordinator:
Renee Metty
Seattle, WA
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: We haven't had any chapter meetings yet. Click the join link above to let us know what area of the state you live and once we gather some interested educators, we'll plan some chapter meetings in the areas where they live. Until then, let's stay connected on our Facebook group.
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
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Washington DC
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: Thank you to the educators who attended the Budding Brains one day conference at Horace Mann Elementary School. Here is a video with highlights. Click the join link above to learn details on chapter activities. We are seeking chapter meeting facilitators to have monthly meetings throughout the DC area. Until then, let's stay connected on our Facebook group.
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
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Wisconsin
Chapter Coordinator:
Our first coordinator is no longer able; we are seeking a new coordinator.
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: We haven't had any chapter meetings yet. Click the join link above to let us know what area of the state you live and once we gather some interested educators, we'll plan some chapter meetings in the areas where they live. Until then, let's stay connected on our Facebook group.
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
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Canada
Ontario Chapter Facilitator:
Angela Ventrice
Ontario Chapter Faciliator:
Lisa Clarke
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: We haven't had any chapter meetings yet. Click the join link above to let us know what area of the country you live and once we gather some interested educators, we'll plan some chapter meetings in the areas where they live. Until then, let's stay connected on the Ontario chapter Facebook group. Let us know if you want to start a chapter in another area of the country!
Local Mindfulness Resources:
laLA Wellness Yoga and Mindfulness Programs
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United Kingdom
Scotland Chapter Coordinator:
David Hooper
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: We haven't had any chapter meetings yet. Click the link above to let us know what area of the country you live and once we gather some interested educators, we'll plan some chapter meetings in the areas where they live. Until then, let's stay connected on the Scotland chapter Facebook group. Let us know if you want to start a chapter in another area of the country!
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
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