CHAPTERS
Click your state in the list below for state and local chapter details
Contact Director of COSEM Chapters, Lindsey Frank, with any questions: lindsey.frank2016@gmail.com
Western USA
Arizona-none yet
California-none yet
Colorado-none yet
Hawaii-none yet
Idaho-none yet
Montana-none yet
Nevada-none yet
Oklahoma-none yet
Oregon-none yet
Texas-none yet
Utah-none yet
Central USA
Alabama-none yet
Arkansas-none yet
Iowa-none yet
Kansas-none yet
Louisiana-none yet
Mississippi-none yet
Missouri-none yet
Nebraska-none yet
North Dakota-none yet
Ohio-none yet
Tennessee-none yet
Eastern USA
Connecticut-none yet
Florida-none yet
Maine-none yet
Massachusetts-none yet
New Hampshire-none yet
Rhode Island-none yet
South Carolina-none yet
Vermont-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--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
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: Coming Soon
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
Delaware
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 .
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
Georgia
Chapter Coordinator:
Caitlin Nisos
Facebook group: Coming soon
Upcoming Events: Coming Soon
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
Illinois
Chapter Coordinator:
Tracy Heilers
COSEM Founder & Executive Director
630 337 7452
Facebook group:
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 . 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 .
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 .
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 .
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 .
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: Coming Soon
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
Kentucky
Chapter Co-Coordinator:
Cindy Plappert
Chapter Co-Coordinator:
Catherine Graber
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: Coming Soon
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
Maryland
Chapter Coordinator:
Mia Donovan
Facebook group:
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
Kristin
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
Facebook group: Coming Soon
Upcoming Events: Coming Soon
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
New Jersey
Chapter Coordinator:
Maral Varjabedyan
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: Coming Soon
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
New Mexico
Chapter Coordinator:
We are seeking this position
Santa Fe
Meeting Facilitator:
Yvonne Sebastian
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: Coming Soon
Local Mindfulness Resources:
Rio Grande Mindfulness Institute
New York
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: The next chapter meeting is TBA.
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
North Carolina
Chapter Co-Coordinator:
Melinda Willingham
Alamance-Burlington School System
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: Coming Soon
Local Mindfulness Resources:
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:
Ursula Lesic
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: Coming Soon
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming Soon
South Dakota
Chapter Coordinator:
Sheila Anderson
Britton, SD
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: Coming Soon
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
Virginia
Chapter Coordinator:
Laurie Seidel
Roanoke, VA
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: Coming Soon
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
Washington
Chapter Coordinator:
Renee Metty
Seattle, WA
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: Coming Soon
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
Washington DC
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: Coming Soon
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
Wisconsin
Chapter Coordinator:
Molly Holsen
Milwaukee, WI
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: The next chapter meeting is Thursday, May 20 from 6:30-7:30 via Zoom. RSVP with Molly.
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
Wyoming
Chapter Coordinator:
Michelle Carr
Rock Springs, WY
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: Coming Soon
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon
Canada
Ontario Chapter Facilitator:
Angela Ventrice
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: Coming Soon
Local Mindfulness Resources:
laLA Wellness Yoga and Mindfulness Programs
United Kingdom
Scotland Chapter Coordinator:
David Hooper
Facebook group:
Upcoming Events: Coming Soon
Local Mindfulness Resources: Coming soon