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 quarterly 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/

Delaware

Chapter Co-Coordinators:

Ashlee Upp, Khayree Bey, Teri Lawler

DEChapter@educatingmindfully.org

Upcoming Events: Our next chapter meeting is Wed, April 27, 4-5:15p ET

Georgia

Chapter Co-Coordinators:

Kimberly Bennett, Caitlin Nisos, and Ashley Baer

GAChapter@educatingmindfully.org

Upcoming Events: Our next chapter meeting is Tue, April 26, 7-8p ET

COSEM GA Chapter Website

COSEM GA Chapter Facebook Group

Illinois

Chapter Coordinator:

Tracy Heilers

COSEM Founder & Executive Director

hello@educatingmindfully.org

630 337 7452

Upcoming Events: During COVID times, we are joining our local chapters to have virtual quarterly meetings altogether with meeting facilitators taking turns leading them.

If you would like to 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 TBA. 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 Facilitator: Jenny Franz-Downers Grove South HS

Chapter meetings TBA. Register for each chapter meeting separately HERE. Contact Jenny with any questions at jfranz@csd99.org.

North Shore Section

Meeting Facilitators: 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/

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/

Maryland

Chapter Coordinator:

Mia Donovan

MDchapter@educatingmindfully.org

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

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.