The idea for a mindfulness program was sparked in Spring 2007 when a visiting therapist
working at Park Day and at the neighboring public school commented that the students at the public
school were in tremendous turmoil. Laurie Grossman, Park's Outreach Coordinator, and Richard Shankman,
a long-time mindfulness teacher, responded by creating a program to bring mindfulness training to the
children and their teachers. The program began almost immediately with the first 5-week pilot
program.
The results were so inspiring that mindfulness teacher Megan Cowan immediately implemented
the program in another local school. The responses from students, principals, and teachers were so
encouraging that Laurie, Richard and Megan decided to establish the Community Partnership for
Mindfulness in Education (now Mindful Schools) as a major project of Park's outreach program.
Our mission is to empower and support young people to live happy and fulfilling lives by
helping them fulfill their academic potential, be more emotionally aware, empathetic, and mindful of
their thoughts and actions.
Please watch this
ABC Local News clip
(also available in Windows Media format)
showing our program in action:
