Peace in Schools will present a conversation with leading experts in the relationships between mindfulness, trauma, healing, and social and ecological justice at Revolution Hall in Portland on January 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. "Mindfulness, Trauma and Interpersonal Healing in Education" will bring together Dr. Dan Siegel, Dr. Sará King, and Caverly Morgan, of whom the latter two will join host Paul Roland for this program, along with Gia Naranjo-Rivera, who will be moderating the discussion and will share new research on Peace in Schools.
Youth in our nation are experiencing unprecedented levels of stress, anxiety, depression, violence and trauma. Peace in Schools recognizes the relationship between these crises and the history of inequity, systemic oppression, and institutionalized racism that destroys our social fabric. Youth feel these deep injustices in their bodies, minds, and hearts—undermining their ability to experience healthy, supportive, and loving relationships.
Mindfulness, when taught with the intention of supporting social justice in schools, can give rise to healing, compassion, empathy, altruism, healthy relationships, and a wise heart. It can create empowered school climates and cultures within which students can thrive—and experience safety and true belonging with one another.
Dr. Sará King is a mother, a UCLA-trained education philosopher, political scientist, critical theorist and neuroscientist who will begin a post-doctoral fellowship in the department of Neurology at OHSU in Portland this fall. She is an internationally recognized thought leader in field of mindfulness and social justice in schools, and enjoys public speaking and advocacy work at the intersection of these fields. Sará is also an author, entrepreneur, and yoga and meditation teacher who founded MindHeart Consulting, a company dedicated to creating cutting edge research projects and community healing experiences through "The Science of Social Justice" — a framework she developed that uses the power of an intersectional understanding of the biopsychosocial impact of systemic oppression on marginalized populations, combined with the application of the science of well-being to understand how to create research and healing projects that serve the aims of social justice in underrepresented communities.
Caverly Morgan is the Founder and Guiding Teacher of Peace in Schools — a nonprofit which created the nation's first for-credit mindfulness class in public high schools, as well as Presence Collective, a nonprofit dedicated to igniting personal transformation and collective awakening. She has been practicing mindfulness since 1995, including eight years in a monastic setting. Prior to her pioneering efforts with Peace in Schools, Caverly formerly worked for nonprofits serving people with special needs. An artist and educator, she brings insight, passion, warmth and humor to her transformative work with students of all ages and experience levels. Caverly leads meditation retreats, workshops, and online classes internationally.
Gia Naranjo-Rivera is a PhD Candidate in Public Health at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, with a focus on child and adolescent development, health equity, trauma, and translational research. Growing up in a low-income, trauma- and adversity-affected family and community fueled her passion to ameliorate suffering and promote thriving. She has directed programs for at-risk youth, advanced human rights in the US and abroad, served as a Public Health Analyst at the National Institutes of Health, conducted health equity research, and taught mindfulness and yoga.
- KBOO