MISSION
Our mission is to inspire and empower by sharing mindfulness, meditation, and other contemplative practices with people in communities vulnerable to the consequences of systemic racism and other forms of oppression. Our students include those who are incarcerated or returning from incarceration, people transitioning from homelessness, those in substance abuse treatment, or affected by poverty, aging or illness. These populations experience a high rate of trauma, addiction and related health disorders but also have limited access to medical services.
Mindfulness is a training in greater observation and less reactivity, away from automatic pilot and toward responding in a way that aligns with what we truly wish for others and ourselves. We teach meditation as a tool to strengthen and develop mindfulness, in addition to other mindful practices such as yoga, walking meditation, and drawing. The starting point for our curriculum is the evidence-based Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction model. We strive to an anti-oppression pedagogy and frame our classes as conversations and inquiries, drawing on the inherent wisdom of experience.
We are concerned by the country’s high incarceration rate and stand against racism and other forms of oppression. Many of our students have experienced trauma or neglect, and we see the benefit, principally, of showing up, creating a dialogue, and demonstrating that we care.
““I don’t consider myself a religious person. I’m probably more of a spiritual but not religious person. . . these questions are about: What does it mean to be in the right relationship to one another? Who belongs in a community, in a nation? How should we treat the least advantaged? What do we owe to one another? How do we repair harm? What does it mean to face irreparable harm in a constructive and responsible way?”
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Insight on the Inside recognizes that we conduct our offerings, conversations and build community on Nacotchtank (Anacostan) and Piscataway land.