Last month, I was in a crowded reception room filled with 300 of Philadelphia’s visionaries, activists, and funders. It was a lively and friendly gathering. Lots of passionate voices discussing everything from the accomplishments of the new district attorney, to a start up incubator lab for social entrepreneurs, to the great hors d’oeuvres. Before the evening was over, I would …
Creating Inner Space for Insight and Inner Strength
The following was originally published in the ISF October 2018 newsletter. Join our mailing list here to receive upcoming newsletters. “As an educator, when you see insight dawning in one of your students, there’s nothing more fulfilling and encouraging.” ~ Amy Edelstein This Fall has been a wonderfully busy one with a mixture of breakthroughs in the classrooms, conference …
Back to School with Inner Strength
The following was originally published in the ISF September 2018 newsletter. Join our mailing list here to receive upcoming newsletters. Inner Strength programs are going into this year strong Today I finally put the finishing touches on our Fall Inner Strength teaching schedule. Even as I was sending out the confirmations, two schools called to see if we could accommodate …
Diversity Dialogues: Kori Hamilton Biagas & Amy Edelstein Explore Racial Literacy
Understanding and deconstructing racial ideas and divides Amy Edelstein interviews Kori Hamilton Biagas from JustEducators about what racial literacy is, how to work in classrooms to lessen racial stress, and how to engage in a positive way to deconstruct our culturally inherited (and often outdated, false, misguided, and even dangerous) ideas about this issue. “As long as there is a …
Transformation through Mindfulness Practice
Enhancing teen development and wellness through contemplative learning [The following is an interview with writer and educator Amy Edelstein, conducted by the Omega Center. Amy is the author of The Conscious Classroom: the Inner Strength System™ for Transforming the Teenage Mind and founder of an innovative high school program promoting teen development and wellness through mindfulness practice and contemplative learning. The interview was originally …
Love in a Fractured World: Wholeness in Education
A contemplative approach to self regulation [This article was written for The Omega Center blog, run by Ilia Delio of Villanova University. Please visit the blog here to read more inspiring voices curated by Ilia Delio, award-winning author of 17 books.] When I was asked to write for the Omega Center on Love in a Fractured World, I could think of no better …
Diamonds in the Rough
The following was originally published in the ISF January 2018 newsletter. Join our mailing list here to receive upcoming newsletters. Reflections on potential During the Fall I piloted the program in a new school. It is a turn-around school, one that had been on the persistently failing, persistently dangerous list for many years. Over the last few school years, a …
Mindful Me | Digital Badge for Teens
We are happy to announce the first digital Mindfulness Badge for Teens! If you have completed a mindful breath training, complete the activities of the badge. Once you’ve successfully illustrated your skills, you will be able to add this digital badge to your resume for colleges and future employers. The Inner Strength Mindful Me Digital Badge was created in cooperation …
Relax, Heal, Learn by Dale Mezzacappa – The Notebook
The Inner Strength Teen Program just received some insightful coverage in the April 11th issue of The Notebook, Philadelphia’s Education weekly. You can read the article Relax, Heal, Learn by Dale Mezzacappa @dalemezz in its original with comments and more on The Notebook’s coverage of Behavioral and Mental Health initiatives in the schools here. Images by Darryl Murphy of The Notebook. I encourage you to make your comments …
Changing Our (Relationship) to Our Minds
People talk about needing to change their minds. We all wish we could change the channel in our brain as easily as we change playlists on our music players. In this 10 minute clip Amy Edelstein talks about how we use our mindfulness practice to change how we relate to our minds. This has a powerful effect on our experience. …