Community Mindfulness Project’s Founding Story
In 2014, four of us connected over our shared belief that meditation had meaningfully enhanced our lives.
We believed it had given us the tools, skills and attitudes to weather life’s storms, revel in life’s joys, and connect deeply with others. Each of us believed we were healthier and happier because we meditated. And a large and growing body of scientific research was validating this belief: studies show that meditation helps offset the effects of stress, improves emotional regulation and fosters a sense of connection.
But we also noticed that when we attended meditation classes or events we were almost always among a very narrow slice of the broader population: middle aged, middle class and white. So we founded Community Mindfulness Project to make mindful meditation more accessible.
Over the past eight years CMP has worked to eradicate the barriers that keep people from accessing the benefits of mindful meditation. Our community sessions are:
Free and open to anyone.
Secular and science-based, offered in accessible and inclusive language.
Appropriate for people with any level of experience, including first-timers.
Offered in-person in trusted settings like libraries, and also by zoom and by conference call so that we can meet people wherever they are.
Are done seated in chairs, with no special equipment needed.
To make CMP’s mindful meditation programs as accessible as possible:
Guided meditations and instruction are always available 24/7 on our website.
Recordings are available in English and in Spanish.
Transcripts are available for people with hearing impairment.
Since its founding in 2014, CMP has led over 3,000 sessions with over 34,000 attendances, including weekly community-based and virtual sessions and workshops for over 55 organizations, supporting the well-being of their staff, and the community members they serve. CMP helps nonprofit workers prevent burnout, and works with the faculty and staff of local schools. In short, CMP empowers people to lead healthier lives by expanding access to mindful meditation.
CMP relies on donor support to keep its sessions open and accessible to everyone. We hope that you will consider making a donation.
Erika, Michelle, Nick and Will | CMP Founders
See Nick’s TEDx talk about the neuroscience of Mindfulness and the 18-month retreat he and Michelle undertook.