Building an Inclusive and Diverse Program
At MIEA, we are dedicated to providing life-changing mindfulness training for young adults everywhere. To achieve our mission, we recognize the importance of building a diverse and inclusive community of teachers.
Historically, mindfulness training in the United States has been taught by white teachers in predominantly white communities. However, to truly reach young adults from all backgrounds, we understand the need for teachers who share similar cultural, racial, and intersectional identities with their students.
Our cultures and identities shape our language, relationships, and teaching approaches. By fostering shared identities, we create a sense of safety, which is essential for the practice of mindfulness.
“The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.”
– Maya Angelou
At the Mindfulness Institute, we recognize that fostering an inclusive teacher community necessitates deliberate policies and practices. As we strive for equity and inclusivity, we are committed to continuously reassessing and refining our initiatives. This ongoing process involves examining how our own ways of being in the world impact the development of inclusive practices.
To advance our mission, we are committed to the following:
Teacher Scholarships
Providing tuition scholarships for teachers in economically challenged communities, with a focus on those planning to teach mindfulness in traditionally underrepresented areas.
Scholarships for Teachers of Color
Providing tuition scholarships for teachers of color, aiming to reduce barriers and create equal opportunities.
Implicit Bias, Stereotype Threat, & Social Justice
Integrating content in our teacher training curriculum that addresses the impact of mindfulness practices on implicit bias, stereotype threat, and their applications in social justice programming.
Trauma-Informed Mindfulness
Offering training in trauma-informed mindfulness as part of our teacher training curriculum, including insights on trauma resulting from systemic racism.
Building Inclusive Training Practices
Hiring a consultant with expertise in building inclusive training practices to review our intensive teacher training workshop and fully implement their recommendations.
Contemplative Reading Groups
Facilitating reading groups for teachers and students, exploring books such as “Awakening Together: The Spiritual Practice of Inclusivity and Community” by Larry Yang and “Mindful of Race” by Ruth King.
Teacher Development Courses
Offering a range of teacher development courses focused on inclusive training, including topics such as “Unpacking Whiteness and White Racial Identity” and “Trauma-Informed Mindfulness.”
We are committed to continuous growth and improvement as we foster an inclusive and diverse program. We invite guidance, feedback, and commitment from our staff and community of teachers on this ongoing and ever-evolving journey.
