Dragonfly Center has completed a super successful pilot program integrating mindfulness and social emotional learning skills in 3 preschools in underserved communities in the SF Bay Area! These preschools offer parent-child education tuition-free to low-income families through the Family Connections non-profit. The program serves over 80 families (over 400 individuals). At-risk children, ages 0 – 5, and their parents are receiving simple yet profound skills to help reduce stress, enhance emotional and behavioral regulation, focus attention, increase calm and problem solving skills, as well as pro-social behaviors such as helping and cooperation.
We need your help to implement the full program for the 2014-15 school year! Your donation is fully tax deductible and you will receive a donation confirmation letter for your tax purposes. Please donate HERE!
The cost for the 10 month full program will be $22,200 which includes program development and implementation, administering the program, initial research, and outreach.
Your funds will not only support the 400 individuals reached through the preschools, but also the professional bilingual women of color who will be teaching the program to the at-risk children and their parents. Please support them in teaching in these communities where many will not even venture. Our core mindfulness and social emotional learning teachers are Adriana Buenaventura, Yasmina Porter, Ana Maria Sanchez, and Susana Rivero.
Supporting Thich Nhat Hahn’s Vision of World Peace
Melissa Green joins the team at Peace Is The Way Films, Inc. Last year while at Thich Nhat Hahn’s Plum Village Monastery in France, Melissa was blessed to sit in meditations led by Thich Nhat Hahn (Thay), and to meet Gregory Kennedy-Salemi, Director and Producer at Peace Is The Way Films, Inc.; Erich Tiefenbach, the illustrator; and Sister Jewel, the editor of the book “Planting Seeds: Practicing Mindfulness with Children” by Thay and the Plum Village Community. The team is currently working on an animated film based on this book. Melissa is collaborating with an amazing educator, Kia Woods, to provide mindfulness lesson plans and activities to accompany the film. Gregory, who lives in Vienna, Austria, went off to Hollywood to find some to the incredible talent involved in bringing Thay’s story to life and supporting his vision of peace in the world.
Orlando Jones, actor and comedian, is the voice of Will, the Father in the film. Jones was born in Mobile, Alabama on April 10, 1968. His father was a former professional baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies. To pursue his interest in the entertainment industry, Jones, together with comedian Michael Fechter, formed a production company, Homeboy's Productions and Advertising. Orlando Jones is well known from being an original cast member of MADtv and as a popular spokesperson for 7UP.
There absolutely is no other Thay, so he plays himself in the film!
The Planting Seeds film project is also in cooperation with singers Tina Turner, Regula Curti and Dechen Shak-Dagsay!!!
Working with Spirit Rock Meditation Center
Dragonfly Center has been in supportive community with Spirit Rock Meditation Center (SRMC) for a few years and steps it up as Melissa joins SRMC as a Mindful Leader in their Family Program. Because of her commitment and dedication to bringing mindfulness to children, Melissa is now an integral part of the SRMC Family Program to share the many blessings and true gifts of mindfulness. In the future, Melissa will help to expand their program to include preschool aged children.
To read more about the SRMC Family Program, go HERE.
Dr. Gibbs is our new Senior Management Consultant
Dragonfly Center is thrilled and honored to have Dr. SherRhonda Gibbs join our team!
Dr. SherRhonda Gibbs is the Senior Management Consultant for Dragonfly Healing Center. She is also a tenured Associate Professor of Management at the University of Southern Mississippi and the President/CEO of GCNF Ventures, Inc. Her background is in software engineering and business. Dr. Gibbs has more than twelve years experience in IT and an unwavering passion for all things "entrepreneurship". She assists start-ups and small business owners with business development and strategy, new product development, and innovation. Dr. Gibbs has started three, going on four, business ventures and has a keen eye for great new business ideas. She is extremely proficient in business and technical writing, identifying new business opportunities, and performing industry, market and competitive research. She consults with businesses large and small, and Dragonfly Healing Center is honored to have her expertise on our team.
See Dr. Gibbs' very impressive full Bio HERE!
Our Moving Into the Light Women’s Retreat is in its 4th year!!! We are super happy to have the lovely Catherine Perry as the Retreat Director/Point of Contact for this powerful retreat. She will also be offering Aromatherapy and Flower Essence sessions during the retreat. Catherine is a dedicated and loving part of the Dragonfly tribe and will no doubt take great care of the ladies on our fabulous retreat!!!
Read more about Catherine HERE!
We added 2 more spots to this popular retreat to accommodate a maximum total of 20 participants!
There are now only 3 spots left!!!
Register HERE for this life changing experience!
To be held October 17th – 19th, 2014 at Venture Retreat Center in Pescadero, California
More Details and Registration HERE!
Sharing the Healing Gifts from Mother Nature
Dragonfly Center tribe members, Dr. Anna Stid and Carey Allen, are rocking it with doTERRA essential oils. They are passionate and knowledgeable about these therapeutic grade essential oils for health and wellness. Allow them to show you the benefits of replacing your medications with the healing gifts from Mother Nature.
Contact Us HERE for more information on Carey and Anna's classes, events, and services.
Wishing You a Blissful and Blessed Summer!
Melissa and the Dragonfly Tribe