July 2023 Greetings, Fostering Meditation Subscribers: Welcome to June & July's Newsletter! These past two months were extraordinary as FM is growing, maturing, and making a more significant impact. Not only did we raise enough money to give out new meditation cushions, but we also were featured on Good Morning America and ABC News Live! Please read along to follow our recent updates and hear about a surprise at the end! In Service, Demetrius T. Napolitano CEO / FOUNDER |
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After ABC News’ anchor, Kyra Philips heard about our work in the schools, she reached out to interview my 7th grader Jayaheir and me about our experience with meditation. We were initially scheduled to have our interview in the reporting room below, but because Trump was indicted (yet again) and because it made national news, they replaced us in a conference room, and we did the interview on Zoom. I was a little bummed about it, but Jayaheir handled the last-minute changes calmly, showing the reporters and me that his meditation classes were helping him know when to tap into his practice, even as others are losing their heads. It was one of the proudest moments as a teacher to see my student using the techniques I taught to remain calm under pressure. |
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Good Morning AmericaSegment |
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Once a reporter from Good Morning America saw our CBS Special, they were so inspired by our work that they reposted the Special on their platform, giving FM more significant publicity. In just this first year, FM has been featured on NY1, CBS, ABC News, ABC Live, and now GMA, with more media opportunities coming our way! |
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P.S. 108 End of the Year Recap |
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This was the first full year I taught nearly 400 children inside our Wellness Room at my alma mater, P.S. 108, School of Authors. As you may have remembered from previous newsletters, this room was my childhood detention room. The school officials then realized the room was traumatizing the children rather than helping us grow, so they turned the space into a storage room and left it alone. Ten years later, I returned to 108, and after spending four months transforming the old locker room in 2022, I spent the entire following school year teaching students, teachers, parents, and admin how to use F.M.'s Five Steps to Wellness (Meditation, Yoga, Expressive Writing, Community, and Nutrition) for their healing. The students of all ages were then asked to share how their classes within their Wellness Room have helped them regulate themselves and resolve conflict peacefully, demonstrating the power of creating intentional spaces inside the DOE for our children to heal, grow, and thrive! Beginning in the fall, F.M. will be developing several more areas inside NYC schools into F.M.'s Wellness Rooms <3 |
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Thanks to everyone who donated to the GoFundMe I started in late May to give the P.S. 108 community their meditation pillows. Not only did the 8th grade graduating class receive them, but I was also able to provide the younger grades, parents, and even some teachers, admin, and the principal himself a meditation pillow so they can continue to build their practice at home. I worked extremely hard raising the money for the ZaZen mats so that the children and adults could be reminded of their meditation every time they see the pillow. Plus, it allows them to create a wellness space in their home to re-center themselves when conflict arises. So, once again, thank you to everyone who helped support F.M.'s mission of spreading meditation in our communities! |
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Graduate Meditation & Speech |
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I was asked to speak at this year's 8th-grade graduation at my alma mater P.S. 108, where I've taught the 8th graders since 6th grade. Sharing words of empowerment while reconnecting the students to their meditation practice was a moment I will never forget. This is truly why I do what I do: To help the next generation rise above their challenges and see that they, themselves, are the makers of their destinies and not anyone else, for who would have ever imagined when I was 108 banging my head against the wall, fighting in the halls, and setting fires in the building that I would return and help our entire community heal. Even though my time in the system was deeply traumatizing (memoir coming soon), and I still hold massive amounts of pain still, foster care became Fostering Meditation and this was the message I wanted my students to take to high school: our pain can transformed into our purpose if we're willing to trust the entire process! |
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I always wanted to jump out of a plane, but I didn't do it until I decided I would need to let go of some fear for my next journey (see next slide) and felt such a move would invigorate with faith. So, my best friend (who also went to P.S. 108) and I jumped out of a plane at 14,000 feet and fell about 125 miles a minute. It is a super dope video with panoramic views. As you'll see, the clouds are literally under my gladiators! |
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Healing through Meditation & Yoga in India 2.0 |
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In just 24 hours, I will take to the skies again (no, I will not be skydiving again), to head to India to immerse myself in yoga and meditation. For the yoga retreat, I'll be completing 300 hours of practice in the hot India sun, from 6 am until 6 pm. I'll be knee-deep in the course before heading into the Himalayas Mountains where I'll be elevated at 10,000 feet for a 12-day silent meditation retreat where I'll be meditating from 4:30 am until 9 pm, completing over 115 hours of practice. When I return in October, I will be leading teachers, students, and anyone else who wants to become a meditation and yoga teacher. As I mentioned in my 3rd GoFundMe (see below), Mayor Adams announced that all schools must start their day with meditation practice. Guess who's going to have some skin in the game? Yes, yours truly! So, I'm asking my supporters to support me again with a donation to help me maintain while I'm overseas and trust that when I return, I will build up the next generation of meditation and yoga teachers. Your investment in me will impact the hundreds of people I will begin instructing when I return from my sabbatical in October. |
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Supporting Fostering Meditation |
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FM is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, our EIN number is 13-2612524 Checks can be made payable to FM's fiscal sponsor: The Fund for the City of NY Attn: Dina Runcie, Fostering Meditation 121 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10013-1590 Thank you, in advance, for your support of our Revolutionary work! In Service, Demetrius T. Napolitano Fostering Meditation, Founder/CEO |
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"It is easier to build strong children, than repair broken men." -Frederick Douglass |
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