March 2023 Greetings, Fostering Meditation Subscribers: Welcome to March's Newsletter! This past month has been beyond inspiring with FM's Five Steps 2 Wellness classes. Between a segment by CBS, redesigning our next locker room, to new partnerships, the FM movement is beginning to take greater shape! In a time where violence, war, mental illness, and anxiety are pervasive, there hasn't been a more significant moment and need to teach peace, stillness, and methods to de-stress for our nation's most vulnerable youth. I hope our work of healing inspires you to continue to build your inward practices so we can all counter the rising evils and chaos of the world with peace, love, and gentleness. In Service, Demetrius T. Napolitano Fostering Meditation, Founder/CEO |
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CBS SPECIAL ON FOSTERING MEDITATION |
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After a CBS reporter based in Harlem heard about FM's work, she was inspired to come learn more about how we are using meditation and yoga to break the stigma around children's mental health. |
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Creating FM's 2nd Wellness Room for Special Needs Children |
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One morning as I spoke with the security guard at the entrance to our school, P.S. 108, I saw a child having a crisis moment as he was being brought into the building. The young boy threw himself down onto the ground and began screaming hysterically. This child is part of P.S. 138, a special needs school that shares half of the 3rd floor with P.S. 108. Several teachers finally picked this young child up and gently escorted him upstairs. At that moment, I began thinking, what if P.S. 138 had their version of F.M.'s Wellness Room like the students at P.S. 108? While those kids may not do much meditation or yoga given their particular needs, I was sure from my experiences with my students at 108, who don't always participate in our meditation classes, but still come to the room to relax, that creating a wellness space for P.S 138's children to visit when they're in crises, could be transformational. The idea was then born to transform the other locker room into a meditation room for those students already struggling to find their way. The best part about this new project will be garnering the entire 108 community consisting of former students, parents, and teachers to come together and re-design this room for those children who will be eternally grateful. Your support will help our East Harlem community transform this old locker room into a thriving healing room for all of the children, teachers, and parents part of the P.S. 108 & 138 community! |
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FM's Yoga Ambassador Program (YAP) |
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FM's YAP program was inspired by the desire of some of the middle-school students at PS 108 to instruct the younger grades on how to meditate and practice yoga. FM's 7th grader, Jayaheir, has been studying the practices since 4th grade. I only became aware of how well he was paying attention to my cues when he randomly started teaching a few of his peers some relaxation techniques, as shown in this video. YAP will be an hour-long after-school program starting after Spring break where grades 6-8 will learn how to run their own meditation class. Your support will allow each student to receive their own meditation cushion and yoga mat so they can continue practicing at home before they begin their teaching exams in June! |
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Lawyers for Children (LFC) |
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After ten weeks, I have finally finished teaching meditation and yoga classes to the youth at LFC, who represented me in court when I was in foster care. To return as a business partner from being a client and helping the next generation of foster youth learn de-stressing techniques has been one of the highlights of my teaching career. Jarel, sitting to my right, worked at LFC when I was a client there, and Chenel, who is to my left, is currently a youth there. Here are some of their responses to a few questions I asked: Q - What was it like having a former foster youth lead you through the practices? A - Jarel: It was enriching! Having experienced foster care myself and now being an advocate for youth in the system, I appreciated seeing someone like myself come back to the firm and give back in such a meaningful way. I will also continue to practice yoga and meditation, as the former helps relieves tightness within my body, and the latter helps me calm down. Q - How have Yoga and Meditation impacted your life? A - Chenel: Yoga has taught me how tense my body is. I have become less rigid and more in-tuned with my body through our practice. I remember a time I was highly stressed, and nothing seemed to work until I began meditating, and it was the only thing that relieved my stress in that moment. Also, having a former foster youth lead the sessions was both inspiring and motivational as he experienced a similar journey but was able to stay consistent and well-grounded, showing that he cared and wanted to make a difference which he has in my life as I move forward with cultivating my own inward practices. |
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I recently started FM's Five Steps 2 Wellness at JCCA, one of the nation's oldest and most distinguished child and family services organizations (est. 1822). Teaching the youth at the Bronx location has been an exceptional experience, given these young people are all currently in separate foster homes but have found trust amongst themselves to share their experiences in such a transparent and inspiring way. Many of the young people I teach don't always have foster care experiences, so to know all of the youth I am serving at JCCA is currently within the system, and are now learning mindful ways on how to destress and heal, brings a level of joy and purpose to every class. The best part is that they get to experience the practices with someone who went through the same mental afflictions they may be experiencing but is now healing while setting the bar higher for them to see themselves as greater success stories. |
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FM's Seniors Citizens Class |
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After 12 weeks, I have finally finished bringing FM's Five Steps 2 Wellness to FM's Seniors, who have brought a level of joy and inspiration to my life that I've never felt before. I remember when I first started teaching the elders, and there were 30 (+) grandparents looking at me, a young 28-year-old, for guidance on how to deal patiently with their chronic pain and stress. I can honestly say teaching at the Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement, Inc. (HCCI), has increased my confidence to lead the older populations on how to meditate and practice yoga for their healing. Below is a video of my two eldest students, Ms. Barba and Ms. Lucy, who are both in their 70s, explain what our classes have meant to them <3 |
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Supporting Fostering Meditation |
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Thanks for reading through our March's Newsletter! I hope you have been inspired by the much needed work we are doing to help jumpstart the healing journey of all of our students in such a time as this. As you know, our service is only possible through generous donations. 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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