Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education: Statement on the Departure of the CEO

Fiona Douglas-Crampton, President & CEO of the Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education

The Dalai Lama Center and Board Members are announcing that effective May 2022, our President and CEO Fiona Douglas-Crampton is leaving to start the next chapter in her career (and in the short term she is looking forward to some much-deserved travel and spending time with her family). Over the last 8 years under Fiona's leadership, the DLC has significantly increased its impact in our community and the number of children and youth we reach. She has built a strong team who have positioned the DLC as a highly trusted partner and resource for educators and parents in the field of social and emotional learning (SEL).

Heart-Mind Well-Being Around the World: Chema Vision School in Kibera

Angela Low facilitating the online Heart-Mind Workshop to educators at Chema Vision School.

While social distancing has been an unwelcome and ongoing effect of the pandemic, discovering new ways to bridge the gap of global distance through technology has been a redemptive quality of the past year. Last summer, our team had the exciting opportunity to present our Heart-Mind Foundational Workshop online to educators at Chema Vision School in Kenya. Mary Muthini, Director and Co-Founder of the school, was eager to bring this professional learning opportunity to her staff after she heard about Heart-Mind workshops from Julian Prolman, who supports the school with proceeds from his fashion company, Ministry of Tomorrow.

Our Heart-Mind Box Project: Available for the Holidays!

As we enter the holiday season, we would like to introduce you to our Heart-Mind Box project! The Heart-Mind Box is a quarterly gender-neutral surprise subscription box of unique items with stories from around the world, curated to nurture your heart-mind well-being through connection and creativity. When we began this project in 2020, it was with a passion for raising awareness of the importance of mental wellness, and to expand outside our network of those who work with and care for children. 

Heart-Mind in Schools: Part 2 Q&A With Franklin Elementary School

Thanks to the enormous dedication of our Project Coordinator Jennifer Westoby, Heart-Mind Champions and other school staff, along with the support of the Vancouver Foundation and the Edith Lando Foundation, our Heart-Mind in Schools Project is now complete. Pilot schools were given a 4-part Social Emotional Learning (SEL) workshop series, offering staff members evidence-informed, practical guidance on how to infuse SEL and Heart-Mind Well-being into their school’s culture. Sir John Franklin Elementary, located in Vancouver, was among the school pilot sites.

Heart-Mind in Schools: Part 1 Q&A With Franklin Elementary School

Thanks to the generous support of the Vancouver Foundation and the Edith Lando Foundation, our Heart-Mind in Schools Project is in the final stretch of its third and final year. Pilot schools were given a 4-part Social Emotional Learning (SEL) workshop series along with support to implement their learnings, offering staff members evidence-informed, practical guidance on how to infuse SEL and Heart-Mind Well-being into their school’s culture. Sir John Franklin Elementary, located in Vancouver, is among these school pilot sites. Sally Ruus, Franklin’s Heart-Mind Champion, kindly took the time to respond to our questions about Franklin’s experience as a Heart-Mind School. 

Mindfulness, Self-Compassion & Connection: Introducing Breathr

Developed by the BC Children's Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre and BC Children's Hospital Centre for Mindfulness, the (free!) Breathr app has recently been revamped and relaunched. Dr. Dzung Vo, Head of the Division of Adolescent Health and Medicine at BC Children’s Hospital, and the Director of BC Children’s Hospital Centre for Mindfulness, Danielle Burch, Project Manager, Health Promotion & Health Literacy, BC Children's Hospital, and Dr. Joanna McDermid, Associate Director, BC Children’s Hospital Centre for Mindfulness, worked together as part of the team bringing this App to life. Dr. Dzung Vo and Danielle Burch shared with us the story and intent behind Breathr.

Spul'u'kwuks Elementary: Creating Silver Linings as a Heart-Mind School

Made possible by the Vancouver Foundation and the Edith Lando Foundation, our Heart-Mind in Schools Project is in the home stretch of its third and final year. Nine pilot schools have been given a 4-part Social Emotional Learning (SEL) workshop series along with support to implement their learnings, offering staff members evidence-informed, practical guidance on how to infuse SEL and Heart-Mind Well-Being into their school’s culture.

Robert Ogilvie: The Story of a Northern Heart-Mind School

Thanks to the generous support of the Vancouver Foundation and the Edith Lando Foundation, our Heart-Mind in Schools Project is in its third and final year. Throughout the Project, nine Heart-Mind schools in total have participated in four specialized Social Emotional Learning (SEL) workshops aimed at fostering system-wide SEL through the lens of the Heart-Mind Well-Being Framework, while receiving guidance and implementation support along the way. 

Our Top 5 Heart-Mind Online Resources

Our website Heart-Mind Online hosts a collection of evidence-informed resources to help you as an educator, parent, and/or caregiver raise the young people in your life to be kind, compassionate, and well-regulated in heart and mind. With practical strategies, activities, and lesson plans all backed by research on social and emotional learning, resources help you nurture the development of the five positive human qualities of the Heart-Mind Well-Being Framework in children from infancy to adolescence.

Here is a list of 5 of our most popular Heart-Mind Online resources:

Heart-Mind in Schools: Purpose Secondary's Journey

Our Heart-Mind in Schools Project, generously funded by the Vancouver Foundation and another joint funder, is currently in its third year. The project provides staff at each of the nine school sites opportunities to attend 4 workshops focused on the implementation of system wide SEL (social and emotional learning). These workshops are guided by the Heart-Mind Well-Being Framework, and participating schools are provided with ongoing implementation support and resource materials.