This year has been absolutely thrilling for Peace In Practice! We kicked off with boundless energy and have seen tremendous progress in our Youth Programming, Yoga Teacher Training certification, and administrative development. Plus, we've updated our strategic plan for the future! Your kind and generous support has been so meaningful.

Here are the highlights of our year:

Youth Work

  • Youth Yoga and Mindfulness Programming 

    Through our work with Northside Achievement Zone, 21st Century Academy, Jerry Gamble Boys and Girls Club, Agape Oasis, Northside Child Development Center, Camden High School, Edison High School, Campfire MN, Don’t Shoot Guns Shoot Hoops Camp, Homegrown Lacrosse Camp, Sanneh Foundation, Conway Park Rec Center, Morning Glory Montessori, we’ve served nearly 1000 unique youth this year!

  • Northside Achievement Zone - our after school programming expanded to second location at Jerry Gamble Boys and Girls Club.

  • Strong Fast and Fit at YWCA - delivered youth programming for elementary to high school aged kids.

  • Homegrown Lacrosse Youth Summer Camp - delivered yoga workshops for grades 3-12.

  • North Community High School - provided yoga & mindfulness instruction to boys & girls basketball teams for the duration of the season

Healing-Centered 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training

  • Created a healing-centered, trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness professional training program.

  • Offered full scholarships to 28 students of color that covered professional training, textbooks, and yoga gear.

  • Certified 18 more 200-hr Yoga Teacher Training graduates

    We’re thrilled to have graduated our third, and largest, cohort from our YTT professional training. Our 18 new graduates led a beautiful collaborative healing experience for our community.

Community Programming

  • Zen Bin and V3 Sports Center - we are collaborating to offer daily yoga & fitness classes in North Minneapolis.

  • Mississippi Park Connection - Provided yoga classes all summer at three locations along the river.

  • Wellness Wednesday - our weekly gathering and yoga practice in North Minneapolis has continued to grow our community.

  • Campfire, MN - we led two outdoor full day retreats for our students to get out in nature.

  • Led three outdoor Day Retreats at Campfire, MN

  • Wellness Wednesday our weekly community gathering has shown consistent growth with regular crowds of 40-50 people. We’ve showcased the teaching skills of many of our new teachers as well as sound baths and photo sessions.

  • My Brothers Heal (bi-weekly) and My Sisters Heal (monthly) have held space for movement, bonding, and reflective conversations 

  • In collaboration with Yoga Sanctuary and Brooklyn Center Community Center we’ve provided weekly yoga to the BCCC community led by our cohort-2 graduate, Lex Hearn of Hearn Family Wellness.

We’re growing!

  • Established a Board of Directors and elected Rich Melzer as board chair. He is the CEO of Youthlink and a former NBA player.

  • Launched our website and social media.

  • We’ve received grants from The Minneapolis Foundation, Give Back Yoga Foundation, Greater Twin Cities United Way, Youthprise, The Winters Group, and the Black Collective Fund.

  • Donations received from United Properties, Lululemon, and Hugger Mugger.

  • Thanks to the Americorp Vista Program we were able to bring on Bruce Williams as our Director of Content & Marketing.

  • 300-hr Yoga Teacher Certification 

    Identifying the need for more advanced teachers in our communities we launched Our advanced yoga teacher training for those dedicated to their continued study and growth. This is essential to fill the gap allowing teachers to one day become teacher trainers.  W are now a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga School - 300 Hour

  • Back Outside 

    This spring, we hosted our third outdoor retreat with our biggest group yet.

What’s next?

  • We are working diligently to establish our first of its kind, concurrent enrollment program with local colleges in the Twin Cities. When established, we will provide exceptional Yoga and Mindfulness Teacher Training to high school students, providing professional certification, college credit, and career readiness.

  • Expand youth programming to meet demand and provide more opportunities for our newly certified yoga instructors.

  • Karuna Community - exploring collaboration to deliver yoga & mindfulness programming in correctional facilities, women’s shelters, and other institutions.

  • And numerous other exciting offerings to our community!

How To Support The Work 

This giving season we’ve set an ambitious and necessary goal to raise $8,000 to support and expand our upcoming programming, dedicated staff, and impact. 

We consider it an honor to humbly ask for your support in this work: 

Donate - Every contribution, no matter the size will help us broadcast a message of connection and inclusivity within the yoga community, especially for those who have yet to find their place in the realm of integrative wellness. The button below links to our Give to the Max campaign!

Spread the Word - Our giving season campaign starts now. Our social channels are live - @peaceinpractice - Your likes, shares, posts, phone calls, and emails go a long way to shine a light on our work. 

Volunteer -  We are in build mode and looking for teachers, fundraisers, and capacity builders, who can help us advance this work. Please reach out if you have gifts to share and a passion for youth and interpersonal development in Black and Brown communities.