Calmer Choice, non-profit organization in Barnstable, Massachusetts Calmer Choice, non-profit organization in Barnstable, Massachusetts

Programming Updates: Fall 2021

With our fiscal year ending June 30th, it is always a time of reflection to look back on our work and accomplishments from the entire year. This year’s reflection seemed a little surreal as the year of Covid loomed so large yet did not stall program creation & offerings.

We ended the year strong with a continuation of virtual programs in the community as well as building new relationships near and far. One of the many benefits of teaching virtually is being able to offer programming to communities that we would not otherwise be able to.

In June we launched our 8-week Mindfulness-Cultivating Resilience & Well-Being course to nurses at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington DC, with the hope to have a second offering in the coming year.

Additionally, we piloted two new courses, Everyday Mindfulness: The ART of Being Human and CALMER at Home, a parent/child class. Both were well received within the community and will be a part of our menu of program services.

Although summer’s end is not official until September 22nd, the transition of the season is palpable. The air feels a little different, the birdsong has shifted, and the seasonal closure of shops and restaurants is in full swing. Bittersweet, and yet an exciting time as we head into a new school year. Although we are optimistic about being physically present in schools this year, we are prepared to provide programs virtually if need be.

Programming is in full swing as we are in the midst of conversations with our local school districts of Sandwich, Mashpee, Falmouth, Dennis-Yarmouth, and Provincetown as well as Old Rochester Regional School District and Middleborough Public Schools, both off cape districts. In addition to conversations with schools, our community work continues as we build new and existing relationships with Cape Cod Alzheimer Support Group, Independence House, Barnstable County Motherhood Program, and the Literacy Program at the Plymouth Public Library.

We are also gearing up for the launch of our re-designed Instructor Training. This training will begin at the end of January. We will be offering a free online Mindfulness weekend retreat in early January. This retreat will serve to satisfy as one of the instructor training pre-requisites. The retreat weekend is open to the community.

Being trauma-informed is critical to the work we do. Our curriculum is trauma-informed as well as our instructors. Currently, there is a group of us, consisting of instructors and board members, that are taking David Treleaven’s Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness training. David is a leader in the field of Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness. The training is rich, experiential, and extremely informative and is adding new value to our teaching.