Dear community,
After deep reflection and careful consideration, the Board of Directors has decided to close the operations of Calmer Choice, effective May 31, 2025.
If we plant a flower and it does not grow well, we do not blame the flower. We understand that the flower does not have what it needs to thrive. The flower may be suffering from a lack of water, too much shade, or perhaps insufficient nutrients in the soil. In this circumstance, we are able to clearly see that the flower does not have the proper conditions for growth. In the same way, we are aware that Calmer Choice no longer has what is needed for its continued viability and success.
Like many nonprofits, we have experienced difficulties securing resources in the face of narrowing funding pathways. While money is often a challenge in this sector, the additional climate of heightened uncertainty in the public education space, mixed with other factors, has made our current model non-viable.
We have carefully explored several options, and rather than continuing in an unsustainable way, we have chosen to bring awareness to the reality of the present moment and respond in a way that models the practice we teach. This means acknowledging what is happening, being honest with ourselves, and making a decision that demonstrates the most kindness and compassion towards our staff, our students, our partners, and our many generous supporters.
For 15 years, Calmer Choice has provided mindfulness education, training, and mentorship to tens of thousands of children in schools, and thousands of adults and families in our community. We were an early pioneer in this sector; creating an evidence-based curriculum that was studied by MIT, Tufts, Yale, and Harvard, and taught in classrooms across Cape Cod and beyond. Through our work in schools and with a diverse range of partner organizations, we helped foster a common set of practices and modeled a shared culture that has provided a pathway towards the realization of a kinder, more compassionate world.
The seeds we have planted will continue to grow. We are proud of the work we have achieved, and the shared vision of a kinder world which so many have adopted and helped us to promote. In our culture, we may interpret ending as a failure; however, perpetuity is not always the most useful definition of success. Instead, we choose to acknowledge all we have had the opportunity to do over our 15 years of service, and we celebrate our positive impact.
The operations of Calmer Choice are coming to an end, but the need for its work remains strong. We are currently in the midst of a collective mental health and wellbeing crisis which is evident at all levels of our society. Never before has the work of connecting to ourselves and others to form a more compassionate and resilient world been more urgently needed.
Calmer Choice is and remains the only program to provide prevention-based emotional and behavioral wellbeing programming at the elementary school level on Cape Cod. We strongly believe in the critical need for this work, and call on the community and our leaders to invest in programs, services, and forms of knowledge that can help fill the current gaps.
While operations will end, we will retain our 501c3 status and take time to reflect on how our work might continue in a different form sometime in the future. If you have any questions about how this transition will unfold or would like to be involved in preserving Calmer Choice’s legacy, we would love to hear from you.
Meanwhile, we are trying to find a way to fulfill our school and community program commitments through the end of June. If you wish to contribute to Calmer Choice as we navigate this challenging period, we would be deeply grateful.
Any gifts we receive over the next several weeks will allow us to fulfill our commitments to our partners through the end of the school year. Click here to donate online and help us fulfill our program commitments.
Finally, we still plan to offer a final Spring Retreat May 30th- June 1st at the Craigville Retreat Center, and warmly invite our community to practice with us for one last time. Click here to learn more and register.
Deep, heartfelt gratitude to you, our community. We are so proud of all that we have done, and it could not have happened without you.
Sarah Manion, Executive Director
David Troutman, Co-Chair of the Board of Directors
Garth Smelser, Co-Chair of the Board of Directors