This week, Certified Alumni Alicia Jaramillo, LMHC and Lauren Ouellette unveiled Cross Creek School’s new mindfulness classroom, the “Find Your Center: Mindfulness Zen Room.” Our Founder and CEO James S. Gordon, MD and Chief Operating Officer Randi Mitev, MA joined them in Broward County, FL to celebrate!
In 2018, community leaders in Broward County invited us to bring hope and healing to students, faculty, and community members experiencing mass trauma after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Through our collaboration with Broward County Public Schools, the Children’s Services Council of Broward County, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, we were able to share our model with educators across the county.
Our work has flourished in Broward County since we first began our engagement six years ago. Since 2018, 650 Broward peer counselors, teachers, parents, and community service providers have completed our Professional and Advanced Training Programs (PTP and ATP), including Certified Alumni Alicia Jaramillo, LMHC and Lauren Ouellette.
After meeting in ATP, School Counseling Director Alicia and Lauren, a Cross Creek Teacher, began a collaboration to bring this work to their students at Cross Creek School, many of whom have lived through significant trauma and continue to experience emotional and/or behavioral disorders. In 2021, Alicia and Lauren began leading Mind-Body Skills Groups (MBSGs) at their school.
While students and staff benefited greatly from their initial MBSGs, school leadership encouraged Alicia to seek funding and expand her trauma healing project. She set her sights on creating a permanent mind-body classroom for their students, one that could amplify and complement the calming impact of mind-body skills. In 2022, Alicia applied for and received an astonishing four grants from nonprofit organizations who saw the value of her work.
This past week, Cross Creek School unveiled the “Find Your Center: Mindfulness Zen Room,” a comfortable space for students to unwind, process, breathe, and practice mind-body medicine. Over the last year and a half, Alicia outfitted the space with plush seating, soft lighting, and other sensory aids to foster a sense of calm. She also worked with an artist to create t-shirts, bracelets, and water bottles that remind her students to practice mindfulness and deep breathing. In this space, she and Lauren will also continue their weekly “Mindfulness Monday” sessions for school staff.
After completing our training and certification programs, our Certified Alumni are equipped with the tools they need to create cultures of wellness in their communities, organizations, and systems around the world. We’re inspired by the efforts of Alicia and Lauren to bring mind-body medicine to their students, and are eager to see the transformative impact of their work.
