There are lots of developments at The Benji Project including upcoming events for adults and teens, progress on non-profit status, and the formation of a youth advisory board. Read on to learn more.
PROGRAMS
FOR ADULTS: SUPPORTING YOUTH WITH MINDFUL SELF-COMPASSIONA 1-1/2 day workshop will be held Aug. 26 and 27. Co-creators of the Making Friends with Yourself program Lorraine Hobbs and Karen Bluth will introduce parents and professionals to helping teens navigate adolescence with self-compassion. CE credit will be available. Read more here.
MINI-RETREAT FOR TEENS
A half-day workshop for youth ages 11 to 19 about mindful self-compassion will be held on Aug. 27 in the afternoon. Instructors Lorraine Hobbs and Karen Bluth will give teens an overview of mindful self-compassion and offer simple meditations, tools and exercises to build self-compassion. Teens interested in joining The Benji Project youth advisory board (see details below) are requested to join this program. Read more here.
INFORMATION SESSION ON BECOMING A TEEN LEADER AND VOLUNTEERING
Learn more about how to become a teacher of mindful self-compassion for teens and volunteer opportunities with The Benji Project at this event on Aug 27 at 5:30 p.m.. Lorraine Hobbs and Karen Bluth will explain the certifications and experience necessary to lead the Making Friends with Yourself Program. The Benji Project hopes to support the development of local teachers for the Port Townsend program. The Benji Project also needs help with fundraising, publicity and other activities. Get the details here.
YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD
Do you know a youth ages 11-19 who likes helping other teens? The Benji Project is forming a youth advisory board to help spread the word about our mission and to offer guidance to The Benji Project on the best ways to bring mindful self-compassion programs to the youth of Port Townsend. The youth advisory board will meet two to four times a year with possibility of further volunteer involvement. If possible, youth advisory board members are requested to attend the half-day workshop on Aug. 27. If you or someone you know is a good fit, please email cynthia@thebenjiproject.org with name, age, phone number and email address.
MAKING FRIENDS WITH YOURSELF
The Benji Project aims to launch the core program on mindful self-compassion for teens in the autumn. The program will be run once a week for eight weeks and is open to ages 11 to 19. Dates and times have not been determined yet. Email cynthia@thebenjiproject.org if you want to suggest a time.
OCTOBER MINI-RETREATS FOR YOUTH AND PARENT
The Benji Project will hold one-day retreats – Oct 28 for boys and Oct 29 for girls – for teens to attend with a parent, caregiver or other key adult. This program is focused on guiding parents and teens toward treating each other and themselves with more kindness as the youth goes through adolescence. Activities and discussion on such topics as: What I wish my teen/my parent knew about how I am feeling. What it’s like to be me. How can we develop ways for greater understanding and communication. Registration and more details will be available later this summer.
ORGANIZATION
NON-PROFIT STATUS
The Benji Project is working towards gaining fiscal sponsorship which would enable us to accept tax-deductible donations and access more funding sources. The program would operate under the administrative umbrella of another nonprofit. Stay tuned for more updates.
FUNDRAISING ASSISTANCE NEEDED
The Benji Project wants to make trainings available to all, but the costs are high. A fundraising committee will start work this autumn. Contact cynthia@thebenjiproject.org and let us know if you can serve. If you would like to donate, email cynthia@thebenjiproject.org.
MARCH WORKSHOP
The weekend core skills workshop in March was a success with 34 registrants. Instructors Lorraine Hobbs and Tim Burnett led group meditations, exercises, journaling and discussion. If you weren't able to attend this workshop and would like it to be offered again, let us know. We might repeat it if there is enough demand.
OTHER APPEARANCES
Cynthia spoke about mindful self-compassion and The Benji Project at Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on June 25. You can listen or read the talk here.