The Center for Mindfulness, Compassion, and Resilience supports the framework of Equitable Mindfulness (EM) which was created by Tiara Cash, MS, former Culture and Equity Specialist.
With the realities of today’s world, mindful action can be a viewpoint to start a transformative change in communities. With the movement in contemplative education being the forefront of higher education, how can we ensure that these practices don’t numb the need for systematic and oppressive change but instead use introspection as a way to guide the heart and mind to radicalization that includes instead of excludes while understanding that the well-being of others is directly connected to the well-being of self?
The practice of mindfulness can help to create an answer. Being with the present can create a sense of self that is more accepting of the past and more comfortable with the unknowns of the future, while still being active moment to moment, creating a better blueprint for change. When we can be hypersensitive to the feelings and emotions that we create and experience ourselves, we can then be more open and receptive to the feelings, emotions, and experiences of others. Mindfulness opens you up to a place within yourself that beacons for a “reality check” creating a more resilient mindset so that you may do the same within the world.
EM is simply the practice of mindfulness for everyone and presents mindfulness in a way that speaks to all people.
Mindfulness is not a practice to passively numb the realities of today's world. Instead, mindful introspection is a way to guide the heart and mind to radicalization that includes instead of excludes. EM focuses on the intersection between mindfulness and social transformation, activation, social justice, and equity. With the EM framework, mindfulness is a platform to activate communities, remove barriers and create systemic change.
Being in the present can create a sense of self that is accepting of the past and comfortable with the unknowns of the future, while still being active moment-to-moment. When we can non-judgmentally accept the feelings and emotions that we experience, we can then be more open and receptive to the experiences of others.
Center's goal is to create an equitable world through the sustained practice of compassion and mindfulness. EM's three-tier foundation frames programming and workshops:
Personal protection
Mindful Activation, Systematic Change, and Sustainability of Practice
Robust programming with the population in mind
Below are ways that Center has supported programming with the EM lens:
Social Justice - intergenerational connectedness; marginalized communities; historical, systematic, personal trauma workshops/presentations.
Sustainability - environmental justice, human-animal connection, co-created workshops with demographic in mind.
International Mindfulness Conference
Tiara Cash, Former Sr. Program Manager at Center, presented Amsterdam July 2018 at the International Conference on Mindfulness. Her research was accepted at the Symposium level under Mindfulness and Diversity and she presented on the Retirement of Student-Athletes and the conceptual framework that emerged from her data: Post-Athletic Assimilation Stress (PAAST). The ultimate focus of this paper and presentation was to present a case for mindfulness being an intervention/innovation to assist these retired athletes who experience PAAST.
Ask the Expert
Nika Gueci, Executive Director for University Engagement at Center, recently participated in an "Ask the Expert" video for resources on ASU's campus for who are in recovery from alcohol and other drug addiction, interested in recovery, or want to support someone in recovery. Nika also delves into her doctoral research within this population.
Equitable Mindfulness: A Framework for Transformative Conversations in Higher Education
Written by Tiara A. Cash, Nika Gueci, and Teri Pipe.
Background: Mindfulness, the practice of present moment experience, can be employed as a tool for grounding in difficult conversations and creating pathways for transformative change in communities.
Cash T.A., Gueci, N., Pipe, T. (2021). Equitable Mindfulness: A Framework for Transformative Conversations in Higher Education. Building Healthy Academic Communities Journal, 5(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.18061/bhac.v5i1.7770
Equitable Mindfulness Resource Sheet
Looking for books to read, apps to download, or personal practices related to equitable mindfulness? Check out this resource page!