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Chicago Non-Profit Uses Yoga for Violence Prevention
26 May
Summary
- Nonprofit offers yoga to elementary students for emotional regulation.
- Program teaches violence and crime prevention techniques.
- Focus on self-awareness and leadership skills for young children.
The Rise Up Healing Collective, a nonprofit organization, is implementing a unique after-school program at Woodrow Wilson Elementary in Calumet City. The initiative focuses on teaching yoga and mindfulness techniques to second and third graders. Coaches Sidney Francois-Friis and Emmaline Jones lead the program, emphasizing that it's more than just physical exercise.
The program aims to help children heal and understand their emotions, providing them with tools for self-awareness, self-care, and community engagement. This approach serves as a crime and harm prevention strategy. Both coaches have personal connections to gun violence, motivating their commitment to intervention.
Assistant Principal Jeanelle Smith notes positive changes in student behavior, highlighting the importance of social-emotional learning for young students. Rise Up Healing Collective also organizes trips for teenagers and young adults to broaden their perspectives, reinforcing the idea that proactive community involvement is crucial for shaping a better future.
