COALITION PARTNERS
Sassafras Earth Education is an Indigenous-led nonprofit organization based on Wampanoag land on Noepe (Martha’s Vineyard) that focuses on reconnecting youth, families, and communities to the Earth through Indigenous knowledge, land-based learning, cultural mentoring, ecological stewardship, and nature immersion. Founded by David and Saskia Vanderhoop, Sassafras creates programs that blend Indigenous teachings, environmental awareness, storytelling, traditional skills, social justice, and community healing in ways that foster leadership, responsibility, and deeper relationships with the natural world. Through summer camps, youth mentorship, Earth Knowledge programs, LandCulture initiatives, and Indigenous awareness trainings, Sassafras helps participants reconnect with land, culture, and one another while promoting ecological restoration, truth-telling, and intergenerational learning grounded in Indigenous values and ways of life. More information Here: https://www.sassafraseartheducation.org/
Hozho Total Wellness is an Indigenous-led wellness initiative founded by Diné yoga teacher and community leader Haley Laughter that integrates yoga, mindfulness, breathwork, ceremony, and Indigenous teachings to support healing and resilience within Native communities. Rooted in the Diné philosophy of Hózhó—living in balance, beauty, harmony, and right relationship—Hózhó Total Wellness creates culturally grounded wellness programming that reconnects participants with their bodies, breath, community, ancestry, and the natural world. Through community workshops, Indigenous yoga trainings, retreats, Hot Hogan Yoga experiences, and outreach across Indigenous communities throughout the Southwest and beyond, Haley Laughter has helped build a growing movement centered on healing historical trauma, strengthening cultural identity, and cultivating holistic wellness through Indigenous-centered contemplative practice. The organization also supports the development of Indigenous yoga instructors and community wellness leaders, helping expand culturally responsive approaches to movement, mindfulness, and health throughout Indigenous communities
Tomaquag Museum is Rhode Island’s only Indigenous-led museum dedicated to preserving, educating, and sharing the history, culture, arts, and living traditions of the Indigenous peoples of southern New England from a first-person Indigenous perspective. Founded in 1958 with the guidance of Narragansett elder Princess Red Wing and now led by Executive Director Lorén Spears (Narragansett/Niantic), the museum has become a nationally recognized center for Indigenous education, cultural preservation, environmental stewardship, and community engagement. Through exhibitions, educational programming, storytelling, language revitalization, traditional arts, ecological teachings, youth initiatives, and public dialogue, Tomaquag works to strengthen understanding of Indigenous histories and contemporary Indigenous life while emphasizing the ongoing presence, resilience, and contributions of Indigenous communities throughout the region. The museum’s work also highlights the deep relationship between Indigenous peoples and the natural world, promoting intergenerational learning, cultural continuity, and responsibility to future generations
The Proulx Lab for Multicultural Mindfulness, based at the Brown University Schools of Medicine and Public Health, was founded to create a supportive space where Indigenous medical and public health students could explore culturally grounded approaches to mindfulness, health, and community-engaged research. As the lab grew, it welcomed students and trainees from a wide range of cultural and disciplinary backgrounds, evolving into a multidisciplinary community dedicated to advancing equity in science, medicine, and public health. The lab develops and evaluates mindfulness-based programs in partnership with communities around the world—including projects in Japan, Nepal, Africa, and underserved populations throughout the United States—while mentoring the next generation of researchers and health professionals. Through hands-on training in research methodology, community partnerships, and culturally responsive health promotion, the lab has helped prepare numerous students for medical school, doctoral programs, and careers dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the communities they serve. For more informatio njeffrey_proulx@brown.edu
United Indian Health Services (UIHS) is a tribally governed, nonprofit health organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native communities in Northern California. Through comprehensive medical, dental, behavioral health, substance use treatment, traditional healing, and community wellness programs, UIHS provides culturally responsive, whole-person care that honors Indigenous values, traditions, and community strengths. The Indigenous Mindfulness Coalition is honored to partner with United Indian Health Services in advancing Indigenous health, supporting community-driven wellness initiatives, and exploring innovative approaches that integrate cultural knowledge, mindfulness, and evidence-informed practices to promote healing and resilience across generations. For more information follow this link: https://uihs.org/
Mindfulness Center.@ Brown University. The Mindfulness Center at Brown University is an internationally recognized leader in mindfulness research, education, and implementation science. Bringing together faculty from public health, medicine, psychology, and the humanities, the Center advances the scientific understanding of mindfulness while translating research into accessible, evidence-based programs that improve health and well-being. Guided by a commitment to methodological rigor, health equity, and meaningful community partnerships, the Center collaborates with organizations around the world to develop culturally responsive mindfulness interventions and expand access to high-quality mindfulness education. The Brown University Mindfulness Center and the Indigenous Mindfulness Coalition work together to develop, evaluate, and disseminate culturally responsive mindfulness programs that honor Indigenous knowledge while advancing evidence-based approaches to healing, resilience, and wellness across diverse communities. Find more information here