News
August 15, 2018Schenectady Peace Project – August 20 – August 27, 2018
The Schenectady Peace Project is a new initiative of the Global Peaceful Cities Project, a collection of research projects designed to determine how trained meditators creating a “coherent state” in their bodies and then focusing peaceful intention outwardly can measurably reduce local violence. They will celebrate Peace Week in Schenectady, NY from August 20th through 27th with trained meditation leaders going into organizations and leading group coherence meditations for peace.
“Our hope is that this will start a wave of peace in Schenectady that will build throughout the up-coming year so we can have a peace week each year, and eventually get schools involved, too. For years when we were working in Albany, people would urge us to move our work into to surrounding areas including Troy, Rensselaer and Schenectady. The people in Schenectady are so progressive and have been warm and inviting. We are expanding rapidly,” said Bethany Gonyea, founder of NUMINOUS, sponsor of the Global Peaceful Cities Project.
Keith Mitchell [http://www.keithmitchell59.com] former NFL player turned yogi, is coming to Schenectady to help kickoff Peace Week. On Monday, August 20th he will start at City Hall at 10:00 am and lead the crowd in meditation. Mitchell will end the day in Jerry Burrell Park at 6:00 pm with a “Mediate & Celebrate” theme. This event will include performances by the Umoja Drummers & Dancers from the Hamilton Arts Center, as well as Carla Page. Both of these events are being sponsored by MVP Health Care. Keith will also be giving a talk & leading meditation at Union College’s Nott Memorial at noon. All of Keith’s appearances on Monday are free & open to the public.
Schenectady Peace Week’s schedule of events (Aug. 20th 27th) can be found here: https://www.peacefulcities.org/events
Special Screening of Documentary Resilience on Aug. 21st as part of Schenectady Peace Week:
In addition to various meditation events throughout the week, Schenectady Peace Project is offering a free screening of the documentary Resilience at Proctors – The Addy on Tuesday, August, 21st, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. (doors open at 5:30). Following the screening will be a panel discussion with guest speakers: Larry Spring, Superintendent of Schenectady Schools, Robert Carreau, Executive Director of the Schenectady Foundation, Damani Farley, Common Thread Consulting Founder, and Bethany Gonyea, founder of NUMINOUS, sponsor of the Global Peaceful Cities Project.
According to Gonyea, the film Resilience discusses the nexus point between health and academics, and how important it is for students to be in the rest and restore part of the nervous system to feel safe enough to learn. Although the film specifically mentions meditation as one of the most powerful ways to facilitate that level of resilience, the film also discusses several other ways to help students eliminate toxic stress and invites a large community conversation.
Resilience is the sequel to the film, Paper Tigers a documentary about adverse childhood experiences.
The public is invited to join the conversation of promoting healthy communities and schools.
