Autumn at Tools for Peace

We're winding down another successful year at Tools for Peace. It's been anexciting 2018! Thanks to your generous gifts, we held our 13th Annual SummerTeen Camp this past July, continuing our work in inspiring kindness andcompassion in young people. We've also strengthened our existing partnerships,keeping our commitment to create kinder communities. Read on to see whatwe've been up to.

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The Annual TFP Summer Teen Camp 2018

"It’s remarkable to see firsthand how one week can completely change anindividual’s life." - Caitlin Kara, Camp Director

The Tools for Peace Summer Teen Camp is a happy, inspiring time for bothcampers and staff, and the 13th year was no exception! From art classes tomindfulness workshops to music, we had fun, and we also learned and grew.

"I will use what I learned at camp by staying calm and spreading positivitytowards everyone," said Emma, one of our TFP campers.

A shout out to Hope Ginsburg who flew out from Richmond, Virginia to join us thissummer. Hope is an Associate Professor of Art from Virginia CommonwealthUniversity and came to camp to learn more about Tools for Peace and teach afelting workshop.

“TFP Camp is always my favorite time of year! I love watching all of the campersopen up and feel more and more at home each day. It is a real joy to witnessthe teens dig deeper—whether it comes to personal growth or thinkingoutside the box. Though I am facilitating, I learn more from them in theworkshops each year.” -Abby Posner, Camp Facilitator and Music Counselor

L.A.C.E.R. Afterschool Programs Compassion-in-Action Field Trips

Humane Society Field Trip

Tools for Peace students from King Middle School visited the Pasadena HumaneSociety where they picnicked before taking a tour of the shelter and learning howto be kinder and more compassionate toward animals.

Students created and donated fleece cat beds that kitties can use at the shelter,as well as take to their forever homes so they have something that’s comfortingand familiar as they adjust to their new surroundings. The students also meditatedon compassion and explored ideas about how they can keep supporting theirlocal humane society.

Campus Beautification

Hip, hip hooray for our L.A.C.E.R Afterschool Programs Tools for Peace Clubmembers at Irving Middle School! They were so inspired by their campus clean-up that they decided to turn it into a monthly project. We're so proud of theirinitiative and their willingness to give back to their school!

Community Partners

University of California at Riverside Emotion Regulation Lab

We're so pleased to have continued our partnership with the UC RiversideEmotion Regulation Lab. This year, we work with the lab's Principal InvestigatorEmily Shih to create an online mindfulness course, made possible by her 1440grant award.

“The purpose of the collaboration with Tools for Peace and Dr. Elizabeth Davis’sEmotion Regulation Lab at the University of California, Riverside is to examinehow the Stop, Breathe, and Think online platform may benefit children andadolescents. We are interested in examining the impact that this type of trainingmay have on youth’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physiological functioning.Results from our first pilot study of 66 adolescents are promising, showingtrends of improvements in compassion towards one’s self and increaseduse of adaptive emotion regulation strategies. Youth from our pilot studyreferenced the meditation curriculum as 'interesting and useful,' 'helps them calmdown,' and something they will 'practice every day and teach their friends.'” -Emily Shih, Principal Investigator

Tools for Peace piloted the course with our amazing volunteer teen participants. Abig round of applause for our young compassionate leaders who completed thecourse!

Children's Hospital of L.A. and the Dr. Sammy Lee Medical andHealth Science Magnet School

Our Director of Facilitation, Mayme Donsker, has continued her work withChildren’s Hospital Los Angeles, helping pediatricians practice mindfulness, aswell as integrating mindfulness into the curriculum at the Dr. Sammy Lee Medicaland Health Science Magnet school. Below are students trying the Deep Divemindful mission from the Stop, Breathe & Think Kids app.

"It has been great to work with Mayme on our Children's Hospital Los Angeles,Tools for Peace, and Dr. Sammy H. Lee elementary school collaborative project.Mayme has a very soothing presence, which everyone responds to; shemakes mindfulness accessible for children as young as 5 and makes it fun!It is truly a pleasure to be able to work with Tools for Peace!" -Lily Chattopadhyay, MD, Attending Physician and Assistant Clinical Professor ofPediatrics

Occidental College

Mayme is also happily growing the Tools for Peace partnership with OccidentalCollege in Eagle Rock, CA. For the past five years, we've been leadingworkshops with students and staff, and this fall, Mayme is teaching anintroduction to mindfulness and meditation series with Occidental students.

Your Gift on Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving. We're thankful for your generosity. Hereare some ways you can support Tools for Peace:

GIVE Help us reach our 2018 fundraising goals. You can send your tax-deductibledonation to: Tools for Peace 75 S. Grand Ave., Suite 217, Pasadena, CA 91105,or donate online.

SHOP Use Amazon Smile and .5% of your purchases will be donated to Tools for Peacewhen you select the organization as your charity.

Purchase a mindfulness app subscription from our partners at Stop, Breathe &Think who donate 10% of their profits to the programs at Tools for Peace.

SHARE Please share this newsletter with friends, colleagues, and organizations thatwould be interested in our work.

DONATE NOW

MINDFULNESS ACTIVITY

Practicing Mindfulness at the Dinner Table

With the holidays approaching and many future festive meals to be shared withfamily and friends, here is a mindfulness activity to bring you and your loved onestogether and get the holidays off to a positive start.

Still, I Feel Lucky Ask everyone at the table to share one challenging experience from their day,week, or even the year, and add “Still I feel lucky because...” as they express apositive spark or lesson that came from that experience.

Thank you so much for your continued support. Have a wonderful and peacefulholiday season!

With Gratitude, The Tools for Peace Team

©2018 Tools for Peace | 75 S Grand Ave. | Suite 217 | Pasadena, CA 91105 |626.564.0700 | info@toolsforpeace.org | www.toolsforpeace.org

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