Strengthening community, capacity, and good health.
Our structured program involves a cohort of fellows, groups of people with shared interests. The goal is to empower them to do more with their families, communities and careers. Fellows often serve as leaders in the community, sharing what they have learnt with others and building stronger foundational networks.
Our work is inspired by The Virtues Project™. The Virtues Project started in 1991 as a response to random acts of violence and suicide among youth from ages 14-25. It quickly became a global initiative to help children and youth develop authentic self-esteem and encourage the practice of virtues in everyday life. It is now a global movement for people of all ages and was honored by the United Nations during the International Year of the Family as a “model global program for families of all cultures.”
Participants do not need to attend every single session nor do they need to attend from the very beginning of each round of programming. Each fellow is invited to attend up to 20 meetings grouped into 4 areas of focus that are critical to wellbeing:
Mind
Spirit
Body
Wallet & Synthesis
When any of these focus areas are impacted, it can have a multiplicative effect on other components of life and become hard to overcome. These are 4 succinct ways to support communities in living healthy lives.
The goal is for all participants to feel more empowered in some aspect of their existential determinants, regardless of how many sessions they attend. Those who engage in long-term enrichment should achieve the intended empowerment after approximately five months.
Fellowship:
We provide educational and healing spaces that enhance physical, mental, emotional, social and economic wellbeing. The core team along with partners Charm City Care Connections, Fulton Bank and Planet Fitness, provide the following to cohort members:
120-minute Bi-weekly educational/empowerment sessions (20 sessions)
First-hand access to health, financial, spiritual and cultural experts
Opportunities to co-design practical and creative programming
Peer support and development
Compensation for completing each session