The calendar shows events we are part of, and events we are sponsoring. For more events of interest, check out our partners Climate Council of Kansas City and Deep Roots KC.
for a new trauma and resilience research study and intervention for climate activists.
This research study is offered at no cost to participants.
The 9-week research study will be held on Zoom from May 17th – July 12th, 6:30 – 8:00 pm Central.
The Resilient Activist believes that the world needs inspired, visionary activists who have the resilience to see us through these unprecedented times.
This course will incorporate resilience training, trauma and grief support, mindfulness practices, body relaxation, breathwork, and nature immersion.
Watch the informational session that gives all the details:
Learn more about the study from the lead investigator Tyler Staples and mindfulness professionals Erik Hulse and Julia Grimm:
Lead: Tyler StaplesInstructor: Erik HulseInstructor: Julia Grimm
Tyler D. Staples, MS is a Licensed Master’s Level Psychologist in the state of Kansas, and a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at Kansas City University. He has been practicing psychology since 2015, both in inpatient as well as outpatient settings. In addition to his doctoral studies, Tyler currently works as an adjunct professor at Avila University. His dissertation research is on psychological resilience training in healthcare professionals.
Erik Hulse retired from the Overland Park Police Department in 2016, after 25 years of service. He is a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher and teaches for the Midwest Alliance for Mindfulness (MAM), the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center, and Pause First Academy. Erik is in a 2-year chaplaincy training program through Upaya Institute and Zen Center.
Julia Grimm, LMLP, CMT-200,RYT-200 is a Certified Mindfulness Teacher, a therapist, and a trained yoga teacher. She specializes in trauma-informed care & teaching mindfulness to children and adults. Julia graduated with an MSc in Clinical Psychology from Leiden University in the Netherlands. She teaches at Midwest Alliance for Mindfulness and works as a Licensed Master’s Level Psychologist at Jewish Family Services.
Sami Aaron, Founder/Executive Director, The Resilient Activist is a Climate Reality Leader, an Extension Master Naturalist, a yoga and meditation teacher, and an environmental activist working on the restoration of pollinator habitats.
Tobi Holloway is a former group fitness instructor and is enrolled in the 200-Hour Mindfulness Teacher Training Program with the Midwest Alliance for Mindfulness. She is passionate about taking good care of ourselves, each other, and our planet. She is on the Board of The Resilient Activist, teaches meditation and resilience, and is a presenter for the speakers’ bureau.
Aims/Hypotheses
The aim of the proposed project is to determine the extent to which resilience training improves resilience and coping flexibility, and reduces perceived stress, as measured by the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC; Connor & Davidson, 2003), the Coping Flexibility Questionnaire (COFLEX; Vriezekolk et al., 2012), respectively. It is hypothesized that there will be changes in scores on all three measures. In particular, there will be increases in resilience and coping flexibility and decreases in perceived stress from pretest to posttest. It is further hypothesized that follow-up resilience and perceived stress scores will decrease compared to completion of the training paradigm, but not back to the original pretest level of resilience perceived stress scores.
Significance
The significance of the proposed research project is one of application. The current state of political and/or community activism is one of significant anxiety and profound uncertainty, which has further been driven by the global novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Given this, cultivating resilience is of paramount importance by means of reducing compassion fatigue and burnout, as well as promoting overall mental well-being. The efficacy of such a program would have outstanding implications for all individuals. Resilience programming could be expanded to any number of community-based programs, the hope of which would be to improve resilience and cognitive flexibility, as well as reduce stress, for entire communities.
Procedure
Recruited participants will complete the PSS, COFLEX, and CD-RISC prior to the outset of the training program. For ethical reasons, training group assignment will be on a first-come-first-served basis, and thus random assignment will not be possible. Assessment will be repeated upon training completion and on 3-month follow-up. Participants will be randomly assigned a participant number with which to identify the repetition of assessments while keeping them anonymous. Participants will be given a card on which to write their number.
Curriculum
The first four weeks focus on developing characteristics shown by research to influence resilience development. These include developing an understanding of what resilience is (and isn’t) as well as practical skill development in the areas of:
Constructing achievable goals
Planning for distressing situations
Addressing unhelpful thinking patterns
Handling emotional crises
Developing acceptance
Defining realistic optimism
Introducing relaxation training basics
The second four weeks will introduce participants to the key principles of mindfulness, instruction for formal and informal practices, and group discussions. With a commitment to involvement, both within and outside of class, participants will understand how integrating mindfulness into their daily life can play a significant role in transforming their experience with troubling emotions and even physical pain.
The final session will introduce participants to Visionary Activism, a practice that melds mindfulness practices, heartfelt activism, and profound nature connection as tools to develop a personal activism plan that nurtures resilience and joy.
What will the Study Look Like?
Participants in the proposed study will be community activists asked to attend a 9-week resilience training program offered by The Resilient Activist non-profit organization. Sessions will be held from May 17, 2022, thru July 12, 2022, from 6:30 – 8:00 pm Central. Attendees enrolled in the training program will then be recruited into the study itself from the training group. The training group will be limited to 35 participants.
The training paradigm is informed by prior training programs modeled around concepts of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness. Also built into the paradigm are opportunities for social connection to peers. Each session will take place on Zoom within The Resilient Activist’s online Community Platform. The sessions will be 90 minutes in length.
for a new trauma and resilience research study and intervention for climate activists.
This research study is offered at no cost to participants.
The 9-week research study will be held on Zoom from May 17th – July 12th, 6:30 – 8:00 pm Central.
The Resilient Activist believes that the world needs inspired, visionary activists who have the resilience to see us through these unprecedented times.
This course will incorporate resilience training, trauma and grief support, mindfulness practices, body relaxation, breathwork, and nature immersion.
Watch the informational session that gives all the details:
Learn more about the study from the lead investigator Tyler Staples and mindfulness professionals Erik Hulse and Julia Grimm:
Lead: Tyler StaplesInstructor: Erik HulseInstructor: Julia Grimm
Tyler D. Staples, MS is a Licensed Master’s Level Psychologist in the state of Kansas, and a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at Kansas City University. He has been practicing psychology since 2015, both in inpatient as well as outpatient settings. In addition to his doctoral studies, Tyler currently works as an adjunct professor at Avila University. His dissertation research is on psychological resilience training in healthcare professionals.
Erik Hulse retired from the Overland Park Police Department in 2016, after 25 years of service. He is a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher and teaches for the Midwest Alliance for Mindfulness (MAM), the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center, and Pause First Academy. Erik is in a 2-year chaplaincy training program through Upaya Institute and Zen Center.
Julia Grimm, LMLP, CMT-200,RYT-200 is a Certified Mindfulness Teacher, a therapist, and a trained yoga teacher. She specializes in trauma-informed care & teaching mindfulness to children and adults. Julia graduated with an MSc in Clinical Psychology from Leiden University in the Netherlands. She teaches at Midwest Alliance for Mindfulness and works as a Licensed Master’s Level Psychologist at Jewish Family Services.
Sami Aaron, Founder/Executive Director, The Resilient Activist is a Climate Reality Leader, an Extension Master Naturalist, a yoga and meditation teacher, and an environmental activist working on the restoration of pollinator habitats.
Tobi Holloway is a former group fitness instructor and is enrolled in the 200-Hour Mindfulness Teacher Training Program with the Midwest Alliance for Mindfulness. She is passionate about taking good care of ourselves, each other, and our planet. She is on the Board of The Resilient Activist, teaches meditation and resilience, and is a presenter for the speakers’ bureau.
Aims/Hypotheses
The aim of the proposed project is to determine the extent to which resilience training improves resilience and coping flexibility, and reduces perceived stress, as measured by the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC; Connor & Davidson, 2003), the Coping Flexibility Questionnaire (COFLEX; Vriezekolk et al., 2012), respectively. It is hypothesized that there will be changes in scores on all three measures. In particular, there will be increases in resilience and coping flexibility and decreases in perceived stress from pretest to posttest. It is further hypothesized that follow-up resilience and perceived stress scores will decrease compared to completion of the training paradigm, but not back to the original pretest level of resilience perceived stress scores.
Significance
The significance of the proposed research project is one of application. The current state of political and/or community activism is one of significant anxiety and profound uncertainty, which has further been driven by the global novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Given this, cultivating resilience is of paramount importance by means of reducing compassion fatigue and burnout, as well as promoting overall mental well-being. The efficacy of such a program would have outstanding implications for all individuals. Resilience programming could be expanded to any number of community-based programs, the hope of which would be to improve resilience and cognitive flexibility, as well as reduce stress, for entire communities.
Procedure
Recruited participants will complete the PSS, COFLEX, and CD-RISC prior to the outset of the training program. For ethical reasons, training group assignment will be on a first-come-first-served basis, and thus random assignment will not be possible. Assessment will be repeated upon training completion and on 3-month follow-up. Participants will be randomly assigned a participant number with which to identify the repetition of assessments while keeping them anonymous. Participants will be given a card on which to write their number.
Curriculum
The first four weeks focus on developing characteristics shown by research to influence resilience development. These include developing an understanding of what resilience is (and isn’t) as well as practical skill development in the areas of:
Constructing achievable goals
Planning for distressing situations
Addressing unhelpful thinking patterns
Handling emotional crises
Developing acceptance
Defining realistic optimism
Introducing relaxation training basics
The second four weeks will introduce participants to the key principles of mindfulness, instruction for formal and informal practices, and group discussions. With a commitment to involvement, both within and outside of class, participants will understand how integrating mindfulness into their daily life can play a significant role in transforming their experience with troubling emotions and even physical pain.
The final session will introduce participants to Visionary Activism, a practice that melds mindfulness practices, heartfelt activism, and profound nature connection as tools to develop a personal activism plan that nurtures resilience and joy.
What will the Study Look Like?
Participants in the proposed study will be community activists asked to attend a 9-week resilience training program offered by The Resilient Activist non-profit organization. Sessions will be held from May 17, 2022, thru July 12, 2022, from 6:30 – 8:00 pm Central. Attendees enrolled in the training program will then be recruited into the study itself from the training group. The training group will be limited to 35 participants.
The training paradigm is informed by prior training programs modeled around concepts of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness. Also built into the paradigm are opportunities for social connection to peers. Each session will take place on Zoom within The Resilient Activist’s online Community Platform. The sessions will be 90 minutes in length.
The Resilient Activist JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Book Club
Are you interested in learning more about justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) in America with a group of like-minded and open-hearted people?
Do you enjoy reading and discussing books that expand your understanding of yourself and the world?
If these questions touch a chord, then The Resilient Activist JEDI Book Club is for you!
For the July JEDI Book Club, we will be reading, “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous“by Ocean Vuong.
Below is a review of the book by Goodreads:
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is a letter from a son to a mother who cannot read. Written when the speaker, Little Dog, is in his late twenties, the letter unearths a family’s history that began before he was born — a history whose epicenter is rooted in Vietnam — and serves as a doorway into parts of his life his mother has never known, all of it leading to an unforgettable revelation. At once a witness to the fraught yet undeniable love between a single mother and her son, it is also a brutally honest exploration of race, class, and masculinity. Asking questions central to our American moment, immersed as we are in addiction, violence, and trauma, but undergirded by compassion and tenderness, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is as much about the power of telling one’s own story as it is about the obliterating silence of not being heard.
Please feel welcome to attend, even if you missed earlier meetings. This is an open group, and we understand that our lives are busy and not everyone will be able to attend each month!
The JEDI Book Club is facilitated by Resilient Activists Brenda Bennett-Pike and Anne Melia. We hope you will join us!
This presentation offers a guide for engaging in our political system to effect positive change in a joyful, self-caring, and sustainable way.
We present activism as part of self-care, and self-care as part of activism.
Activism is often perceived as a negative, frustrating, and angry way of being. As such, people do not want to become activists or even adopt the changes that activists are promoting.
We are presenting a different paradigm!
We believe that we will draw more people to our cause if we are energized, engaged, and joyous in our activism. Anger, sadness, and frustration are natural responses to our broken and inequitable world. However, by cultivating joy, self-care, and connection, we can focus our negative emotions into positive, sustainable, and resilient activism.
This presentation is intended for two audiences:
Those who want to meaningfully engage in our political system to support, nurture, and protect what they hold dear, but aren’t sure where to begin.
Those who are already taking political action and want to add resilience, but are not sure how.
Anne Melia
Environmental Scientist/Chemist
Political and Environmental Activist
Native Plant Enthusiast and Gardener
Serial non-profit board member/volunteer
Recent yoga and meditation practitioner
Tobi Holloway
Retired enterprise data architect with wellness side-gigs
Board member, presenter, and resilience and meditation teacher for The Resilient Activist
Is the latest IPCC report keeping you up at night?
Join our next Climate Café for a safe space to process it.
The Resilient Activist offers our own interpretation of these gatherings, based on training we have received through the Climate Psychology Alliance of North America, and other resilience practices we incorporate into our programs including short meditations, journaling, nature connection, and breakout rooms.
This is your best opportunity to connect with a community that gets you, with folks who are experiencing many of the emotions that climate change has brought out in your heart and mind.
There is nothing for you to commit to except to gather your favorite beverage, a journal, find a comfortable spot with your Zoom window open, and just be you.
Each session will include facilitators from The Resilient Activist as well as a Climate-Aware Therapist to guide the conversations in ways that are supportive and nurturing.
teach mindfulness skills suitable for all ages, and
inspire with stories of young people who are making a difference in building a healthier, safer world.
Simple activities to do between class sessions will help families with integrating positive changes in their everyday lives.
This family course – for parents WITH their children – may be best suited for those with children in middle or high school, however, some activities can be done by younger children.
Throughout August, Pam Hausner will be teaching these principles through guided meditation, journaling, and open discussion.
Mondays August 1, 8, 15, 22 from 6:00 to 7:15 pm CDT
Hosted on our Mighty Networks Online Community
Course Fee
4-Week Course Fee: $60 per Zoom registration – for parents WITH their children
In the event of course cancellation, fees can be transferred to other courses offered by The Resilient Activist, offered as a donation, or refunded.
A limited number of half-price and free scholarships may be available. Email info@theresilientactivist.org to request a discount.
Waiver
Participants are required to have completed The Resilient Activist’s Meditation and Mindfulness Course Waiver and Release of Liability Form within the previous 12 months before the start of this course.
Pam Hausner is a mindfulness meditation teacher who integrates creative experiences using mixed media for visually accessing personal insight. Pam brings mindfulness to her professional work both through activism and as the owner of Big Vision Design, a marketing agency that serves businesses and nonprofits who are committed to making a positive impact in the world. More information is at this link.
teach mindfulness skills suitable for all ages, and
inspire with stories of young people who are making a difference in building a healthier, safer world.
Simple activities to do between class sessions will help families with integrating positive changes in their everyday lives.
This family course – for parents WITH their children – may be best suited for those with children in middle or high school, however, some activities can be done by younger children.
Throughout August, Pam Hausner will be teaching these principles through guided meditation, journaling, and open discussion.
Mondays August 1, 8, 15, 22 from 6:00 to 7:15 pm CDT
Hosted on our Mighty Networks Online Community
Course Fee
4-Week Course Fee: $60 per Zoom registration – for parents WITH their children
In the event of course cancellation, fees can be transferred to other courses offered by The Resilient Activist, offered as a donation, or refunded.
A limited number of half-price and free scholarships may be available. Email info@theresilientactivist.org to request a discount.
Waiver
Participants are required to have completed The Resilient Activist’s Meditation and Mindfulness Course Waiver and Release of Liability Form within the previous 12 months before the start of this course.
Pam Hausner is a mindfulness meditation teacher who integrates creative experiences using mixed media for visually accessing personal insight. Pam brings mindfulness to her professional work both through activism and as the owner of Big Vision Design, a marketing agency that serves businesses and nonprofits who are committed to making a positive impact in the world. More information is at this link.
This presentation offers a guide for engaging in our political system to effect positive change in a joyful, self-caring, and sustainable way.
We present activism as part of self-care, and self-care as part of activism.
Activism is often perceived as a negative, frustrating, and angry way of being. As such, people do not want to become activists or even adopt the changes that activists are promoting.
We are presenting a different paradigm!
We believe that we will draw more people to our cause if we are energized, engaged, and joyous in our activism. Anger, sadness, and frustration are natural responses to our broken and inequitable world. However, by cultivating joy, self-care, and connection, we can focus our negative emotions into positive, sustainable, and resilient activism.
This presentation is intended for two audiences:
Those who want to meaningfully engage in our political system to support, nurture, and protect what they hold dear, but aren’t sure where to begin.
Those who are already taking political action and want to add resilience, but are not sure how.
Anne Melia
Environmental Scientist/Chemist
Political and Environmental Activist
Native Plant Enthusiast and Gardener
Serial non-profit board member/volunteer
Recent yoga and meditation practitioner
Tobi Holloway
Retired enterprise data architect with wellness side-gigs
Board member, presenter, and resilience and meditation teacher for The Resilient Activist
teach mindfulness skills suitable for all ages, and
inspire with stories of young people who are making a difference in building a healthier, safer world.
Simple activities to do between class sessions will help families with integrating positive changes in their everyday lives.
This family course – for parents WITH their children – may be best suited for those with children in middle or high school, however, some activities can be done by younger children.
Throughout August, Pam Hausner will be teaching these principles through guided meditation, journaling, and open discussion.
Mondays August 1, 8, 15, 22 from 6:00 to 7:15 pm CDT
Hosted on our Mighty Networks Online Community
Course Fee
4-Week Course Fee: $60 per Zoom registration – for parents WITH their children
In the event of course cancellation, fees can be transferred to other courses offered by The Resilient Activist, offered as a donation, or refunded.
A limited number of half-price and free scholarships may be available. Email info@theresilientactivist.org to request a discount.
Waiver
Participants are required to have completed The Resilient Activist’s Meditation and Mindfulness Course Waiver and Release of Liability Form within the previous 12 months before the start of this course.
Pam Hausner is a mindfulness meditation teacher who integrates creative experiences using mixed media for visually accessing personal insight. Pam brings mindfulness to her professional work both through activism and as the owner of Big Vision Design, a marketing agency that serves businesses and nonprofits who are committed to making a positive impact in the world. More information is at this link.
The Resilient Activist JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Book Club
Are you interested in learning more about justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) in America with a group of like-minded and open-hearted people?
Do you enjoy reading and discussing books that expand your understanding of yourself and the world?
If these questions touch a chord, then The Resilient Activist JEDI Book Club is for you!
For our August JEDI Book Club we will be reading, You Are Your Best Thing, Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience, an anthology co-created by Tarana Burke and Brené Brown.
Here is a blurb about the book from Brené’s website.
This anthology is a space to recognize and process the trauma of white supremacy, a space to be vulnerable and affirm the fullness of Black life and Black possibility, a space that gives Black humanity breathing room. Featuring essays by Jason Reynolds, Austin Channing Brown, Tanya Denise Fields, Kiese Makeba Laymon, Prentis Hemphill, Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts, Marc Lamont Hill, Keah Brown, Luvvie Ajayi Jones, Shawn A. Ginwright, Kaia Naadira, Deran Young, Sonya Renee Taylor, Irene Antonia Diane Reece, Yolo Akili Robinson, Laverne Cox, Jessica J. Williams, Aiko D. Bethea, and Imani Perry.
Please feel welcome to attend, even if you missed earlier meetings. This is an open group, and we understand that our lives are busy and not everyone will be able to attend each month!
The JEDI Book Club is facilitated by Resilient Activists Brenda Bennett-Pike and Anne Melia. We hope you will join us!
Join The Resilient Activist and others for 
Pam Hausner is a mindfulness meditation teacher who integrates creative experiences using mixed media for visually accessing personal insight. Pam brings mindfulness to her professional work both through activism and as the owner of Big Vision Design, a marketing agency that serves businesses and nonprofits who are committed to making a positive impact in the world. More information is 