YOTY | Inner Explorer

Introducing the Metro Atlanta Collective

The Metro Atlanta Collective is an effort to positively impact the well-being of youth, educators, and families. By practicing mindful awareness in recreation centers, students and staff reduce their stress while improving their ability to focus. Inner Explorer and the City of Atlanta offer access to daily audio-guided mindful practices, as well as educator training and mentoring for every center and family in the learning community. The collective seeks to address four key goals: provide daily mindful practice as a proven preventative wellness measure, improve cognitive development, build resilience through local expertise and capacity through educator training and mentoring programs, and link home and school through family participation.

Equitable Approach to Engagement

Youth mental well-being faces significant challenges, especially in communities of color, burdened by social stigma and limited access to affordable, culturally responsive care. Inner Explorer leads by offering daily mindfulness practices, available in English and Spanish with diverse narrators, fostering inclusivity for every child, regardless of their background.

Enrichment & Development

We are committed to cultivating a learning community that stimulates cognitive development while closing the achievement gap. Inner Explorer’s program positively impacts students' ability to think critically in school and in life. Implementing just 10 minutes of daily mindfulness practice in the club offers a sustainable way to improve cognitive development.

Agency and Leadership

The Metro Atlanta Collective seeks to foster resilience by building local mindful expertise and capacity through access to training and mentoring programs. When everyone in the community understands and practices mindfulness, it positively impacts well- being and culture.

Education, Communication, and Access Empowerment

We encourage families to participate in the same stress reduction practices their children hear in the classroom. A shared practice allows caregivers to experience the benefits of daily mindfulness.

An Opportunity For All Atlanta Students And Families To Experience Mindful Wellbeing

Join the Initiative

School and center staff can access the Inner Explorer Program – a series of 180 daily mindfulness practices aligned with the school year – by filling out their school information in the "For Educators" tab.

Families can get started using the Inner Explorer HOME app, a companion mobile app with mindfulness practices available in English or Spanish. Register by filling out your student's school information in the "For Families" tab.

Learn More

Please complete the form below to receive more information about the Metro Atlanta Mindfulness Collective.
Click Here >

Inner Explorer Invites you to access Mindful Awareness Program

Select Role

Educator/Staff

Parents/Caregivers

Already Have an Account? Login Now

Back

For Educator/Staff

Complete the information below to access the inner explorer program

Location

Your Name

Select Role

To Know more about our Privacy Policy Click here

Back

For Parents/Caregivers

Fill In your Information below to signup for Inner Explorer HOME app

Location

Educator Email

Your Name

Your Email

By continuing, I confirm that I have read and understood the
Privacy Policy and Terms of Service

Why Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the fundamental human ability to be present, manage emotional reactions to stressful situations and everyday surroundings. Over 9,000 studies prove the benefits of daily mindfulness for children and adults. A growing number of these studies focus on how it can improve overall well-being, school culture, and cognitive development.

Enhances Mental Health

Daily mindfulness is a proven countermeasure to chronic stress, which is often associated with mental health concerns. Mindfulness teaches effective strategies to calm the central nervous system (CNS) and attenuate the body's natural fight/flight/freeze stress response.

Improves Learning

Integrating mindfulness prepares students to focus and learn. Classrooms that practice daily report a 28% increase in Math grades, a 21% increase in Science grades, and a 15% increase in average G.P.A.

Cultivates Lifelong Skills

Mindfulness teaches valuable skills such as self-awareness and emotional regulation. As a result, students and adults learn how to manage big emotions healthily, and treat one another with empathy and compassion.

The Impact of Mindfulness

"Children and young adults today are experiencing more stress, anxiety, and trauma than ever before. Trauma and stress negatively impact brain function and often lead to impulsive, behavioral outbursts; as a result, they may find themselves entangled in the juvenile justice system. Students need tools that will help them slow down, make better choices, and avoid acting out of anger. Mindfulness is a practice that teaches individuals to do just that. Through mindfulness, children learn skills such as self-awareness and self-control, which allows them to avoid the pitfalls of impulsive behavior. As a juvenile judge, I work with some of the most troubled youth in America - if we can teach them (and all students) to practice mindfulness, they will have a better chance to be successful, law-abiding citizens. I have seen the transformation first hand and think it's critically important that we do this in every single school." -Judge Frank Syzmanski, Third Circuit Court of Michigan (Wayne County) Family-Juvenile Division

“Mindfulness transforms school culture, plus empowers children and adults to create positive changes in their own lives and their communities." -David Metler, Mindfulness Coordinator at Detroit Leadership Academy

"We began using Inner Explorer with four programs in the Detroit Public Schools, but it didn't take long to see the value of the program and expand it to all 21 sites throughout the county. Inner Explorer's platform fits nicely in our afterschool program and provides manageable tools for the staff without needing intense training or background in mindfulness. It can be easily interwoven into the afterschool space and gives us the flexibility to serve all age groups." -Ms. Carla Chinavare, Whole Family School Age Services Director at Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency

"Atlanta's young people are our future. Continuing to invest in future generations puts them on pathways to success that will help us Move Atlanta Forward together. " - Mayor Andre Dickens

About Our Partners

The Metro Atlanta Mindfulness Collective partners include Inner Explorer, City of Atlanta's Mayor's Office, GreenLight Fund Atlanta and the Hawks. We invite you to learn more about our partners by visiting their websites linked below.

If your organization is interested in getting involved in the Metro Atlanta Mindfulness Collection, please email Royal Phillips, rphillips@innerexplorer.org.

Metro Atlanta Mindfulness Collective

Supporting the whole child by reducing stress and positively impacting well-being to achieve academic success, foster a healthy lifestyle, and build resilience.