Center for Contemplative Justice

The Center for Contemplative Justice (ccj) supports a variety of social Justice ministries and Contemplative practices. Ccj also provides administrative and financial resources to individuals and groups that create opportunities for social and structural change. Ecuador - escuela anne stevens school: since 1998, we have been engaged in a wonderfully symbiotic relationship with the community of san eduardo, ecuador. In 1999 the ccj opened a school, escuela anne stevens, named after the rev. Becca stevens's mother and former executive director of st. luke's community house, in the small town of san eduardo. Since then, we have financed the operations of the school through donations and sponsorships. The ccj sponsors a group each spring to help with capital improvement projects, and to operate a medical clinic for those in san eduardo and the surrounding communities. Botswana - holy cross hospice botswana: since 2006, the Center for Contemplative Justice has supported the work of holy cross hospice in gaborone, botswana, as they provide physical, emotional, and spiritual care for those suffering with hiv-aids and other terminal illnesses. Holy cross hospice has also been a leader in promoting palliative care in the country through their training programs, and the inception of the first in-patient facility in the country. In addition to financial support which comes primarily through our annual fundraiser, the greatest show and auction ever, the ccj sponsors annual small groups with diverse skills and experience to travel to botswana to work with holy cross hospice. Sibimbe: --------- in 2013 the ccj founded sibimbe, a women's sewing cooperative in san eduardo, ecuador. This social enterprise partners with escuela anne stevens, where it is housed. Sibimbe launched its business by creating healing oil pouches for thistle farms. They have expanded their work to produce a variety of items for shared trade, and also liturgical items for cokesbury. The women are survivors of extreme poverty and domestic abuse. Our hope is to improve the equipment, mentor new sewers, and increase their market. The reverend gina angulo, priest at the church in san eduardo and spokesperson for sibimbe, says, "the purpose of this cooperative is to provide decent work and to improve the quality of life for women. Social outreach: ------------------- ccj supports various social Justice ministries locally as well as around the world. These ministries focus on Justice intitiaves including climate change, human dignity, sustainability and healing. Mined (teacher training): -------------------------- mindfulness in nashville education (mined) was born out of a small group who began to gather monthly for connection, inspiration, education, and support in promoting mindful awareness practice in the lives of children. The presence of mined has spawned mindfulness training not only with children but also for educators, parents, clergy, health professionals, and clinicians across the city of nashville and beyond. Over the years, mined has cultivated a broader and deeper mindful awareness of all ages through leading, facilitating and participating in community forums, retreats, workshops, classes, presentations, guided walks and exhibits. Love rises: ------------ based in ukraine, love rises is a Justice enterprise knitting socks and blankets to reflect hope through landscape patterns in soft color palettes. The work of knitting provides dignity, normaly, and income during wartime. Each knitted item holds a story of connection, of a single thread of yarn that was carefully hand-woven into a new product, and a connectin between women refugees and the world. The products are sold through thistle farms global to hep fund the intitiative and provide a living wage for the refugees. Moringa madres: ---------------- based in mexico, the moringa madres, spanish for 'mothers', is a social enterprise employing survivor leaders who grow, harvest, and sell nutrient-rich moringa to provide economic freedom for their families and community. Moringa is used for tea and thistle farms body products. Moringa is referred to as the "miracle tree" due to its detoxing effect as well as its extraordinary nutritional benefits which include: protein, vitamin a, potassium, calcium and vitamin c. the moringa madres organization is a thistle farms global initiative. Loratong (the ratong women Center: the ccj began support loratong (ratong women Center) in botswana which is a non-governmental organization that seeks to empower women survivors of gender based violence, sexual/emotional abuse, and not limiting to any women needing psycho economic empowerment. Mtpc - inclusion tn: --------------------- inclusion Tennessee (in|tn) was founded in 2021 following a two year community needs assessment research project of the lgbtq+ community in middle Tennessee. Utilizing the recommendations that came from the community needs assessment as a foundation, in|tn is focused on connecting people to opportunities, and resources that enhance the lives of the multi-faceted lgbtq+ community. Rise Center for urban economic Justice: the goal of the Center is to promote economically healthy black families that value and practice investing in the black community in order to build and support stable black businesses and institutions that value and promote the well-being and preservation of black lives. Project initiatives include enrolling 15-20 high school students in a youth economic empowerment training curriculum, introducing students to business concepts, financial literacy and community social impact. In addition, students will create business proposals and compete to have idea funded and implemented by the student group. In addition, the program will host a one-day hands-on-business basics workshop for 100 elementary or middle school students from at risk schools. The Center: -------------- we subleased a space in the spring of 2022 to serve as a place for gatherings, program activity and to cultivate a justice-minded community. The space serves as a place for our incubator programs to meet and grow as well as a space for the larger community to have a home for contemplation, Justice centered collaborations and events that support Justice intiatives. Emergency fund: ----------------- the emergency fund was funded in 2022 for the purpose of providing immediate financial support in crisis. These crises can include but are not limited to housing instability, loss of income due to a medical emergency, emergency debt assistance, costs of death and burial, and food instability. The purpose is to ease the burdon of economic injustice and to help keep our community housed, fed and clothed. Wellness center/functional outreach: the wellness Center was funded to provide a free place for people to work on strengthening the body and mind as part of a wholistic wellness initiative. The functional outreach program is led by an ocupational therapist who provides ot services geared to the individual as well as helps connect the participants to outside resources based on their needs. The purpose is to treat the whole person, not just the injury, disease or disability and to encourage habits that reflect a healthy lifestyle and could add years to a lifespan. Pilgrimage: ------------- the ccj offers pilgrimages as part of our mission to help build deeper connection and conversions through exploration. The pilgrimage fund helps provide access for the community so more individuals have these opportunities. Retreats: ----------- the ccj has offered retreats as part of it's ongoing mission to help build deeper connections and conversations. The retreat fund helps the ccj provide more opportunities for this as well as community access. Collectivo 1050 - mexico: ------------------------ we create social and participatory designs in a solidarity economy, sharing and supporting each other, because we seek cultural development and personal and communical transformation through the knowledge of our trade. Aunty's place - belize: ----------------------- aunty's place is a safe home for women who were formerly incarcerated and are committed to empowering their lives through a healing restorative program. Winny obure foundation - africa: ------------------------------ wof is involved in championing for the rights of women. We work towards ensuring a life free from inequality and discrimination for every woman. Local women's handi craft - nepal: -------------------------------- to lift artisans up who have been exploited in the fashion industry; to provide them dignified jobs that give them opportunity, skills, and a sense of independence. Our goal is to support all artisans and create a textile industry that honors sustainability, human rights and dig