Florence Crittenton

Hello TRUE Friends!

It’s been awhile since our last blog post, but for good reason, as we have been immersed in our first ever 8 week session, which took place at The Florence Crittenton Programs of SC in Charleston.

Florence Crittenton is a historic home/school for young, single mothers that has been serving the state since 1897. Its mission is “to foster the development of healthy babies and strong, competent parents”. From our experience there, we can not say enough about the efficacy and efficiency of this invaluable local program.

Even more so, how do we begin to express the inner wisdom, strength, resilience and beauty of the young women we’ve met at Florence Crittenton? During our 30 minute grounding sessions, which include intimate ice-breakers and set the tone for our classes each day, and our TRUE Stories Journal Writing course, we’re often left speechless and humbled by the truths revealed by these courageous mothers-to-be.

Ranging in ages 12 to 20, the girls come from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds and family circumstances. Some come to the school as day students, though most are also residents until their delivery. Some come voluntarily, while others are forced by parents/guardians or DSS/legal decrees related to abuse, neglect or at-risk behaviors in the home. Some have full contact with their families, often leaving for home on the weekends, while others must endure their pregnancies without the support of mothers and grandmothers whom they desperately need.

Some have full- or part-time jobs, while others are busy completing their diplomas and GED’s. Some come from broken homes and others have intact families with presumably happily married parents. A few live with boyfriends or have in the past. Some of those boyfriends are incarcerated or abusive. Most of the girls have become pregnant on accident, and all (in this bunch, at least) are keeping their babies.

While no two stories are the same, they have so much in common (though it takes some time for us to get them to see it). The most striking quality they share? A deep love for their unborn babies and a grown-up feeling of responsibility for their care.

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Reflections on the launch of the TRUE Stories Journal Writing Class

While it was my intention at the start of the TRUE Stories to have the girls write in class, their need for ongoing, open dialogue quickly took precedence.  Within the first couple days I learned that in the classroom the best plan is a loose plan, as the needs of the students often dictated the focus/order of my lessons. I ended up tailoring take-home writing assignments according to the subjects most affecting them or most obviously pressing on their hearts and used class time instead for much needed bonding and conversation.

The girls shared their readings in class and left their journals for me to respond to each day while they took TRUE Yoga from our wonderful instructor, Blythe Brown. I encouraged the quiet ones to let me see what was hidden inside and inspired the ones who had a way with words to write their hearts out. I learned about their lives: their relationships with, confusion over and disappointment in boys; their struggles with self-mutilation or attempts at suicide, their enormous faith in God, their love for grandparents, sisters and cousins; deaths of parents and murders of friends, the areas where they feel unable to forgive, but hope to one day; their experiences with rape, incest and violence; their happiest memories, their dreams for their children, their own growing self-love/confidence, their gratitude, their reflections on how far they’ve come…

They really did bloom on the page and began to see the value of giving a voice to their TRUE stories.

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What we have seen in all our classes thus far is that so much life is contained in the hearts and minds of girls, no matter what their circumstances are. It is sad to think of them being overlooked by strangers, judged by family and/or friends, or cast aside by authority figures and/or educators who may label them unjustly according to their choices and appearances. In the TRUE classroom, they’re just people — “perfectly imperfect” as one student put it. They have all the usual mistakes, heartbreaks, hopes, dreams, questions and loves.

For the three of us at the wheel of this program it has been a blessing beyond measure to be students of these students. We look forward to continuing to make a TRUE impact at Florence Crittenton during the summer months, though it is they who impact us the most!

Stay TRUE,

Kendall Lukas, Founder

TRULY Enlightening Interview with Blythe Brown

We recently interviewed yoga instructor, Blythe Brown, the newest addition to TRUE Initiative. Blythe will be directing our yoga program, and we couldn’t be happier! In addition to being a woman who absolutely beams with authenticity, passion and TRUTH, she is a natural born teacher who offers the most peaceful yoga class we’ve ever taken. We look forward to her BIG, bright energy and numerous gifts radiating throughout our program!

About Blythe

Name: Blythe Dawsey Brown
(“Blithe in the dictionary means blissful. My dad wanted to name me Blythe from the poem “To A Skylark” by Percy Bysshe Shelly. It is one of my favorites.”)

Age/birth date: May 26, 1985

Education: College of Charleston, 2003 BS in Anthropology, BA in Studio Art; 200- hour integral yoga teaching certification from Holy Cow Yoga Center in Charleston

Hometown: Beaufort, SC

Current residence: downtown Charleston

Family: My father is a retired public school art teacher who worked in the schools for 30 years. Now he fixes up wooden boats and sail boats. My mother is a Speech-Language Pathologist, also teaches sign-language. I have one younger sister, Phoebe, who is a senior in high school and just got accepted to the College of Charleston. She loves to write and is quite an actress.

Pets: a 4 year old yellow-collared mini-Macaw (parrot) named Bonsai

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The Interview

Q: When/why did you start doing yoga?

A: I went to my first yoga class when I was 16, a senior in high school. I was invited to go by a friend of mine, an older woman who was also an art teacher who worked with my father. I had never tried it before, and thought it’d be really relaxing and would ease the anxiety of “senioritis”. I was surprised to find out it was much more challenging than I thought. However, I found it to be quite addictive!

Q: What is yoga all about? Why is it beneficial?

A: The word “yoga” means “union” — the union of the body and the mind. It is not about how good you look in a pose, or who else is in the class, or even the physical benefit you will get from the class (which will happen whether you believe in yoga or not). It is about bringing yourself into the moment, into the present. Our thoughts are constantly bringing us away from our TRUE selves, our TRUE self being that part of us which observes the mind. In yoga, the goal is to find a stillness of the mind (thoughts), which allows us to find peace. In order to do this, we need to use the breath in union with the body’s movement to help us become aware of the present, and how our mind, emotions or feelings may react in certain situations. By becoming familiar with the state of our bodies and minds in the present, it becomes easier to tap into that peace and stillness in times of stress, adversity and even pain.

Yoga’s benefits include increased relaxation, mind-body awareness, and the building of confidence and determination. It also supports a deeper connection to our impact on others and the world around us. It increases circulation, lung capacity (which means more oxygen in the body), boosts the immune system, and helps to strengthen, tone and lengthen all of the muscles in the body.

Q: What is meditation to you? or How would you describe it to someone who isn’t that familiar with it?

A: To me, meditation is when I allow myself to be still, close my eyes and concentrate on one thing (like my breath or repeating a word or favorite poem). Concentrating on that one thing for a certain amount of time, even if for five minutes, keeps the mind and thoughts busy enough to allow a sense of peace and stillness to come over the body. It’s like when you’re just about to fall asleep and you are so still you can no longer feel the presence of your body, only your mind and the observer of your mind are left. That peacefulness is your TRUE self – no worries, no thoughts…only peace. By meditating, we can become familiar with what it feels like to be peaceful, so we can close our eyes, take a few deep breaths, and come back to it anytime we need it.

Q: What have been a couple of the most important lessons you’ve learned so far from yoga and/or meditation?

A: I’ve learned through yoga and meditation that the most precious thing we can be a part of is the present, the current moment. The past consists of memories (good and bad) that are left to exist in our minds and thoughts. And the future consists of hopes and dreams to come. By being more connected to the present moment, we can use our past experiences and our hopes and dreams to our benefit. But we can’t let ourselves get caught up in either the past or future, because nothing is permanent. We are always in a state of change.

So, yoga has helped me to let go of things I have no control over. I constantly have to remind myself to let go of things (expectations, worries, assumptions) which only lead to more worry and pain. By letting go, I am a happier person and am not afraid of what is to come.

Q: What’s your favorite color and why?

A: Hmm, well for the past couple of years my favorite color has been indigo, or some shade of deep blue purple, which is often associated with divinity and spirituality. I have grown so much over the last couple of years, spiritually and emotionally, I guess that my favorite color is fitting. It is calming to me.

Q: What did you want to be when you “grow up”?

A: When I was little I wanted to work with animals, maybe in a zoo. I never really made a distinction between work and play, and I’d like to keep it that way! I have always loved birds and thought maybe I would help to rescue birds that were sick or injured. I also had a dream of being a dancer of some kind. Movement and interaction with others moves me.

Q: What is your yoga name? Why was it given to you and what does it mean?

A: My yoga name is Kumari. It was given to me by my teacher, Trace Sahaja, upon completing my training. It is a sanskrit word that represents youthfulness and innocence, a purity of heart. I can only guess that it was given to me as a reminder that we are all pure at heart.

Q: Do you notice any common misconceptions/misunderstandings that people have about yoga that you could possibly clear up?

A: Well, first of all, yoga is not a religion. It is a science, a practice and an art. Every religion can be supported by the practice of yoga. Yoga has been practiced in the world, starting in what is now India, for over 2,000 years. It is not only about getting in shape and “working out”, like going to the gym. Yoga also teaches the importance of non-violence (to ourselves and others), service to others, patience and self-control. Meditation is a form of yoga. Singing and dancing can be a form of yoga. Drawing can be yoga. Swimming can be yoga. Everything can be yoga if we tap into our awareness, our connection of ourselves to the world, and our impact on each other.

Q: Besides going to classes and doing the poses, what are other important (perhaps lesser known) components of having a yoga practice?

A: By practicing yoga, we are maintaining a connection to the body and the mind. Through this connection, we can ”listen” to our bodies and our thoughts to help us possibly “diagnose” the root of pain or suffering in our lives. Knowing where our pain comes from can help us heal, physically and emotionally. Through yoga, one can tap into the source of all life, which is contained within ourselves. By connecting to the source, we can find freedom and happiness.

Q: How do you think yoga can impact the lives of teen girls and young women?

A: It allows us to slow down and reconnect with a peacefulness that lives within each of us. I know how crazy life can seem, especially in high school and college: relationships, change, self-discovery… it can all be confusing, and it is easy to become disconnected from our TRUE selves. We are always changing our minds, and hormones definitely don’t make things any easier! Yoga is like a window-cleaner. Our minds have all sorts of dust and fingerprints, trash, etc.. When we practice yoga, our windows become cleaner and easier to see through, almost like looking through new eyes into ourselves and out into the world. We get a new perspective on life. Being able to see ourselves and reconnect, to ourselves and others, is priceless. Yoga practice makes it easier to find self-confidence, beauty, wisdom, bliss and determination within ourselves.

Q: Regarding girls and women, what are some issues that are closet to your heart?

A: As women, we are faced with many obligations and responsibilities. We naturally feel the need to take care of each other, and we contain a sort of selflessness that without care can turn into certain self-destructive tendencies. These include lack of confidence, guilt, shame, the feeling of weakness and incapability. Unfortunately, sometimes people take advantage of  this vulnerable aspect of women, which only adds to the problems we face, making us more self-conscious, even afraid. It is so important to understand that we all have the capacity to be strong, loving, and supportive of each other. Too many women have fallen through the cracks, without support and love from others like them. I hope that through yoga we can create an atmosphere and an environment for sharing, supporting and growing together.

Q: Do you consider yourself an artist? If so, in what ways?

A: I consider myself to be an artist because I like to tap into my creative mind to express my feelings, beliefs and emotions. That expression may come out as a painting or a story or a dance. It may even come out in how I rearrange a room or create a new space. To me, being an artist means being mindful, and being in the present, and not being afraid to express what I am passionate about.

Q: Where is a place you’ve visited that you fell in love with?

A: I visited Mexico in the summer of 2007 and completely fell in love it with it. There is a certain mysterious and deeply religious feeling in the air, almost a heaviness to it, that was very captivating. The people I met were very sincere, lived simply, and relied on their local communities and families. It helped me to realize that less really is more. Less “stuff” allows for more love, more real LIFE. Stuff just gets in the way.

Q: Who are a few people you really admire/respect?

A: My favorite author, Anais Nin, a woman who was in her 20′s when she made her debut as a writer. She was a young woman in the 1920′s, which was a time when women were finding more independence and ways of self-expression, breaking away from many norms in society. She published many volumes of her diary which led into her life’s insight, her thoughts, dreams and desires. It is always comforting to know that we are not alone, and when I read her words I sometimes feel like our minds are in the same place. She inspires me to be myself: woman, artist, lover, thinker, anthropologist, sailor, yogi, reader, dancer, human being!

My dear friend, Greg Liotta, who is also my teacher and sort of guru. I have him to thank for keeping my interest in yoga alive and inspiring me to become a teacher. He always seems to know exactly what to say in any situation. He is currently living in Virginia at the Lotus Ashram, practicing yoga.

I also deeply admire and respect my partner, Gregory Guay (pictured at left). He is a classical guitarist and yogi as well. He teaches children how to play classical guitar, which demands a lot of patience and a playful, loving attitude, some of which I hope I can learn from him. I am looking forward very much to learning from my students as well. They are always the best teachers.

Q: What is one thing you dream of doing within the next 10 years?

A: I want to travel to as many places as I can. Traveling allows me to grow as an individual and reconnect to humanity through other cultures and landscapes. I would love to be crew on a big sailboat!

Q: What song/album are you hooked on right now?

A: The Weepies

Q: What do you hope to accomplish with (or bring to) TRUE Initiative?

A: Being a part of TRUE Initiative is a wonderful opportunity to share what I have learned with others. Through sharing, we can console each other and heal each other and have fun! Life is too short to not have a sense of humor — we never get out of it alive.  So, we must make the most of what we have every single day. I truly believe that only through self-knowledge can we grow the wings of freedom.

Q: How do you want girls and women to feel when they leave your class?

A: Humbled, uplifted, loved, relaxed, understood. I hope that they learn something new every time.

Creative Focus

Nearly every morning I spend a little time skimming through a handful of inspiring e-newsletters that I’m subscribed to via email. They include nuggets of spiritual wisdom from beliefnet.com, creative conversation from Christine Kane (see her blog on our list), “bites” and “winks” from spiritual cowgirl Sera Beak (also on our blog list), and daily musings from skirt! magazine (see the link on our orgs list). It is one small way that I ground myself in an otherwise hectic life. It’s also a way to get important reminders about staying connected to what is TRUE for me. And lastly, it helps me create the time and focus to absorb ideas and lessons that may positively impact my life and give me something to pass along to other young women seeking their own truths.

Several years ago when I was floundering through college with a million distractions, I realized that in order for me to function from a place of inner calm and clarity, I would have to shrink the sphere of my interests and commitments to a more manageable size. For example, instead of having 20 areas of study I wanted to deep dive into, I’d retain more and understand more thoroughly if I’d invest my time on five. Instead of exploring my abundant creative energy in 100 ways, maybe I’d benefit from rotating among a few interests that I could become more skilled at through regular practice.

You see, if the world is our oyster, my oyster was HUGE! I wanted a little taste of every juicy piece. As a whole, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. It shows a delicious passion for life, and is the expansive nature of the creative mind. But for someone who wants to experience more mastery in specific areas, a priority shift is sometimes required so one’s head doesn’t blow right off their shoulders. It also helps ensure that the bills get paid, and that you have a good amount of valuable insight when speaking about or acting on behalf of a subject which you have studied and invested yourself in fully. You might call this creative focus.

Creative focus simply means that in a world where creativity is the very essence of life, with its endless outlets for expression, we come to determine which avenues speak most to our hearts and abilties. It doesn’t mean that we abandon the other possibilities for making/exploring that creative connection. It just means that we grow to learn what are instinctively and intuitively our most well-lit path(s) for self-expression and discovery. And that’s what we pursue the most often! Much like my e-newsletters, we decide which creative mediums are ideal for our personal ”daily use” due to their ability to ground us, give us focus, and connect us to our truest selves.

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Our school years are a prime time for exploring the arts with little restraint. Our time and energy are not yet under duress by the demands of supporting ourselves and trying to “become someone” out in the world. God knows I’ve adventured through the mediums since elementary school: drawing, painting, collage, writing (many types of writing), jewelry making, knitting, photography, sewing, visual journaling, singing, dance, theatre, pottery, cooking, guitar, your basic arts and crafts, etc… As a young woman, I even set up a booth in the downtown market one season for boxes and signs I painted with slices of agate gemstones glued to them. Even still, there’s mosaic, assemblage, furniture restoration…the possibilities never end, do they?

But whenever I’ve gotten scattered or spread too thin by my artistic pursuits, something I read years ago always comes back to me: If you want to know what your work/purpose is, identify the talents that have been with you your entire life. Look back through the years at those things that you were always recognized for and/or eventually drawn back to. What compliments did you repeatedly receive? What strength(s) did others see in you? What felt the most liberating and TRUE for you?

One thing is for sure, even though I enjoyed taking dance at one time, none of the dance teachers ever knocked my mom over with praise at my above average ability or even my burning passion. Because while I enjoyed it, neither burning passion nor outstanding skill stood out for me there. Same with a number of my other artsy amusements. This was never a reason not to pursue something I enjoyed, but it was a reason to pursue things I enjoyed more, with all of myself instead of half.

You see, I reserved my TRUE affection and dedication for other areas. I can follow a thread through my life, all the way back to my early school years, that strung through the subjects of writing, drawing and singing — the communication and visual arts. And of those three, writing seemed to take the cake, not only because I excelled the most there but because my passion for it was the most unwavering and unmistakable. Teachers used to say, “Give me your autograph so I’ll have it one day when your bestseller comes out.” Well, I’m still working on that bestseller! But the point is, at times in my life when I haven’t known where to focus or have become bogged down with a multitude of creative projects, I’ve been able to look back on this insight and use it to get down to my real life’s work.

Knowing that we can experiment with any form of expression that speaks to us while growing simultaneously in the areas where we are truly gifted is powerful. It can enhance our enjoyment of everything we’re impassioned about and help us narrow down our interests to our Divine purpose —this is where we are most able to impact and inspire others who are searching for their own truths. I send you supportive energy as you use creative focus to identify the outlets that are best for your daily use!

Stay TRUE,
Kendall Lukas, Founder

Some things to think about:

• Have you been able to explore all the creative outlets you wanted to in life?
  If not, what’s stopping you?
• Do you give yourself permission to play with your interests and the time to focus on your greater gifts? If you are a parent, what about your children?
• Can you see a thread through your life or your children’s lives that has kept you connected to your greatest gifts?
• What daily use reminders do you utilize to stay connected to what is TRUE for you?
• In what ways do you use your truest gifts in the work you do? What kind of work could you do that would enable you to share more of those talents with the world?

**Comment and share what sites, blogs, or e-newsletters you get inspiration from. And as always, we’d love for you to share your TRUE Stories!

A Nurturing Space

Authentic. Genuine. Real. Loyal. Faithful. Honest.

This is what ”TRUE” means to me.

This word is also a constant reminder to ring my inner doorbell; to operate my life in accordance with my higher self. What do I think of as “my higher self”? To me, it is God within. It’s my spirit. It’s my TRUE self. It’s unconditional LOVE. As beautiful as it sounds, connecting with my higher self can be tricky work. It continually takes me to the depths of my fears and challenges almost every action and thought. It is work that will never cease. But to know my deeper self is to know God. This is my journey, and it is worth every ounce of pain, confusion, depression, and times of loneliness that I can dig up in order to get to the joy I am meant to live.

E.E. Cummings wrote, “To be nobody but yourself –- in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else –- means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.” It takes courage to face yourself and be vulnerable enough to feel your TRUE feelings and honest enough to look at your real thoughts. Let’s question everything.

You could say that my day job is a graphic designer/art director, a creative-type, but really I’m a teacher. Actually, we all are. I teach people everyday about who I am and who they are. So, who am I and who are you? We are already whole and we are love. This is ultimately what I want to teach the girls of TRUE Initiative.

Author Sera Beak wrote, “I may not be able to control my life, but I can choose how I want to act in response to it, and it’s these reactions that create and determine my experience. The responsibility is mine, and no one else’s.” For the girls of TRUE, I want to help provide these tools, so their responses to life will come from their own authentic places. In TRUE Initiative, they will not be judged. They will be seen, heard and in a place of pure self expression. My goal is they will learn to not accept the identities projected onto them, but will begin instead to step outside of any boundaries that falsely hold their potential and creativity in. I want them to let their freak flags fly!

Sue Monk Kidd talks about the importance of women having a place to go for support and encouragement: “She needs an embracing, open-armed space where she can dissolve, go to seed, and regerminate. A place to be still and tend new roots. She needs a place away from every man-made thing where she can cry, even shout if she wants. In a place like that she can begin to heal what is wounded, recover what is lost. She can remember herself.” I see TRUE Initiative offering this type of space for girls; a nurturing space where creativity and wellness will open doors so that they can hear their own truths.

TRUE love,
Holly Thorpe

Noble, humble beginnings

Well, here I am, writing our first blog for TRUE Initiative!! It was just a couple months ago when an idea I’d been brewing for months, and in some fashion, years, boiled over and revealed its name to me. I spent the summer putting together a self-discovery journal writing class for teen girls called True Stories. It was the class I always wanted to take in school. But of course, it was waiting on me to create it. I meticulously combed through the details of the course and created a fascinating (no, I’m not biased) curriculum that any school department head would have been fond of. At summer’s end, I shopped my class concept out to a local nonprofit arts center here in Charleston. The director was pleased as punch, though it was hard to tell from her nearly expressionless demeanor. The main indication was that she said that she hadn’t seen a class proposal so well thought out in a long time, and hired me on the spot. She didn’t know how the course would take at their center, as they aren’t known for writing, and the self-discovery aspect would be a marketing experiment. But she said we’d give it a try. All we needed was 5 students to make the course a go. I was supremely confident, though experienced enough in my years to know it could flop. After all, the economy was/is a mess, and this center is largely tuition driven. But I was sure that once parents received the Fall schedule in the mail, they’d be intrigued by the new offering. A light bulb would ping. They’d call their moody, literary daughter into the room and say, “I’ve found the class you’ve always wanted, where you can say anything you want and write your heart out, and I’ll be relieved to know that you’re getting it all out.” In my mind, I saw the girl’s eyes light up for a split second, because when you’re that age, it can be brief: Finally, a class all about ME!

Well, it didn’t turn out that way. As the weeks leading up to class turned into days, there were no sign-ups. We pushed the date back two weeks so that I could get the word out at local libraries and on public bulletin boards, and still nothing. I thanked the art director for her support and left the door open for us to revisit the possibilities some time down the road. I didn’t shed any tears over it or even entertain much disappointment, because I knew I was onto something with the course. But I couldn’t help but think about the warning from my spoken-word-poet friend, Marcus Amaker, “Yeah, it’s one thing to have a class, but it’s another thing to get enrollment.” At the time, I thought the comment was a little bit of a snub, but I now trust that the mention came kindly from personal experience. (He’s become quite successful with his published work and poetry workshops around town.) I still don’t know all the reasons why the first attempt failed, but I trust that everything has its reason(s). So I picked up and partied on.

Shortly after the cancellation, I refocused my efforts, determined to pitch the course to all the middle and high schools in the area, as well as centers catering to girls and young women. I made a visit to my friend, Angel, in her temporary dwelling quarters in a boyfriend’s dreamy, historic Charleston home South of Broad. We sat alone on the living room sofa and talked about our life plans. She’s a yoga instructor who has dreamed of starting a wellness program for kids, same but different from my own vision. She mentioned that we collaborate, that wherever I’m able to offer arts courses, that I keep her in mind should they need a yoga class. Of course I would.

That night in the shower, no doubt the location of at least 75% of our inspiration, it hit me like an arrow. There are no area programs, specifically girl’s programs, where arts and wellness are taught together as a package for self-discovery. And aren’t these the two programs to get cut first in schools?! I knew there was a great deal of research and measurable evidence that shows that these programs positively impact both the academic and life performance of young people, and that without them, children suffer from lack of expression, inspiration, balance and good health. I also thought of all the parents who are making more informed choices in their lives these days. They’re shopping smarter at natural grocery stores, attending yoga and tai chi classes, going to meditations and spiritual/holistic seminars, and pursuing their passions into older age. Even those who aren’t, are at least  becoming more aware of or open to the benefits. More parents mustbe interested in programs that will offer their children early tools for living more conscious lives, with more self-awareness, self-discipline and respect, and creative life skills. It occurred to me that care of the mind, body and spirit can be taught to a younger generation through the practices of  creative arts and wellness!

I understood that True Stories was part of a much bigger vision called TRUE Initiative. It has always been my hope to help people, especially young women, discover who they are on deeper levels than is the norm or is expected. I believe that self-awareness is power. But the journey of self-awareness is different for each person. When thinking of this in terms of the word true, the question that came to mind over and over was What is true for you?. This is what I hope to help girls discover within themselves. It’s an individualized answer that will evolve and change as new experiences are brought to the table in time. But learning to have that deeper dialogue is the most useful tool for a girl navigating her teen years on the often rough road into womanhood. She will draw on that skill her entire life.

With the naming of this program, the question has double meaning now. “TRUE” in TRUE Initiative stands for what are, to me, core values in connecting with ourselves and the world around us: teaching, reaching, understanding and empowerment. If all of our actions, towards ourselves and others, were motivated by these four principles, imagine how different the world could be! I decided that these would be the outlining principles of every class taught through the Initiative. The question of what is true for you? now becomes what is TRUE (Initiative) for you? In other words, what are you passionate about? Given a sampling of arts and wellness classes, which ones most speak to you? Where do you express yourself the most fully? Children often instinctively know the answers to these type of questions after they’re able to dabble for a bit, if only we would let them sample the possibilities and figure it out on their own.

So, my dream is to have a wide menu of innovative, introspective courses in arts and wellness, from which girls, schools and centers can select from in order to enrich the educational experience of our youth. My heart swells to think of a teen girl joining us in 5th or 6th grade and seeing her off to college years later, a much more conscious, prepared young woman than she would have ever been had she not participated in such a progressive, nurturing program. But we will take whatever time we can get with them.

What we’re up to today is that we’re honing our concept, we’re pitching the idea out there. We’re planning the group meditations that will begin each session withthe girls. We’re talking to arts and wellness teachers who are interested in working with us; adding yoga, tai chi, contemplative dance, collage, and even a found objects art class to our menu. We’re getting valuable advice and feedback from seasoned educators. We’re on facebook now. We’re blogging! We’re building a website, at least in our minds! Hopefully that will get on paper/computer screen this week. We’re reaching out to after-school programs and other non-profits for possible collaboration. We’re learning about non-profit. (I have a feeling the cramming for that will begin shortly.) We’re getting our questions together for our pro-bono lawyer friend. In essence, we’re turning a dream into a reality.

* Oh yeah, in addition to Angel moving to California, realizing quickly after our inspiring conversation that staying in Charleston for her is like shoving a shooting star into a rabbit hole, I knew who I needed to join forces with to make TRUE Initiative all that it is capable of becoming. I called my art director best-friend from childhood, Holly Thorpe, who happens to live down the road, and recruited her. Recruited isn’t the right word, really. Her heart was already wrapped around the general subject of impacting the lives of girls in a meaningful way. She was leaving her job. She was attending life-coaching sessions to manifest her purpose, to identify the work she’s meant to do. The timing was right. Most importantly, she also had a vision for TRUE Initiative and was called (in her own heart) to join me in the cause. I have always known that her partnership on any project would be an invaluable balance and asset, but it is amazing to have her by my side as we attempt to make a dent in the lives of girls and women. I believe in our leadership as much as I believe in our friendship. We don’t know how big this may become, but we do know that we have a starting place to work from, and we plan to work hard. Together, one foot in front of the other.

What is TRUE for us is that girls only need someone to pay close attention to them, to expand the world in front of their hungry eyes, to show them through creative and physical expression that everything they need to succeed, to find their own versions of joy and peace, is already inside of them. Teach. Reach. Understand. Empower. That is what we intend to do!

Stay TRUE,

Kendall Lukas, Founder