The Lineage Project is working to raise $108,000 in the last 108 days of 2012 to bring mindfulness practices to some of New York City’s most vulnerable young people.

We have been offering yoga and meditation to incarcerated youth since 1997. In recent years, we have expanded to serve youth at risk of incarceration in a variety of settings, from court-ordered alternative-to-incarceration programs to alternative schools to homeless shelters. We now work with 1,700 youth annually.

The demand for our classes only continues to grow, and we must increase our budget accordingly. The Expanding Consciousness Campaign will enable us to maintain and add to our offerings.

The practices we teach can literally be life-saving for our students. They help end the cycle of poverty, violence and incarceration by allowing these young people to tap into their innate goodness and potential.  In their words:

“Before I started taking the class I would have a lot of problems because of my temper. But, now I can control my temper thanks to the yoga class. When I first started taking the class, I didn’t like to go. Now I look forward to my Thursday meditation. Speaking from my experience, I think meditation can help a lot of uptight people if they give it a try.”
— Jose, 17

“My home is really chaotic, and I used to get stressed as soon as I stepped in the door. Thanks to the teachings, the minute I get home I can go into a small space I set up for myself and do the breathing. Then I can face the drama in my house in a calmer way.”
— Ebony, 16

“Every emotion goes away. It’s just me. Nothing can interrupt me or come in the way.”
— Maria, 17

“The class is not just about yoga and meditation. It is about how to feel good inside, try some new things and learn to be stress free.”
— Amy, 16

“I feel like the focus that this class requires you to have/practice … has helped take my mind off of everything else that has happened to me in the past 24 hours. In my opinion that is a good thing. Given the circumstances I am truly grateful. I have no intention of running from what’s bothering me, but not worrying about it for once feels nice.”

— Ralph, 17

For more information, see www.lineageproject.org, and check out our video to the left.

Multimedia production: Travis Hartman
Photography: Chantal Heijnen
Music: Swimmer by Plusplus