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Circles of Practice Expands Offerings to Specifically Include People of Color
The MSC Circles of Practice is a weekly online opportunity to foster a deepening and continuation of personal practice. Open to anyone who has completed the MSC course (in the 8-week format, a 5-day intensive or Live Online MSC), the Circles provide a free, donation-based supportive environment for practice. Each Circles session allows for attendees to take part and reflect on the direct experience of a self-compassion practice in an easily accessible space online, on a weekly basis, as time permits, and within a supportive community that includes an experienced MSC teacher to hold the space.
CMSC currently offers six Circles of Practice sessions each week that are open to any MSC graduate, but we are excited to announce the launch of an additional session specifically for People of Color communities.
Adding a Circle of Practice specifically for an affinity group may be an effective way to be more inclusive of People of Color, to assist us in outreach for like-minded persons who might otherwise be inhibited to explore and participate. According to Sydney Spears, PhD, an MSC Trained Teacher and a Community of Color teacher of the Midwest Alliance for Mindfulness, “For some diverse people, it is very critical for them to have a context of sharing and experiencing with others whom they tend to identity with in order to develop a greater sense of safety, support, trust, belonging and connection – especially when perceived new or traditional ‘mainstreamed-based’ experiences are at hand.” (Read the full article here.)
We need your support to build a community of Circles of Practice for People of Color. If you identify yourself as a Person of Color, have taught the MSC program at least 3-4 times, and want to be a part of the Circles of Practice for People of Color Communities as a facilitator, please email Noriko Harth at [email protected] to express your interest in participating. Once the facilitators have been identified, we will announce the schedule for this brand new Circles of Practice group.
Please Note: We are always open to exploring the possibility of offering a Circle of Practice session for other special interest or identity groups if there is sufficient demand and enough facilitators to offer the group on a regular basis. Please email CMSC Executive Director Steve Hickman at [email protected] if you have ideas and interest to pursue such a project.
