Great depiction of a school transformed by a simple, yet effective, mindfulness practice and by visionary leaders like Jenn Rader. Great video work by Wendy Martinez-Marroquin and thought provoking commentary by students, teachers and staff at El Cerrito High School.
This is so beautiful. Thank you, Niroga and ECHS. My daughter is just finishing her Freshman year there and I had no idea about this program!!! I am owner of Ojas Yoga Center in El Cerrito Plaza. Culture Keepers welcome!!!
Thank you for your kind words, Nicole. We are proud of our partnership with ECHS and are humbled by the spirit of this incredible generation of young leaders. We are so much wiser and resilient because of them. We encourage you and your daughter to reach out to the JMP Center, they offer wonderful, comprehensive services to students. Thank you for all you do to promote health, wellness, and peace in El Cerrito and the East Bay through your center. We have heard nothing but wonderful things about Ojas. Sending you blessings. In solidarity, Niroga Staff
Niroga Institute This the best channel you have ever made, you did a beautiful job. Keep up the good work and may God bless you at all times and my he be by your side.
Hey, I needed to see and hear this. Thank you, Niroga. This is, by far, the best video I have ever seen. Be sure to keep up the good work like always. God bless you. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
John Hill. I went to the old El Cerrito High and to Portola Jr. High 1975 to 1977. My experience. Kids need a community. This means a strong strong strong mentorship hand-in-hand with academics. Everything depends upon a strong family dynamic. Kids need a community, but what about the single parent that is often tired? After W W 2 the family structure was fragmented across the country, but kids need uncles, aunts, grandparents, and siblings that are involved in their lives. As a kid, I came home to an empty house and was left to own devices. This is left me very lonely, looking for an identity, frustrated, angry, confused, often, kids are very very very angry, and they do not know why. Seventh grade and beyond are the formative years for a young person, but they are left hanging in the wind at school. Kids are taught academic, but often they do not know why. Memorize this dry boring math formula, but let's transform that into, math applies to everything in the world world. It is a universal language. For instance, "Let's build a bridge or highway. For an adult, six years is short. In six years kids will be on their own, but for a kid, it's an eternity. In the seventh grade they need to be told, "you can be an engineer" or "You can enter the Air force Academy, but you need to set goals and you need to prepare now. I tried sports. At age twelve a tried baseball at the field acros from Portala jr high, El Cerrito. Hit four home runs out of park a tryouts, but could not catch. I was really really bad, but I had no one to teach me. The coaches are volunteers, there are only so many spots, and coaches are focused on winning games not in mentoring kids. It could have changed my life. Instead, I adopted the culture of the streets and sent me on a downward spiral that almost ruined my life. Kids need a community and strong strong strong mentoring during the formative years of their lives; otherwise, they will just adopt the culture and identity of the streets and just blow in the wind. This means drugs, violence, and a deep anger because they are missing something, but they just can't put their finger on it.
Hey Rodolfo, thanks for checking the video out. Hope the first week of school is treating you right. Don't forget that the health center (JMP) has resources and spaces to chill if you need support. Sending you good wishes and vibes for this new academic year.
