Covid has opened our eyes not only to what we spend our days doing, but why we are conditioned to value productivity over wellness. The shift toward greater awareness of such patterns is a first step toward more mindful living - and enhanced wellBEing! Join this virtual conversation to discover how the choice to Be Mindful benefits relationships, work life and personal wellness while learning more about:

• How to address struggles during turbulent times

• The myths of mindfulness

• Mindful ways to hone intuitive choices

• Easy wellBEing practices for daily life

Part I: Introduction with Lara Wilson of Be Well Be Here on Sunday, January 16 at 8 - 9 pm ET - FREE! Online registration will take place through the Concord Free Public Library.

Part II: Lara in conversation with Ruchika Sikri of Wisdom Ventures on Sunday, Jan. 30 at 8 - 9 pm ET - $11

Show up with curiosity, questions or concerns about engaging in mindful wellness practices. Both online sessions conclude with a serene guided mindful meditation.

BWBH offers scholarships and subsidies for paid programs thanks to our generous donors. Apply HERE

Ruchika Sikri is the Managing Partner of Wisdom Ventures Fund. After a successful corporate career of 25+ years at Google, Microsoft and Cisco, she follows her life's purpose and mission to create a better world by supporting globally accessible mindfulness, compassion and wellness offerings. She is doing this by activating communities of wellness and mindfulness learning and practice in workplaces; by accelerating the growth of wellness innovation and technologies that enable human connection and compassion. Ruchika's inspiration comes from leading Well Being and Mindfulness Learning Programs & Strategy for 8+ years out of her 15 years career at Google, where she successfully architected, facilitated, and curated several well-being and mindfulness programs for over 120,000 employees.
For over 20 years, Ruchika's daily meditation and yoga practice has been grounded in increasing clarity in mind, purity in heart, and sincerity in action. She believes these skills are increasingly needed to uplift humanity, build genuine connections and increase respect for our planet. Her goal is to bring secular and science-based mindfulness and compassion learning to many organizations and communities globally. Ruchika is a Board Member and Advisor to several nonprofits that empower women and children, and also advises founders of wellness technology and conscious living startups. Ruchika is a mother to two loving kids and lives with her wonderful husband in Bay Area California.

What is the relationship between mindfulness, vulnerability and mental health? This workshop explores the distinction between mental health and mental illness, and presents actionable practices focused on “mental hygiene” as a path to mindful wellness. Together, we’ll examine how mindfulness practice can help us overcome mental health stigmas and cope with acculturative stress. Participants will learn basic tools to implement in their daily lives, and ways to integrate these culturally-attuned mindfulness practices during every season of life.

Designed by the international mindfulness organization AlmaYEspiritu, the purpose of United in WellBEing sessions is to develop awareness of our human vulnerability with empathy, compassion, and connection. All are welcome as we mindfully honor ourselves and one another in community.

Led by Criss Cuervo, Charity Collier and Elaine Ramos-Rodriguez

$22 per session. Be Well Be Here offers scholarship and subsidies so ALL can be included, regardless of ability to pay - simply fill out the BWBH Scholarship Form.

About Criss Cuervo, Founder and Leader of AlmaYEspiritu

After several years in the corporate world working for companies such as CBS, Telemundo, Comcast, ESPN, DishLATINO—and receiving multiple awards for leadership, performance and innovation skills—Criss decided to make a radical change in her profession. Why? She was intrigued by what made some people successful and how they maintained a balance between professional and personal life. In 2016, she launched AlmayEspiritu.com, a socially responsible company whose mission is to deliver mindfulness-based life and work balance tools to people around the globe. In 2019, Criss earned a Masters Degree in Mindfulness from Lesley University, and in 2020 became a certified teacher of the renowned leadership program developed at Google, Search Inside Yourself. That same year, Criss published her first book, PERTENÆCER: Eight-Week Mindfulness and Meditation Training and Practices for Latinx Immigrants in the United States ©, through which she shares mindfulness-based stress management tools for immigrants in the US. Originally from Venezuela, Criss spent most of her adult years in the United States. She currently resides in Toledo, Spain. In her free time, she enjoys to meditate, read, walk in nature, do yoga, Zumba, or play tennis!

Mindfulness for Recovery with AlmaYEspiritu

This workshop will explore how mindfulness practices can benefit individuals struggling through recovery, whether it be from experiences with addiction (any type) and grief or loss. Those in recovery often experience complex emotions, long-term struggles, isolation or confusion that mindfulness practice can begin to unravel. Learn ways to implement a daily practice for greater resilience and possibility. Guided meditation and mindful exercises will be shared with compassion and kindness.

This collaborative online series designed by AlmaYEspiritu will be led by experts in the field of mindfulness in marginalized communities, such as Latinx, Immigrants, People with Addiction, and Survivors of Suicide Loss and the Bereaved. Together, we will explore how mindfulness practices impact vulnerable groups - and what that means for all of us. The purpose of these sessions is to help develop empathy, compassion, connection, and understanding of what it means to Be vulnerable. Let’s raise awareness beginning with ourselves, and experience mindful ways to feel understood and interconnected. All are welcome as we honor one another during National Hispanic Heritage month!

Led by Charity Collier, Mindfulness & Addiction Specialist and Elaine Ramos-Rodriguez, Grief & Bereavement Specialist

Sunday, September 26 at 5:30 pm EST

$22 per session. Be Well Be Here offers scholarship and subsidies so ALL can be included regardless of ability to pay - simply fill out the BWBH Scholarship Form.

AlmaYEspiritu offers mindfulness training for individuals, teams and organizations. Their personalized training uses a research-based* approach that takes into consideration four core dimensions of well-being—awareness, connection, insight, and purpose. There has been growing interest from the scientific community around the benefits of mindfulness practices at home and in the workplace. Research shows the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation training to enhance coping skills, promote feelings of well-being, and cultivate favorable changes in physiology such as better immune functioning. AlmaYEspiritu’s certified mindfulness facilitators are particularly adept at supporting the needs of those in marginalized or vulnerable communities.

The bravest and kindest sign of love that anyone can offer to minoritized communities involves understanding. At times, life’s complexities and the diversity of our human experience compel us to create subgroups that end up being marginalized, undeserved and vulnerable. People are not categories. It is not possible to define a human BEing by a two-dimensional checkbox.

This collaborative 4-session online series designed by AlmaYEspiritu will be led by experts in the field of mindfulness in minoritized communities, such as Latinx, Immigrants, People with Addiction, and Survivors of Suicide Loss and the Bereaved. Together, we will explore how mindfulness practices impact vulnerable groups - and what that means for all of us.

The purpose of these sessions is to help develop empathy, compassion, connection, and understanding of what it means to Be vulnerable. Let’s raise awareness beginning with ourselves, and experience mindful ways to feel understood and interconnected. All are welcome as we honor one another during kick off of the National Hispanic Heritage month.

Mindfulness and Mental Health

Session 1 : Sunday, September 12 at 5:30 pm

What is the relationship between mindfulness and mental health? This workshop explore how we define mental health and mental illness, and presents the idea of “mental hygiene” as a path to wellBEing. Together, we’ll consider ways these social constructs impact vulnerable populations.

Led by Charity Collier, Elaine Ramos-Rodriguez and Criss Cuervo

Mindfulness in Latinx and Immigrant Communities

Session 2: Sunday, September 19 at 5:30 pm

This interactive workshop will examine in-depth how mindfulness can be beneficial for overcoming mental health stigmas in the Latinx community, and how it can help immigrant communities cope with acculturative stress. Participants will learn basic tools to implement in their daily lives, and how to integrate these culturally-attuned mindfulness practices. Everyone is welcome! Led by Criss Cuervo, Founder of AlmaYEspiritu

Mindfulness for People with Addictions

Session 3: Sunday, September 26 at 5:30 pm

This workshop will explore how mindfulness practices can benefit individuals struggling with addiction. Learn why mindfulness can offer new possibilities for individuals with addiction, and how to implement a practice for those working towards or in recovery. The workshop will offer a short meditation practice and mindful activity.  Led by Charity Collier, Mindfulness & Addiction Specialist

Mindfulness for Suicide Survivors

Session 4 - Sunday, October 3 at 5:30 pm

In this workshop, we’ll discuss the benefits of mindfulness practice for those in the grieving and bereavement process related to suicide. Survivors often experience complex emotions, long-term struggles, isolation or confusion that mindfulness practice can begin to unravel. Meditation exercises will be shared with compassion and kindness. Led by Elaine Ramos-Rodriguez of AlmaYEspiritu

$22 per session or $80 for the 4-session series

Be Well Be Here offers scholarship and subsidies so ALL can be included regardless of ability to pay - simply fill out the BWBH Scholarship Form.

About Criss Cuervo, Founder and Leader of AlmaYEspiritu

After several years in the corporate world working for companies such as CBS, Telemundo, Comcast, ESPN, DishLATINO—and receiving multiple awards for leadership, performance and innovation skills—Criss decided to make a radical change in her profession. Why? She was intrigued by what made some people successful and how they maintained a balance between professional and personal life. In 2016, she launched AlmayEspiritu.com, a socially responsible company whose mission is to deliver mindfulness-based life and work balance tools to people around the globe. In 2019, Criss earned a Masters Degree in Mindfulness from Lesley University, and in 2020 became a certified teacher of the renowned leadership program developed at Google, Search Inside Yourself. That same year, Criss published her first book, PERTENÆCER: Eight-Week Mindfulness and Meditation Training and Practices for Latinx Immigrants in the United States ©, through which she shares mindfulness-based stress management tools for immigrants in the US. Originally from Venezuela, Criss spent most of her adult years in the United States. She currently resides in Toledo, Spain. In her free time, she enjoys to meditate, read, walk in nature, do yoga, Zumba, or play tennis!

The bravest and kindest sign of love that anyone can offer to minoritized communities involves understanding. At times, life’s complexities and the diversity of our human experience compel us to create subgroups that end up being marginalized, undeserved and vulnerable. People are not categories. It is not possible to define a human BEing by a two-dimensional checkbox.

This collaborative 4-session online series designed by AlmaYEspiritu will be led by experts in the field of mindfulness in minoritized communities, such as Latinx, Immigrants, People with Addiction, and Survivors of Suicide Loss and the Bereaved. Together, we will explore how mindfulness practices impact vulnerable groups - and what that means for all of us.

The purpose of these sessions is to help develop empathy, compassion, connection, and understanding of what it means to Be vulnerable. Let’s raise awareness beginning with ourselves, and experience mindful ways to feel understood and interconnected. All are welcome as we honor one another during kick off of the National Hispanic Heritage month.

Mindfulness and Mental Health

Session 1 : Sunday, September 12 at 5:30 pm

What is the relationship between mindfulness and mental health? This workshop explore how we define mental health and mental illness, and presents the idea of “mental hygiene” as a path to wellBEing. Together, we’ll consider ways these social constructs impact vulnerable populations. Opening Session led by Charity Collier, Elaine Ramos-Rodriguez and Criss Cuervo

Mindfulness in Latinx and Immigrant Communities

Session 2: Sunday, September 19 at 5:30 pm

This interactive workshop will examine in-depth how mindfulness can be beneficial for overcoming mental health stigmas in the Latinx community, and how it can help immigrant communities cope with acculturative stress. Participants will learn basic tools to implement in their daily lives, and how to integrate these culturally-attuned mindfulness practices. Everyone is welcome! Led by Criss Cuervo, Founder of AlmaYEspiritu

Mindfulness for People with Addictions

Session 3: Sunday, September 26 at 5:30 pm

This workshop will explore how mindfulness practices can benefit individuals struggling with addiction. Learn why mindfulness can offer new possibilities for individuals with addiction, and how to implement a practice for those working towards or in recovery. The workshop will offer a short meditation practice and mindful activity.  Led by Charity Collier, Mindfulness & Addiction Specialist

Mindfulness for Suicide Survivors

Session 4 - Sunday, October 3 at 5:30 pm

In this workshop, we’ll discuss the benefits of mindfulness practice for those in the grieving and bereavement process related to suicide. Survivors often experience complex emotions, long-term struggles, isolation or confusion that mindfulness practice can begin to unravel. Meditation exercises will be shared with compassion and kindness. Led by Elaine Ramos-Rodriguez of AlmaYEspiritu

$22 per session or $80 for the 4-session series

Be Well Be Here offers scholarship and subsidies so ALL can be included regardless of ability to pay - simply fill out the BWBH Scholarship Form.

About Criss Cuervo, Founder and Leader of AlmaYEspiritu

After several years in the corporate world working for companies such as CBS, Telemundo, Comcast, ESPN, DishLATINO—and receiving multiple awards for leadership, performance and innovation skills—Criss decided to make a radical change in her profession. Why? She was intrigued by what made some people successful and how they maintained a balance between professional and personal life. In 2016, she launched AlmayEspiritu.com, a socially responsible company whose mission is to deliver mindfulness-based life and work balance tools to people around the globe. In 2019, Criss earned a Masters Degree in Mindfulness from Lesley University, and in 2020 became a certified teacher of the renowned leadership program developed at Google, Search Inside Yourself. That same year, Criss published her first book, PERTENÆCER: Eight-Week Mindfulness and Meditation Training and Practices for Latinx Immigrants in the United States ©, through which she shares mindfulness-based stress management tools for immigrants in the US. Originally from Venezuela, Criss spent most of her adult years in the United States. She currently resides in Toledo, Spain. In her free time, she enjoys to meditate, read, walk in nature, do yoga, Zumba, or play tennis!