Introduction

Heart & Mind Center of Elizabeth aims to bring mindfulness meditation, and other contemplative practices such as yoga and stress reduction workshops, to a small part of New Jersey where communities may benefit from it most.

This strategic plan serves as a timeline of events that are necessary to establish Heart & Mind Center of Elizabeth as a 501 c (3) tax-exempt organization. It includes a start-up budget, organizational programming, and measurable objectives to establish Heart & Mind as a cornerstone for wellness in Elizabeth, NJ.

Thank you for supporting the beginning of this initiative and engaging in this plan by reading, donating, or simply believing in Heart & Mind Center.

Programming Background

Our programming is based on research outlined in Dr. Deepak Chopra and Dr. Rudolf Tanzi’s The Healing Self, Sharon Salzberg’s guidance in Real Change, and Dr. Joe Kabat-Zinn’s founding work in mindfulness-based stress reduction.

Chopra, Tanzi, Salzberg, and Kabat-Zinn are among countless authors, spiritual leaders, and medical professionals who support the practice of mindfulness meditation, yoga, and other contemplative practices as a means of preventative medicine to stop in their tracks illnesses ranging from chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and cancer - to Alzheimer’s disease.

These prominent researchers suggest that attention to breath a few minutes a day, cherishing moments of laughter and release, and also being fully present in moments of despair or tragedy, may essentially jumpstart our body’s immune system to fight disease. They prove that mindfulness meditation has the ability to physiologically affect our body and mind in a way that is solely at the mercy of our own consciousness.

In a city replete with high rates of obesity, diabetes, chronic heart disease, and infant mortality; mindfulness is a tool that families and individuals in Elizabeth and surrounding communities can use to prevent their health from worsening and costing their lives, both literally and financially.

Yoga Vinyasa is a common method that humanity has gravitated to tap into the healing benefits of breathwork and body movement. As a well-known contemplative practice, it is essential for Heart & Mind to provide weekly yoga classes free-of-charge focused on specific audiences, such as children and families. There is no such place in Elizabeth that provides any type of yoga classes currently, much less for free.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training, as coined by Dr. Kabat-Zinn, is imperative to be provided at Heart & Mind. Much like many other inner-cities fighting community marginalization, institutional racism, and oppression, Elizabeth is full of undervalued and overworked social service employees. MBSR training workshops at Heart & Mind will be strictly dedicated to the population of passionate people that make up Elizabeth’s beating heart to empower them with effective tools to take care of themselves. Enabling them to compassionately take care of Elizabeth’s most vulnerable beings.

In its many forms, daily mindfulness meditation sessions will be Heart & Mind’s bread and butter, so to speak. Meditations such as walking, eating, and guided meditations marketed to specific audiences such as women, men, LGBTQIA+, emergency responders, veterans, citizens returning from incarceration, first generation students, and other vulnerable populations will be the focus of Heart & Mind. Acknowledging that meditation, in order to be effective, must be practiced daily to weekly, tailoring meditations to specific audiences and incorporating Heart & Mind as a membership organization will hopefully allow members to continue to attend meditation sessions and feel part of a collective movement.

Lastly, as a means of fundraising to support Heart & Mind’s programming, a gala titled “Manifiesta”, Spanish for manifest, will invite all supporters, board members, donors, and membership to celebrate life and donate to the organization, to launch and sustain us.

Timeline to Incorporation and Grand Opening

September 2021 - Send NJ business entity registration with list of Board of Directors

January 2022 - Send Form 1023 to IRS to apply for tax-exempt status as a non-profit membership organization

April to September 2022 - Launch Kickstarter for $3,000 to fund “Manifiesta Gala”

October 2022 - Begin planning gala for January 2022, fundraising goal $80,000 (start-up cost), continue fundraising for 12 months

January 2023 - Grand opening, start rental lease, hire staff, launch programming, re-vise and re-visit strategic plan

Measurable Objectives

Imperative to the success of Heart & Mind are the following three objectives that aim to measure the organization’s impact on the community using relevant scientific tools. Every participant will receive an Informed Consent form that allows them to consent to share their demographic and assessment data with Heart & Mind and its affiliates. A Health Liability Disclosure that outlines organizational limited liability in the event of a health-related incident will also be signed prior to services.

Objective 1: To decrease participants’ stress levels

• • • Using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), participants will be assessed on a monthly basis to measure their level of stress throughout their membership with the organization

Objective 2: To increase participants’ sense of well-being

• • • Using the internationally validated assessment of well-being (WEMWBS ) participants will be assessed on a monthly basis to measure their level of well-being throughout their membership with the organization

Objective 3: To serve 250 participants each year throughout all programs

• • • This objective will be measured using a comprehensive participant record online via Google Sheets

By reaching these annual objectives, Heart & Mind will have fulfilled its mission each year and will move a step closer to achieving its vision, overall.

Limitations

Realistically, Heart & Mind will be challenged by limitations. This section lists top three barriers to service to be aware of for the future of the organization.

• Gentrification

Gentrification in Elizabeth is on the horizon. There are at least a handful of five-story buildings offering luxury housing being built as of today. Thus, a yoga and meditation center may seem to support gentrification rather than fight it. A strong social media presence will be essential to establish Heart & Mind as being for and by the people.

• Stigma

There is a well-known stigma surrounding contemplative practices. Meditation and yoga practitioners typically do not look like everyday people. A strong public image and diverse leadership will be important to attract people of all backgrounds.

• Accountability

Keeping members accountable to their commitment to practice meditation on a daily to weekly basis will be difficult. However, learning and researching evidence-based practices to attract and retain participants will be essential to the survival of Heart & Mind.

Coming soon...