Project Karuna

“Compassion isn’t some kind of self-improvement project or ideal that we’re trying to live up to. Having compassion starts and ends with having compassion for all those unwanted parts of ourselves, all those imperfections that we don’t even want to look at"

-Pema Chodron

Meet our Founder & Director

Hi ! and Welcome. My name is Carolina. I am originally from Colombia, lived in Mexico for two beautiful years, and the United States for more than half of my life, calling Miami, my home. I live with my husband, sons, and dog. I am most grounded when I am with animals, nature and music. I will always be a spiritual seeker. I also love traveling, the sea, outdoor activities, swimming, and most of all, being a mother (most of the time ;) ).

I am an inclusion advocate, group dialogue facilitator and project director, with more than ten years of experience implementing social programs and initiatives. I am the former Director of the Center for Human Rights and Social Justice and the 1Human Trafficking Coalition Project in the Department of Social Work at Barry University. In this role, I supported the development of strategic planning, as well as the conceptualization, implementation and evaluation of contemplative social programs oriented to change - aimed at promoting well-being in marginalized communities.

I have always been passionate about social justice and contemplative practices. I have attended numerous personal growth, contemplative programs and spiritual retreats- including Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) back in 2007. However, it was only when I went to my first Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) course from the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, that I was able to connect with so many valuable inner resources that we all share as human beings- which is the simply notion of being kind to myself and tapping into what I need in a specific moment.

As a mother of a child with numerous medical conditions and additional needs, I have immersed myself in the path to become a more self-compassionate mother through courses, research, formal and informal meditations and following a certification process to be able to teach MSC to others.

In 2020, it was more evident than ever that those tools that I was fortunate enough to learn throughout my journey, had to be shared with those that need it the most, including- and specially- underserved, excluded populations. And so, Project Karuna was born.

What is Project Karuna ?

Karuna (in both Sanskrit and Pali) is generally translated as compassion and self-compassion. Project Karuna is a commitment to expand this well-being and self-compassionate journey by disseminating it to those that otherwise would not be able to afford and participate in this intervention, including the Latinx community, women, mothers and caregivers of children with disabilities and special needs, and other underserved populations.