We have a dream of making Kansas City a more mindful city – a community where people feel even more intimately connected to the places they live, work, and play as well as to one another. In a mindful city, residents join together to promote social, economic, and environmental justice; safety, health and wellbeing; and opportunities for joy, delight and discovery. Mindful citizens offer compassionate attention to the most vulnerable among us as well as those who work tirelessly to care for them (healthcare providers, public safety officers, educators, civic leaders, social service agencies, philanthropic organizations, etc.). A mindful city is flexible, responsive and resilient in an ever-changing world. It is an inclusive place with a kind and welcoming culture in which people from all walks of life can thrive and flourish.
Why would we want to become a more mindful city?
- Community Engagement – a mindful community is a more connected and engaged community.
- Quality of Life – practice in mindful living builds self-awareness and increases emotional intelligence, which is correlated with better stress management, improved job performance and decision making, less reactivity, more effective conflict resolution, greater compassion and empathy, and resilience.
- Public Health – a more intentional focus on personal well-being leads to better overall public health.
- Safety – a mindful city is a safer city – research shows mindfulness training is correlated with decreases in problem behavior and increases in prosocial behavior.
Cities like Flint and Ann Arbor, MI, Winooski, VT, Jackson Hole, WY, Boston, MA, and Ottawa, KS already have initiatives well underway.
Want to help us make Kansas City a Mindful City? The Midwest Alliance for Mindfulness is seeking community partners – stakeholders, decision-makers, and budget-setters – in the silos of 1) Leadership & Civic Responsibility, 2) Education, and 3) Healthcare to participate in a brainstorming meeting to forge a mindful path toward greater wellbeing, connection, compassion, and inclusivity in our amazing community. We will be offering a presentation on the what, why and how of creating a mindful city and forming breakout groups for idea sharing. Contact us with your name, organization and position, as well as your interest in getting involved and we will send you an official invitation to the meeting – space is limited, so pre-registration is required.
When: Saturday October 5th, 2019 from 10 am – noon
Location: National WWI Museum and Memorial 2 Memorial Drive Kansas City, MO 64108
Are you already contributing to a Mindful Kansas City? We’d like to consider including your efforts in our prospectus – please contact us with a description of your efforts and your contact information.