The Letters for Peace, Justice and Action has the goal to write 10,000 letters for peace between July 11, 2025 and July 11, 2026. This contemplative social action explores how we build peace in our lives. These sessions are for people who are seeking non-violent action to address violence.

What forms of violence, force, war and attacks on vulnerable people are you hearing about, witnessing or experiencing? How does it make you feel? Does connecting to our innate capacity for peace create more peace in the world? We invite you to join a contemplative letter writing session where you we will meditate and together we will cultivate peace, self-direction, and the capacity to move through fear. As a contemplative practice, the letters we will write are as much for ourselves as they are for others.

By Appointment

In our one to one sessions, we can delve into your questions about the contemplative social action approach to dealing with racism. You will sharpen your ability to respond to interpersonal and other issues. You will learn the Six Key Skills that we teach in the annual Contemplative Social Action course: Empathy, Education, Letting go, Planning, Community Building and Solidarity. You will develop more satisfaction with your ability to be involved in a constructive, compassionate and impactful way.

Become more at ease relating to race whether it involves being able to have conversations openly or interrupting racist dynamics without alienating those involved.

Schedule an appointment to find out if this approach can work for you.

April 2026

We will come together and explore way to balance care for our communities and self care as a vital form of social transformation. Especially now, we can rejoice in our willingness to lean into the hard won lessons of healing and thriving. Centering meditation as a foundational practice promoting wellness, we will work to identify other stepping stones to wellness and healing such as rest, singing and food co-ops.

The long term project will include the creation and distribution of a Guide for Community Care containing resources ongoing meditation practice and co-op building. In these times of intensified uncertainty and upheaval, let us continue to build the sustainable skills of personal and social wellness. Email with questions: heartlightaction@gmail.com

About the teacher:

Dr. Damita Brown graduated from the History of Consciousness Department, University of California, Santa Cruz. Her teaching background includes Black History and culture, theory of race and ethnicity and social justice movement history. Her community based work has focused on abolitionist restorative justice, environmental justice and gay/lesbian (LGBTQ) rights. She is also and a longtime student of the Dharma and qualified meditation instructor in the Buddhist tradition. Brown has taught in the Profound Treasury Retreat (Maine), the Westchester Meditation Center (New York) and other communities.

2nd and 4th Saturdays,

Starting August 30, 2025

1 pm to 3 pm EST

Saturday schools started in the 70s as a way to supplement education for Black kids sent to predominantly white schools where they were not learning about Black history and culture. We will take a mindfulness awareness approach offering free meditation instructions and then practicing together before jumping into Black history topics.

The course will include topics suggested by participants, movies, videos, small group discussions, field trips (virtual and self led), guest teachers and music. We will gain an overview of key moments in Black history and culture and discuss ways our rich past of social justice action and social uplift prepares us to relate to challenges and inspiration. Participants may attend on a drop in basis and need not attend every class.

Free tuition/donation will be accepted.

This course is for Black people.

Coming this Fall…

This course looks at the past as a way to gain understanding and appreciation. It will be taught by Dr. Damita Brown and a mighty teaching team.

Given the current climate of eliminating Black history classes and banning books, we wanted to offer an ongoing class that breaks down barriers of mutual respect and promotes cooperation between people of diverse backgrounds.

This course is for the curious and the fun lover. It will definitely benefit those seeking to do further contemplative social action and anti-racism.

Participants can drop in although consistent attendance is recommended. Classes will meet once a month. We will have guest speakers, field trips and movies! We will have a good time as we celebrate our past proudly!

Open to all.

Every Sunday at 4pm est

We invite conversation about current events, special interest topics and more, especially as they involve applying meditation or other contemplative practices to how we relate to our everyday lives.

Heart Light Hour podcasts will resume July 6.