Attention creative youth looking for a chance to write and relax in an inspiring, informal, and welcoming environment! Just bring your creativity, unique writing style, favorite writing tools, and a blanket or yoga mat to participate!
The Howell Township Municipal Alliance has partnered with Howell PAL to launch the “I AM…” Creative Writing and Mindfulness Workshop open to all 3rd through 9th graders. The program is offered the third Tuesday of each month, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Howell PAL building, 115 Kent Road in Howell (the old Southard School).
“We wanted to encourage youth to write for enjoyment and self-fulfillment, without the restrictions and pressures of a structured school assignment,” shares Christa Riddle, the Howell Alliance coordinator. “We incorporated mindfulness to teach youth simple strategies to clear their minds and de-stress in a comfortable and accepting setting. All types of writing are welcomed, from poetry and journal keeping to song lyrics and short stories, and the writers can choose to share their work or keep it to themselves.”
Mindfulness is a non-religious, centering, and calming practice of “in-the-moment” awareness, where thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surroundings are accepted “as is,” without judgment, while focusing on the breath.
Each workshop session starts with 15 minutes of mindfulness to clear the head, followed by an hour of free writing and a final 15 minutes of mindfulness to leave on a relaxed note. During the free writing, participants can select any genre of writing that interests them, and there will be opportunities to converse about and share writing for those who would like to do so.
To register, go to www.howellpal.org and select the “I AM…” Creative Writing and Mindfulness Workshop. Each session is just $15, and youth are welcome to register for one session at a time or all of them.
The “I AM…” Creative Writing and Mindfulness Workshop is facilitated by Christa Riddle, Howell Alliance coordinator, who holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and mindfulness certification, and Stefanie Mastbeth Trento of Beautiful Mind Counseling Center, who is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) with mindfulness certification.
For more program information, contact Christa Riddle of the Howell Alliance at 732-938-4500 ext. 4012. For registration questions, contact Howell PAL at 732-919-2825.
The Howell Alliance collaborates across the community to prevent substance abuse, underage drinking, alcoholism, tobacco/nicotine use, vaping, and other at-risk behaviors among youth and the entire community population. It also promotes physical, mental, emotional, and social health and well-being and the reduction of substance use and mental health disorder stigmas. Our mission is achieved through providing awareness, resources, and education.
For more information on the Howell Township Municipal Alliance, our unwanted prescription safe and anonymous disposal initiative in partnership with the Howell Police Department, our Prevention Press quarterly newsletter, and a comprehensive list of prevention/treatment/recovery resources, please visit our website at http://www.twp.howell.nj.us/169/Municipal-Alliance.
The Howell Alliance welcomes new members at our official committee meetings the third Tuesday of each month, 12:30 p.m. at town hall and at our Friends of the Howell Township Municipal Alliance healthy community think tanks the first Monday of each quarter, 7:00 p.m. at the Echo Lake pavilion.
