mind. body. voice.

The Healthy Mind, Body and Voice project is a collaboration project among interdisciplinary researchers, school district partners, and high school and college youth. Together, we have examined cultural attitudes regarding gender, body image, and mental health, has convened and studied large community education gatherings, and co-designed an innovative program for application in schools and after-school/summer programs. This program called mind. body. voice. (m.b.v.) is based on one of the most widely studied peer delivery eating disorder prevention programs. The m.b.v. program provides an opportunity for young people to learn to talk back to pressures about how girls and women should appear, connect to and listen to their bodies through the use of contemplative practices, and take action in their communities. The program incorporates discussion, reflection, collaboration, and practice to learn skills to support individual wellness and to take action to create a world that values women for who they are and what they do.