My Friend's Place eNewsletter 
June 2014

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT:
 
YOGA AS A SOURCE OF HEALING   
 
Kristine Chavez, My Friend's Place resident yoga instructor,
begins a class with new student Mason  
Patanjali famously remarked that "a mind that is free from all disturbances is yoga." So in an effort to continue looking for new and creative ways to engage with the 1,500 young people struggling with homelessness who come to us for help each year, My Friend's Place is excited to share that our Clinical Social Worker, Kristine Chavez, is now leading weekly yoga sessions.  

 

Every Wednesday morning, Kristine empowers youth to take time to care for their inner self by engaging in meditation and performing physical movements that assist in relaxing the mind, body and soul. Every effort put forth to attain a more relaxed state is the very essence of yoga.

 

And My Friend's Place yoga students are already reaping the benefits! Many youth report that taking yoga classes with Kristine helps decrease feelings of stress, depression and anxiety.

 

In order to bring yoga to a drop-in center and get the youth participating, Kristine integrates the organization's values and philosophy of non-judgment and harm reduction in her teaching style. She also emphasizes the importance of creating a sense of safety for all students, as the healing process is different for everyone. "A sense of safety allows clients to trust you to guide them on a journey of healing in which they learn how to become more aware of how the mind, body and soul interact with one another," Kristine says. "This awareness is vital in each person's healing process."

                                   

One young man from the yoga program shared that despite being homeless, he finds ways to incorporate yoga into his everyday life by meditating and stretching in the morning. When asked what he valued most about doing yoga at My Friend's Place, he said simply getting healthy was reason enough to participate.  

 

Kristine hopes to see yoga at My Friend's Place expanded to twice a week in the future, taking youth through both morning and afternoon practices. We're excited to follow the progress of our yoga students as these weekly workshops continue to act as an important addition to the services offered to improve the quality of life and mental health of clients at My Friend's Place.

              

 

 

SUPPORTER OF THE MONTH:

 

THE CENTER FOR STUDENT MISSIONS 


The Center for Student Missions'
2014 summer staff

The Center for Student Missions (CSM) brings volunteers, passion and assistance to My Friend's Place by working on various projects and organizing the clothing closet. CSM's mission is to connect volunteer groups with other organizations in select cities that provide services for people in need.

We are honored to name Center for Student Missions as our Supporter of the Month for June 2014! Now, a few words from CSM's Los Angeles City Director, Rebekah Bolin:

The Center for Student Missions (CSM) is a non-profit, faith-based organization that works with youth,  

college and adult groups from all over the country. We partner these groups with organizations across the  

U.S. to provide them with support, encouragement and volunteers with the hopes of being a part of a larger transformation process. We seek to partner with organizations that have a desire to serve those whom are  

often forgotten.

 

In February of 2013, CSM Los Angeles moved its central location to Koreatown, and being much closer to Hollywood we desired to partner with more organizations in the area. We found out about My Friend's Place simply through online research, but soon after touring the amazing facility and witnessing the incredible work that My Friend's Place does, we instantly knew we wanted to partner.

 

Since our groups are only in L.A. for about a week, we realize that it would be hard to work hands-on with the youth at My Friend's Place, thus our groups mostly help out with work projects and organizing the clothing closet. We love that we can be of help in any way possible! While in L.A., our groups also tour the city to learn more about where they're working and who they're helping. In addition to visiting My Friend's Place, we drive around the city while our staff explains some of L.A.'s history as it relates to homelessness, racism and injustices. We take the time to discuss these issues through a CSM lens, bringing our faith-based values and priority of service to the conversation.

 

We are passionate about what My Friend's Place does because the mission embodies a lot of CSM's values in regards to caring for our neighbors who are often overlooked. We hope to continue to partner with My Friend's Place for years to come!  

 

 

Interested in volunteering at My Friend's Place? Visit our website at myfriendsplace.org  
and find out how!
 

 

RUNNING WITH PURPOSE!

 

 
My Friend's Place is proud to announce it's continued partnership with Hard Rock Caf� in the second annual

Hard Rock Caf� 5K, Saturday, Nov. 8 at 7 a.m. We encourage all members of the community to join us in participating by running, walking or even skipping the 3.1 miles! With only 136 days left until race day, don't miss out on this special, once-a-year opportunity to help support the 1,500 young homeless people we serve.

 

In 2013, the two groups established a relationship when the famous restaurant chain named My Friend's Place its official beneficiary for the first annual 5K in Los Angeles. That year, some 3,000 people signed up to run in support of My Friend's Place and, along with other individual donations, helped raise $9,764.

 

This year's race will start and finish at the Hard Rock Caf�'s restaurant on Hollywood Boulevard. To register you can visit http://www.runhardrockcafe.com/registration.html.

Registration fees increase as we approach the event, so don't delay.

Take advantage of the $45 reg fee today!

 

Our own Executive Director Heather Carmichael, Director of Development  

 Susan Dutra, Transformative Education Manager Camilla Brannstrom and Communications & Development Associate Jeff Katz are already signed up to run the 5K. Join them by registering today and run with team    

My Friend's Place Hollywood Rocks!

 
 
  

 

 
This Month
Yoga as a Source of Healing
Supporter of the Month: The Center for Student Missions
Running With Purpose!
Mission
My Friend's Place assists and inspires homeless youth to build self-sufficient lives.

Please consider supporting MFP's mission 
 
Contribute through our

Learn more at

 

 


 

 


 

 

 

 

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My Friend's Place is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and all contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.  To make a gift with your credit card, visit our secure online donation page.  Please send checks to:

My Friend's Place / Attn: Membership Program / PO Box 3867 / Hollywood, CA 90078