“What If…” Film Series Presents: Room to Breathe

November 13, 2019 - 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

The Gifford Foundation “What If…” Film Series presents Room to Breathe in partnership with It’s About Childhood and Family, Inc.

NOTE: This event is NOT at ArtRage Gallery
This event will be held at SALTspace, 103 Wyoming Street Syracuse, New York

Many schools across the country are facing an epidemic of students struggling with poor attention, low academic performance, lack of self-control, bullying and stress.

ROOM TO BREATHE explores one promising solution that has been tested in dozens of public and private schools – a self-awareness technique called mindfulness that increases kids’ focus and concentration, self-control and classroom performance.

“ROOM TO BREATHE has drawn national attention to mindfulness…perhaps the fastest-growing technique in classrooms for teaching self-control.” – Washington Post

The film presents a hopeful story of transformation, following a young mindfulness teacher, Megan Cowan, who spends several months attempting to teach the technique to troubled kids in a San Francisco public middle school that tops the district in disciplinary suspensions. Cowan is confronted at first by defiance and contempt. But under her guidance, the students begin to learn the mindfulness technique and eventually use it to take greater control over their lives, decrease stress, and better focus in class and at home.

It’s About Childhood & Family, Inc. is a not-for-profit clinical and resource center dedicated to enhancing the quality of childhood and family life in our communities. Our goal is to empower families to develop independence in handling life’s struggles.  We utilize a collaborative and trauma informed/focused framework which is not reliant upon a label or diagnosis.  Instead we focus on strengths, resiliencies, and potential for growth.  Our mission is to advocate for all children by providing innovative, child-centered, and solution-focused supports and programs.