Through our Thirteen Foundations of Belonging Program, the HIP ME Project encourages teenagers to step into their light and their sense of self.

We help students build a deep-seated trust in their inner brilliance, which enables them to create an unshakable connection with others. This is true resilience.

Our Mission

We create space for teens to practice heart-centered living, helping them build true resilience by exploring the real-life experiences they face every day.

Our Vision

What if we could help our teens find their light just a little bit sooner?

Our vision is a world where teenagers grow up with a deep-seated trust in their innate brilliance (their light), and their unshakable connection with others. We believe that true resilience is rooted in this trust, and that heart-centered living is one of the most powerful doorways to find it. Heart-centered living is the regular practice of dropping out of our minds and into our hearts by bringing awareness to how our emotional experience shows up in our bodies.

Our Program

The Thirteen Foundations of Belonging Program is a year-long conversation between a small group of middle or high school students and a trained facilitator. The weekly gatherings are co-created around the thirteen topics listed below. Each session consists of conversation, movement and an opportunity to practice specific embodiment tools.

The entire program exists within the understanding that all of us are on a healing journey that consists of individual growth and collective growth. We know that we live within a society that is dependent upon structured racism, sexism and the oppression of many to keep few in power. It is necessary to name that truth in order to embody a greater sense of self that is rooted in compassion, power and resilience. As we navigate individual healing through these foundations of belonging, we believe we will bring healing to the collective as well.

The Thirteen Foundations of Belonging:

• Your Mind is Powerful and Your Thoughts are Powerful…What you say to yourself matters. Commit to loving self-talk.

• You Were Born Curious…Think critically.

• Compassion Connects Us…Be kind to yourself and others.

• You Make Mistakes, We all Make Mistakes….Focus on being your best self.

• You are Powerful…Stay in your power.

• What is Best for You Lies Within You…Trust your gut.

• Your Body is Sacred and Belongs to You…Honor your body.

• You Need Quiet Moments, We All Need Quiet Moments…Create sacred space and slow down.

• Your Breath and Intention are Your Most Powerful Tools…Practice daily.

• You are Enough Despite the Toxic Messaging You Receive…See through the garbage.

• You are Never Alone…You can call on your ancestors at any time.

• You are the Only You…Belong to yourself first.

• You are Connected to All That Is…Stay connected to your heart and to each other.

Check out the podcast interview with Tara and Andrea (Community for the Soul founder) about The HIP ME Project: Community for the Soul Podcast