The program committee of the 3rd Annual Bridging the Hearts and Minds of Youth: Mindfulness in Clinical Practice, Education and Research conference in San Diego is pleased to announce that they have finalized the agenda for this year’s conference. The program includes breakout sessions, research symposia, panel discussions, professional networking and practical workshops February 7-9, 2014 at the Paradise Point Hotel in San Diego. As momentum builds around the globe in support of teaching mindfulness to our future generations, this year’s conference will highlight the progress already made, suggest future directions, facilitate enhanced collaboration and explore innovations, all within the beautiful surroundings and weather of San Diego in winter.

Pre-Conference “Unconference” Gathering of Leaders in the Field: Friday morning, February 7 will feature a half-day “unconference” intended to creates a time and place to discuss challenges and opportunities within the field in a peer-to-peer learning environment where relationships are made, communities are developed and problems can be solved. Key program developers, researchers, policy makers and community-builders have been invited to this first-ever gathering and conference attendees are invited to participate as well.

Keynote Speakers Include:

Congressman Tim Ryan	Sharon Salzberg	Dr. Mark Greenberg	Dr. Amy Saltzman

Congressman Tim Ryan is the U.S. Representative for Ohio’s 13th congressional district and the author of A Mindful Nation, a book about the practice of mindfulness in both private and public life. He writes in his introduction: “If more citizens can reduce stress and increase performance – even if only by a little – they will be healthier and more resilient.” He has noted that: “There’s a whole body of literature in neuroscience today explaining why this works. We don’t have time to wait. It’s changing kids’ lives. It’s transforming teachers. It’s transforming schools. And we see it in our own community now.”

Sharon Salzberg is a meditation teacher and author of numerous books. She is the cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Barre, Massachusetts, and has played a crucial role in bringing Asian meditation practices to the West. The ancient Buddhist practices of vipassana (mindfulness) and metta (loving kindness) are the foundations of her work, and more recently she has lent her voice and wisdom to the discussion of the importance of fostering mindfulness in our children.

Dr. Mark Greenberg is the Edna Peterson Bennett Endowed Chair in Prevention Research and Director of the Prevention Research Center for the Promotion of Human Development at Penn State University. Dr. Greenberg is a respected researcher and lecturer on the benefits of mindfulness in the educational setting. He noted recently, “In a world that provides so little silence and contemplation, mindfulness offers youth the opportunity to slow down, learn about their own nature, and develop caring and compassion towards self and others.” He went on to say, “Research has begun to document these benefits and this conference will be a watershed event in moving forward both the science and practice.” View video of Dr. Greenberg

Dr. Amy Saltzman is a holistic physician, mindfulness coach, scientist, wife, mother, devoted student of transformation, long-time athlete, and occasional poet. Her passion is supporting people of all ages in enhancing their well being, and discovering the Still Quiet Place within. Amy is recognized by her peers as a visionary and pioneer in the fields of holistic medicine and mindfulness for youth, and has offered mindfulness to young people from pre-K to college undergrads in socioeconomically diverse school, and community settings. Her book A Still Quiet Place: A Mindfulness Program for Teaching Children and Adolescents to Ease Stress and Difficult Emotions will be published in early 2014. View video of Dr Saltzman