Yoga and the Leo Project
Tax deductible
Dear Friends + Family,
I first traveled to Kenya in 2013. During my three months in Nanyuki, I worked at Daraja Academy, one of the first free secondary schools for girls in the East African country. While on campus, I helped to create and lead a series of wellness workshops with students which included: art therapy, stress reduction, mindfulness, and sexual assault prevention education. I cannot describe the grace and ultimate power that I witnessed come forth from these high school girls as they created, felt, danced, and sang their way - together - through some incredibly intense human experiences. They taught me so much about the healing force of community expression beginning with personal fearlessness and vulnerability.
I have always believed in education as the best platform to develop broad systemic innovation. Knowledge equals true agency, and agency equals true freedom + empowerment to change. This sentiment was the impetus behind my most recent work at UCSF. As a researcher within an educational neuroscience lab, I studied the in-classroom learning of elementary and middle school students. Through my tireless work coupled with my own concurrent personal development through childhood trauma (which happened to have occurred within the education system), I stubbornly realized that I had more healing to do before studying this next generation of young brains. I sought out a study that allowed instant healing with only your own body and a mat -- YOGA. I have been a yogi for 7 years, and am two weeks away from completing my first 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher Training (RYTT)!
Late last summer, my friend Jess Danforth founded The Leo Project. She started the organization in honor of her best friend who passed away following a lung transplant. When Jess spoke at Caitlin's funeral, she promised that she would do something extraordinary. She promised that she would make her proud and she promised to keep her light and her spirit alive.
The Leo Project will expose vulnerable children to opportunities not traditionally available in a Kenyan classroom: art, music, theater, coding, mindfulness -- the same creative and supportive services that enriched Caitlin's life during her thirty-three year struggle with cystic fibrosis.
The organization purchased an acre of land and is in the process of building a 5,000 sq. foot resource center. Construction is expected to be complete in the beginning of June and they hope to open doors to the local community shortly thereafter. I felt compelled to offer something. When I was in the midst of doubt, leaving academics for a time to spread my wings into the next chapter of life work both professionally and otherwise, Jess urged me to follow my desires and have faith; she reiterated the idea that anything was possible. With her love, I found a sisterhood and - soon - a community of sisters. I knew that the Leo Project and it’s soon-to-be community was somewhere that I needed to be for this season of service.
On June 11th, I am traveling back to Nanyuki, Kenya with Jess for the opening of The Leo Project. In additional to helping with interviews and getting things up-and-running, I will launch and lead yoga classes at The Leo Project’s resource center. I will also be co-designing and painting a mural within the center in collaboration with "Her Voice Carries": https://hervoicecarries.blog/ This mural will serve as a dedication to individuality and strength--a collective call and a reminder that you are unbreakable when you believe in yourself and are courageous enough to lean on others; most critically, that the world is ready for what you have to create.
I will be on-site for two weeks and I am raising money to pilot a yoga and mindfulness program. All donations are tax-deductible and I am so grateful for any support that you are able to provide. Please read more about the project here: https://www.theleoproject.org/
Thank you again and please stay tuned for updates from Kenya!
Love,
Jordin
*The Leo Project is in the process of securing 501(c)(3) status and, in the meantime, the venerable Flying Kites is our fiscal sponsor. Donations to this campaign are fully tax-deductible. GoFundMe contributions are processed via PayPal Giving and, upon donation, you will receive a tax-deductible receipt.
I first traveled to Kenya in 2013. During my three months in Nanyuki, I worked at Daraja Academy, one of the first free secondary schools for girls in the East African country. While on campus, I helped to create and lead a series of wellness workshops with students which included: art therapy, stress reduction, mindfulness, and sexual assault prevention education. I cannot describe the grace and ultimate power that I witnessed come forth from these high school girls as they created, felt, danced, and sang their way - together - through some incredibly intense human experiences. They taught me so much about the healing force of community expression beginning with personal fearlessness and vulnerability.
I have always believed in education as the best platform to develop broad systemic innovation. Knowledge equals true agency, and agency equals true freedom + empowerment to change. This sentiment was the impetus behind my most recent work at UCSF. As a researcher within an educational neuroscience lab, I studied the in-classroom learning of elementary and middle school students. Through my tireless work coupled with my own concurrent personal development through childhood trauma (which happened to have occurred within the education system), I stubbornly realized that I had more healing to do before studying this next generation of young brains. I sought out a study that allowed instant healing with only your own body and a mat -- YOGA. I have been a yogi for 7 years, and am two weeks away from completing my first 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher Training (RYTT)!
Late last summer, my friend Jess Danforth founded The Leo Project. She started the organization in honor of her best friend who passed away following a lung transplant. When Jess spoke at Caitlin's funeral, she promised that she would do something extraordinary. She promised that she would make her proud and she promised to keep her light and her spirit alive.
The Leo Project will expose vulnerable children to opportunities not traditionally available in a Kenyan classroom: art, music, theater, coding, mindfulness -- the same creative and supportive services that enriched Caitlin's life during her thirty-three year struggle with cystic fibrosis.
The organization purchased an acre of land and is in the process of building a 5,000 sq. foot resource center. Construction is expected to be complete in the beginning of June and they hope to open doors to the local community shortly thereafter. I felt compelled to offer something. When I was in the midst of doubt, leaving academics for a time to spread my wings into the next chapter of life work both professionally and otherwise, Jess urged me to follow my desires and have faith; she reiterated the idea that anything was possible. With her love, I found a sisterhood and - soon - a community of sisters. I knew that the Leo Project and it’s soon-to-be community was somewhere that I needed to be for this season of service.
On June 11th, I am traveling back to Nanyuki, Kenya with Jess for the opening of The Leo Project. In additional to helping with interviews and getting things up-and-running, I will launch and lead yoga classes at The Leo Project’s resource center. I will also be co-designing and painting a mural within the center in collaboration with "Her Voice Carries": https://hervoicecarries.blog/ This mural will serve as a dedication to individuality and strength--a collective call and a reminder that you are unbreakable when you believe in yourself and are courageous enough to lean on others; most critically, that the world is ready for what you have to create.
I will be on-site for two weeks and I am raising money to pilot a yoga and mindfulness program. All donations are tax-deductible and I am so grateful for any support that you are able to provide. Please read more about the project here: https://www.theleoproject.org/
Thank you again and please stay tuned for updates from Kenya!
Love,
Jordin
*The Leo Project is in the process of securing 501(c)(3) status and, in the meantime, the venerable Flying Kites is our fiscal sponsor. Donations to this campaign are fully tax-deductible. GoFundMe contributions are processed via PayPal Giving and, upon donation, you will receive a tax-deductible receipt.
Fundraising team: The Leo Project (2)
Jordin L Rodondi
Organizer
San Francisco, CA
Flying Kites Global
Beneficiary
Jess Danforth
Team member