Colleen Mollica

Creative, forward-thinking educator, campus minister, mindful outdoor guide, and environmental and social justice advocate with a passion for program development and optimization. Looking to pursue opportunities that will cultivate conscious change on a personal, communal, and global scale.

• Level 1 Certified Kripalu Mindful Outdoor Guide
• Certified Koru Mindfulness Instructor
• Climate Reality Leader - Green Ring Pin Recipient
• Laudato Si' Animator

Genesis Spiritual Life and Conference Center; Westfield, MA: Member of the Eco-spirituality Leadership Team.
Supporting Genesis in reimaging eco-spirituality ministry founded by Sr. Elizabeth Oleksak. Prepare
and present presentations, vision papers, themes for retreats and annual programming. Design and
deliver seasonal eco-spirituality programs (January 2021 to present).

Catholic Relief Services Advisory Board; Diocese of SPFLD, MA: Member of the CRS Advisory board for the diocese of Springfield, MA. Worked with Deacons, Director of Religious Education, Executive Director of Catholic Charities to realize new ways to promote the Lenten Rice Bowl Project. Ideas included generating QR codes to maximize donation potential and create age appropriate hunger awareness events at local parishes, schools, and universities (January 2021 to present).

Westfield State University Student Leadership Summit; Westfield, MA: Worked collaboratively with students and faculty from Westfield State University to address racism, anti-semitism, Islamophobia, and hatred in a student-led leadership summit. Trained students leaders to engage with others through active listening to restore health and well-being to the campus community. Student leaders were trained to facilitate a series of active listening activities in order to encourage compassionate dialogue on challenging topics. Students came away from the summit ready to lead their peers during a challenging time (April 2022).

Diocese of Springfield Youth Group Coordinator/Leader; SPFLD, MA: Worked collaboratively with diocesan youth leaders to create a non-parish affiliated high school youth group for the students of the newly merged Pope Francis Preparatory School in Springfield. Provided group social and service oriented opportunities for students at Pope Francis Prep. Used Catholic Social Teaching as the foundational element for service work and provided a fun, safe environment for teens to socialize (Sept. 2015 - May 2018).

Co-creator Lenore Paul Baird Middle School Community Garden; Ludlow MA: Worked collaboratively with parents, teachers, and administration of Baird Middle School in Ludlow, Ma, to create a community garden that would serve students, teachers, and community members. Received grants and worked with community partners to clear land, build raised beds, and create an outdoor classroom space within the garden area. Community members were invited to take a bed with the promise to care for school bed during the summer months. The garden was named in honor of a beloved science teacher and community member, Lenore Paul (2015).

Just 5 Days Youth Leader / Facilitator; Center for Ministry Development: Worked with middle school students for one week (5 days) to provide an opportunity to work and serve others while learning about Catholic Social Teaching principles. Students reported daily to service sites, typically soup kitchens, veterans homes, homeless shelters, etc. to live out the tenants of their faith. Additionally, leaders provided fun and educational activities to reinforce CST concepts (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015).

Empowering Adults for Ministry with a New Generation of Catholic Youth; Center for Ministry Development: Participated in a leadership development workshop for ministering to millennial's to empower them to become the next generation of leaders. Focused on creating framework for diverse and welcoming programs, harnessing their adventurous spirit and desire for hands-on and community oriented programming (2009).

• Discover your Calling, Purpose Guide Institute: (2022) Participated in a year-long purpose discovery program. Using 12 modules, explored my mythopoetic identity and began to discover my soul's true purpose.

• Rhythm of the Earth Series, Genesis Spiritual Life and Conference Center (May 2022 to present): Co-
  created and facilitated successful contemplative interfaith celebration of earth’s changing seasons

• Celtic Wisdom 1, School of Earth and Soul - John Philip Newell (July 2022): Participated in a workshop designed to reawaken our awareness of the sacred in all things and to help translate this awareness into compassionate action. This workshop taught the sacredness of every human being through the teachings of Pelagius, St Brigid, and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

• Abundant Harvest: Launching a Personal or Professional Initiative, Center for Nature and Leadership (present through December 2022) Participate in a workshop that focuses on providing space for launching a new personal or professional initiative. Abundant Harvest uses live case studies and nature-based personal and leadership practices in a setting of mutual support to help accomplish goals.

• Sacred Land: Food and Farming, Just Faith Ministries ( Present - December 2022) Co-facilitator, Small groups learn how food and farming practices affect the climate crisis, marginalized communities, and their own health and spiritual wellbeing. Explore practical ways to implement sustainable food and farming practices in the communities and the institutions of which they’re a part.
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• Climate Preparedness Week: Mindful Outdoor Experience, Tri-town Library Collaborative (Sept 2022) Lead a mindful outdoor experience for the Library Collaborative to promote Climate Preparedness Week. This MOE begins the week with focusing on healing our relationship with the land.