Lauren Kelly Benson
Nyack,NY
Summary
Multifaceted individual who embraces the roles of healer, artist, facilitator, seminarian, and feely feeler. They have dedicated the past two decades to teaching yoga and mindfulness, and providing consultancy services in various settings, including schools, workplaces, and institutions. Their life's work centers both individual and institutional transformations that shift away from the influences of capitalism and white supremacy and move toward a path of mindfulness, interconnectedness, restoration, and anti-racism.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Restorative Justice Circle Keeper & Facilitator
Local Major Hospital Group (NDA Forbids Name)
05.2022 - Current
- Responded to radicalized harm with racial justice, healing justice, community building, and harm holding circles for a medical residency program.
Caucus Co-Chair
Union Theological Seminary Black Caucus Trifecta
09.2021 - Current
- Created and implemented new co-chair leadership model so no one Black leader on campus would be overtaxed.
- Create and host spaces for healing, community building, collective learning, advocacy, and joy.
Elected Student Representative
UTS NYC's Justice Equity & Inclusion Comittee
09.2021 - Current
- Member of cross department justice committee alongside administration, faculty, staff, and other community members.
- Organize student body around issues of justice and equity on campus.
- Slowly pushing institution towards living into it's mission and vision by centering the needs of queer, Black, disable, financially disenfranchised, and non-Christian students.
Cohort Facilitator
MNDFL Certification And Training Program
05.2021 - Current
- Facilitate dialogue among participants.
- Hold space, teach meditation, and mentor newly certified teachers.
Chorus Member & Retreat Committee Lead
Resistance Revival Chorus
04.2018 - Current
- Member of collective of over 65 women who sing resistance music in venues ranging from local protests to Carnegie Hall
- Formed strategic planning committee to address need to discuss future direction of the collective.
- Facilitating workshops in team building, activism, and communication.
Director of Innovation
PowerTools, LLC
02.2018 - 04.2020
- Responsible for expansion of national reach of small, woman-owned consulting firm.
- Manage and train team of over 15 consultants working in the fields of education, business, activism, and social justice.
- Design and facilitate racial justice professional development workshops, focus groups and youth facing programming including Art of Youth Activists, Young People's Leadership, and Restorative Justice Circle Keeping Training for Youth.
Managing Director & Yoga Teacher
Sacred Brooklyn Yoga Studio
12.2012 - 10.2020
- Manager of Operations - Responsible for maintenance, inventory, facilities, and organization
- Oversee 50+ work study program - hire, train, coordinate, schedule, and manage all staff.
- Duties included staff scheduling, training, employee relations, morale, hiring, and teaching.
Education
M. Div. - Interfaith Ministry of Presence
Union Theological Seminary
NY, NY05.2023
Some College (No Degree) -
NYU Tisch School of The Arts
NY, NYCertification - Restorative Justice Training
Planning Change
NY, NY07.2019
Training -
Emergent Strategy Ideation Institute
NY, NY06.2019
Certification -
Rainbow Yoga
Thailand06.2015
References
Dara Cole, Owner, Sacred Brooklyn (718) 930 - 1422 and DaraGay@gmail.com
James Jones, Fellow Co-Chair Black Trifecta (801)228-7576 and JJ3215@utsnyc.edu
Dean Abigail Asgaralli, Dean, UTS aasgaralli@uts.columbia.edu
Timeline
Restorative Justice Circle Keeper & Facilitator
Local Major Hospital Group (NDA Forbids Name)
05.2022 - Current
Caucus Co-Chair
Union Theological Seminary Black Caucus Trifecta
09.2021 - Current
Elected Student Representative
UTS NYC's Justice Equity & Inclusion Comittee
09.2021 - Current
Cohort Facilitator
MNDFL Certification And Training Program
05.2021 - Current
Chorus Member & Retreat Committee Lead
Resistance Revival Chorus
04.2018 - Current
Director of Innovation
PowerTools, LLC
02.2018 - 04.2020
Managing Director & Yoga Teacher
Sacred Brooklyn Yoga Studio
12.2012 - 10.2020
M. Div. - Interfaith Ministry of Presence
Union Theological Seminary
Some College (No Degree) -
NYU Tisch School of The Arts
Certification - Restorative Justice Training
Planning Change
Training -
Emergent Strategy Ideation Institute
Certification -
Rainbow Yoga
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