CFP x SWL: 8 Workshops for Gratitude, Healing & Self-Affirmation

Summer 2025 Workshop Recap

This summer, Seven Ways to Live partnered with the Cleveland Freedom Project (www.clevelandfreedomproject.org) as part of their Social Justice through S.T.E.A.M. summer program to bring heart-centered workshops created for youths participating in the program.

Over the course of eight workshops, forty students explored what it means to truly know and love themselves. Together, we:

• Explored Identity & Self-Affirmation – Students reflected on who they are and celebrated their unique strengths.

• Built Self-Love & Emotional Intelligence – Through interactive discussions and exercises, participants learned how to recognize emotions, regulate their feelings, and respond to challenges with resilience.

• Practiced Mindfulness & Gratitude – We cultivated habits of mindfulness and daily gratitude, learning when to let go and when to hold on.

• Created Daily Affirmations – Students crafted personal affirmations to carry their growth forward.

Participants also earned Youth Mental Health First Aid certificates, created by the National Council of Wellbeing, equipping them to recognize and support peers who may be experiencing a mental health challenge.

This collaboration reflects the heart of Seven Ways to Live: fostering recovery, resilience, and emotional wellness for the next generation.

I’m deeply grateful to the Cleveland Freedom Project for inviting me to be part of their vision and to every young person who showed up ready to grow. Your courage and openness are what make this work possible and transformative.