Imagining a collective approach

OFC formed an advisory board and LLC in early 2020 while participating in the Tiny Fellowship with 4.0 Schools. This fellowship included pilot funds, validated the founding advisors and co-founders, solidified an audiences’ need, and evaluated impact. We hosted 2 retreats with specific networks of educators, and marketed an open gathering across the region.

Next, OFC offered a 9-month series studded by 3 in-person retreats and virtual group check-ins. OFC facilitators created a container of contemplative practice with a cohort of educators throughout their transition back to schools re-opening in-person. Internally, OFC created event infrastructure and replicable systems to support content, facilitators, and sites.

After 5 more retreats to date and over 100 total registrations, OFC views pre-post survey results as one form of evidence of impact. In measuring the need for our approach in a pre-survey, 93% of attendees are at least “sometimes” emotionally exhausted, 84% are glad they chose their career, but only 60% feel like a "success as an educator.” Post-retreat, average scores increased for the core contemplative practice areas OFC offers, as measured by the Kentucky mindfulness inventory and more. Attendees also imagined improving their environment, as evidenced by a 25% increase in confidence in “implementing healing-centered practices in my workplace.”