For 18 years, The City University of NY
Contemplative Urban Lawyering Program (CCULP) has mindfully and
thoughtfully integrated contemplative practices into the fabric
of law school life and the practice of law.
BE-ing a social justice or public interest lawyer or law student
is not easy. It takes real commitment to go into some of
society's most painful places and offer real service and healing
to those in need. That means that the young lawyer's personal
inner resources better match (or even exceed) their
professional legal expertise, what we call developing one's
"inner credentials".
During the past 18 years, a key component of developing these
"inner credentials" has been the annual spring mindfulness
retreat at the Blue Cliff Monastery in Pine Bush, NY. During
the 2019 retreat,CUNY students, alumni and allies joined
together for a restorative weekend of peaceful, mindful, quiet
contemplation. We sat together, we sang joyful songs together
and some of used a chain saw together.
For many of our students, staff and grads, they are choosing to
work in jobs that are not the most lucrative, and for many/most,
even the most minimal sliding scale fees for this retreat are
potentially prohibitive. Yet, the cost of them not having access
to this yearly deepening and renewal of self, Self, community
and connection is a price too high to pay both as self care for
themselves and those they serve who are in need.
So what you can do! We are currently fundraising to support the
cost of attendance for CUNY Law students, staff and alumni to
attend our weekend retreat from March 29th-31st. Any donation
provides support for this tremendous opportunity to folks that
likely would not have been able to attend- folks either are
currently in the midst of working in social justice or who are
in law school and will soon be entering the high stress world
of social justice lawyering. In fact, a contribution of $80.00
will cover the costs of attendance for an entire weekend at the
discounted, sliding scale rate.
We are extremely thankful for any donation that can be made as
every dollar contributed will go directly towards individuals to
continue the legacy of their own commitment to "Law in the
service of human needs" and continue to pioneer this path with
compassion and great care.
Planting Seeds
2019 Haywood Burns Peace and Meditation Retreat
Please join us in supporting CUNY Law students as they join in community for a weekend of peace, rest and restoration at the Blue Cliff Monastery.
A fundraising campaign for CUNY School of Law