*for nonprofit staff involved in wildfire recovery work*
Cultivating Mental Peace: Thriving (in person at DENA Heals Wellness Center)
Led by Nikita Gupta and Hala Khouri
We live and work in a world that asks a lot of us and and often, in the middle of it all, we can lose our own sense of peace and possibility. This in-person gathering led by Nikita Gupta is an invitation to reclaim these things for yourself
Through facilitated reflection, community dialogue, and embodied practice, we'll explore what it actually means to thrive, not despite the difficulty, but within it. We'll look at the mindsets and beliefs that can limit us, and open space for perspectives that restore a personal sense of agency, resilience, and hope. A gentle, inclusive yoga-based somatic practice will help us settle the nervous system, return to the body, and cultivate a felt sense of grounding and presence.
We'll also sit together with the harder questions- how do we hold the realities of our current social, political, and community landscapes without being consumed by them? How do we stay in the work without losing ourselves in it?
About Nikita:
Nikita Gupta, MPH, is an educator, author, facilitator, and leadership coach dedicated to transforming trauma through healing and resiliency in education and service-based settings. For more than 25 years, she has partnered with students, educators, administrators, and helping professionals to transform trauma and strengthen the systems that support their wellbeing.
Nikita received her Master of Public Health from UCLA, where she served as Founding Director of the UCLA GRIT Coaching Program, a nationally recognized initiative providing thousands of students with peer coaching centered in embodied resilience and holistic success. She was instrumental in developing the UCLA RISE Center, one of the first healing-centered campus spaces in the country.
As a Fellow of the National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement, she designed a trauma-informed leadership toolkit for college professionals and later shared this work in a TED Talk on preventing burnout among helpers. Since 2019, Nikita has consulted and trained with organizations nationwide, offering programs in trauma-informed care, inclusive leadership, and organizational resilience. Her interdisciplinary approach—rooted in neuroscience, mindfulness, and healing justice—reflects A Thousand Joys’ commitment to strengthening the capacity of those who serve others.
About A Thousand Joys
A Thousand Joys is a California-based nonprofit that works with nonprofit staff, educators, and service providers to build resilience in high-stress, service-oriented roles. Their work integrates mental health, somatic practices, and leadership development to help individuals and organizations sustain themselves while supporting their communities.
Photography and Media Notice
This session may be photographed or recorded. By attending, you acknowledge that your image or likeness may be used by Jericho Road Pasadena, A Thousand Joys, and funding partners for communications, reporting, and promotional purposes.
These events are free due to the generous community Foundation support.
