Practices and relationships that support transformation.
We share meditation, mindfulness and movement practices, encourage healing and creativity, co-create safe and inclusive communities (sanghas), advocate for decarceration, and support artists, Buddhists, change agents, dharma practitioners, meditators, teachers and movement facilitators interested in working in the correctional system.
Inside Religious Services
Our original in-person religious services program for incarcerated people.
Buddhist Pathways
Our original in-facility program — bringing Buddhist religious services to incarcerated individuals.
Buddhist Pathways is our original in-facility program, bringing Buddhist religious services to incarcerated individuals. This program aims to support and protect access to Buddhism as a religion for incarcerated people.
- In-person at correctional facilities
- Currently available in California (CA) and New York (NY). Want us in your state? Request info
- Facility-approved participants seeking Buddhist religious services.
Insight Meditation Program
A weekly in-person insight meditation class for people held in Santa Cruz County jails, running since 2011.
The Insight Meditation Program has served people held in the Santa Cruz County jails since August 2011, pausing only during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2018, we have led a weekly, one-hour class at the Rountree Rehabilitation and Re-entry Facility, a minimum-security facility for men. Each class includes a guided insight meditation, a talk on a practical mindfulness-related topic, facilitated discussion, and a closing kind-friendliness meditation. The class is rooted in the teachings of the Buddha but is experience-based rather than faith-based, and is offered in a way that does not conflict with any student’s religion or non-religion. A small volunteer team of experienced meditators leads the program, completing annual training and submitting regular reports to jail administration.
- In-person, weekly at Santa Cruz County jails
- Residents of Santa Cruz County jail facilities, including Rountree Rehabilitation and Re-entry Facility.
Inside & Digital
Programs for people on the inside, soon to be offered digitally.
Mindful Prisons
A non-religious, distance-learning mindfulness program co-created with formerly incarcerated people.
Mindful Prisons is a non-religious, distance-learning program. This project is co-created with formerly incarcerated people and is uniquely focused on how mindfulness tools can support people living inside correctional facilities.
- Distance learning (digital, via Edovo)
- Currently available in California (CA) and New York (NY). Want us in your state? Request info
- Available to learners on the Edovo platform in participating facilities.
Mindful Reentry
Grounding practices, mental tools, and an AI Reentry Navigator to help you plan the first days, weeks and months home.
Reentry is one of the hardest transitions a person can face. Mindful Reentry equips community members with grounding practices and mental tools to navigate the first days, weeks, and months home with steadiness instead of overwhelm, turning a moment of uncertainty into one of intention. Our Reentry Navigator AI assistant helps returning citizens build personalized reentry plans for housing, employment, benefits, and community connection.
- Community-based, in-person and remote
- Returning citizens in the reentry transition.
BFP Youth Program
A trauma-informed digital platform — Reset & Rise — helping justice-impacted youth build mindfulness, emotional regulation, and decision-making skills.
BFP Youth Program is Reset & Rise, a trauma-informed support platform that helps young people who have been involved with the justice system build mindfulness, emotional regulation, and decision-making skills. It is a support tool, not supervision — data is never shared with law enforcement, and there is no risk scoring or location tracking. Youth can access quick breathing and grounding exercises, track their growth over time, and connect with a facilitator for encouragement.
- Digital platform (web-based)
- Justice-impacted youth and supporting facilities or programs.
Reentry & Community
Ongoing community and support for the journey home and beyond.
Outside Sangha
A reentry support community offering meditation and connection for previously incarcerated people.
Our Outside Sangha is a reentry support program designed to give previously incarcerated people a space to practice meditation and receive community support. This group meets on the first and third Wednesday of every month at 5pm PST / 8pm EST on Zoom and is open to the general public.
- Remote (Zoom), 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 5pm PST / 8pm EST
- Open to the general public.
Ongoing Support
Letters, mentorship and practical support for currently and previously incarcerated individuals.
Outside of our main programs, we provide Ongoing Support to currently and previously incarcerated individuals in a variety of ways. We write letters, provide mentorship, and offer practical assistance to sustain connection and care beyond structured programming.
- Mail, mentorship and community support
- Open to participants in our network of care.