ROYAL PALM THE MAGAZINE – July/August 2026

CARDINAL NEWMAN

BUILDING LIFE’S CHAMPIONS

Alabama State University

Arizona State University

Auburn University

Ave Maria University

Bentley University

Berklee College of Music

Boston College

Clark Atlanta University

Clemson University

College of Charleston

College of the Holy Cross

Colorado State University

DePaul University

Drexel University

Duquesne University

Florida A&M University

Florida Atlantic University

Florida Gulf Coast University

Florida International University

Florida State University

Fordham University

Furman University

George Mason University

Georgia Tech

Hampden-Sydney College

High Point University

Hofstra University

Indiana University

James Madison University

Kennesaw State University

Louisiana State University

Loyola University Chicago

Manhattan University

Mercyhurst University

Miami University

Michigan State University

New College of Florida

Northeastern University

Northwestern University

Ohio University

Pace University (New York City)

Penn State Uniersity

Providence College

Purdue University

Rollins College

Rutgers University

SUNY Buffalo

SUNY Maritime College

Saint Mary’s College

Salve Regina University

Samford University

Savannah College of Art and Design

Seton Hall University

Southern Methodist University

St. John’s University (New York)

Stony Brook University

Syracuse University

Temple University

Texas A&M University

Texas Christian University

The Ohio State University

Tulane University

University of Alabama

University of Central Florida

Univeristy of Colorado (Boulder)

University of Connecticut

University of Florida

University of Georgia

University Illinois

University of Kentucky

University of Louisville

University of Massachusetts (Boston)

University of Miami

University of Michigan

University of Mississippi

University of North Florida

University of Notre Dame

University of Oregon

University of Pittsburgh

University of San Diego

University of South Carolina

University of South Florida

University of Tampa

University of Tennessee

University of Texas

University of Wisconsin

Vanderbilt University

Villanova University

Wake Forest University

Wilkes Honors College of FAU

William & Mary

RPB DISC GOLF TOURNEY RAISES MONEY TO SUPPORT VETERAN NONPROFIT

The fourth annual Unified Veterans Disc Golf Tournament was held at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park on Saturday, May 30. Several hundred veterans, their families and supporters turned out for the event. Teams competed in one of the three divisions: Amateur, Intermediate and Pro. The event, organized by Jake Hampu as a benefit for the veteran-serving nonprofit Unified Dream, included music by Spred the Dub, a barbecue, raffles, awards and a flyover by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. Learn more at www.unifieddream.org.

volume 6, number 4

JULY/AUGUST 2026

executive editor

Joshua I. Manning

publisher Dawn Rivera

creative director

Stephanie Rodriguez

account managers

Betty Buglio

Evie Edwards

Joetta Palumbo

administration

Shanta Daibee

Jill Kaskel

Carol Lieberman

photography

Frank Koester

Abner Pedraza

contributors

Shannon Anastasio

Denis Eirikis

Denise Fleischman

Dean Glorioso

Mike May

Jackson Overholt

Patrick Sherry

Sally Shorr

Fiona Slusarev

Julie Unger

ROYAL PALM

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Fax: (561) 793-1470

www.royalpalmthemagazine.com published by Royal Palm The Magazine Inc.

chairman/ceo

Barry S. Manning

Royal Palm The Magazine is published six times a year in Royal Palm Beach, Florida. Copyright 2026, all rights reserved by Royal Palm The Magazine Inc. Contents may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising. The publisher accepts no responsibility for advertisement errors beyond the cost of the portion of the advertisement occupied by the error within the advertisement itself. The publisher accepts no responsibility for submitted materials. All submitted materials subject to editing.

Features

MAJOR PROJECT WILL EXPAND RPB REC CENTER

The long-anticipated expansion and renovation of the Royal Palm Beach Recreation Center has officially begun. A groundbreaking ceremony was held April 29, attended by Royal Palm Beach Village Council members. BY FIONA SLUSAREV

13

PBC IMAGINATION LIBRARY SUPPORTS YOUNG READERS

17

20

25

For more than 30 years, iconic singer, songwriter and philanthropist Dolly Parton has been making the world a better place, one child and one book at a time through the Imagination Library, now available locally. BY

On our cover are Nicholas and Christen Thompson, founders of the Palm Beach Imagination Library, the local affiliate of the international early literacy program founded by famed entertainer Dolly Parton. The Thompsons hold their largest annual fundraiser here in Royal Palm Beach every November. Next, we look forward to the huge expansion and renovation of the beloved Royal Palm Beach Recreation Center. We take a look at that long-planned project in this issue.

DEAN GLORIOSO

NEW PBSC BUILDING HONORS JULIE & JOHN KIME

Julie and John Kime, longtime business leaders and philanthropists in the western communities, were recently honored by Palm Beach State College with the naming of a building on the Loxahatchee Groves campus. BY FIONA SLUSAREV

MORIKAMI MUSEUM: YOUR DOORWAY TO THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN

At the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, art, history, nature, cuisine and culture come together in one of the county’s most distinctive destinations. BY SALLY SHORR

NEW GROUP IN RPB HELPS PEOPLE LEARN MINDFUL MEDITATION

A new Mindful Meditation Club is meeting Tuesday evenings at South University in Royal Palm Beach, bringing a unique new opportunity to local residents. BY JULIE UNGER

Also saluted this issue are local philanthropists John and Julie Kime, who have been deeply involved in the western communities for decades. They are graduates and longtime supporters of Palm Beach State College and were recently honored by having their name attached to the new Dental and Health Innovation building on the Loxahatchee Groves campus. Learn more about them in this issue.

Our Palm Beach County cultural series continues in this issue with a look at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, where Japanese culture comes to life through programs, exhibits and its signature 16 acres of Japanese gardens. Finally, if life has you stressed out, you might want to look into the new Mindful Meditation Club meeting at South University right here in Royal Palm Beach, also featured in this issue.

Do you know someone who should be featured in Royal Palm The Magazine? Drop us a note at www.royalpalmthemagazine.com/ contact and tell us more!

Dawn Rivera

Dawn Rivera, Publisher

RPB Disc Golf Tourney Raises Money To Support Veteran Nonprofit Royal Palm Seniors Enjoy A Fun Prom Night At The Cultural Center Royal Palm Beach Holds Memorial Day Observance At Veterans Park

ROYAL PALM

SENIORS

ENJOY A FUN PROM NIGHT AT THE CULTURAL CENTER

The Village of Royal Palm Beach held a Prom Night for senior citizens on Friday, June 5 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. With a “New York” theme, the event featured dancing, raffles and the crowning of a prom king and queen.

ROYAL PALM BEACH

HOLDS

MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE AT VETERANS PARK

The Village of Royal Palm Beach held a Memorial Day observance on Monday, May 25. The event was held in conjunction with American Legion Post 367 and Unified Dream at Royal Palm Beach Veterans Park to remember and honor members of the military lost while serving the nation.

LONG-AWAITED PROJECT WILL EXPAND AND RENOVATE ROYAL PALM BEACH’S RECREATION CENTER

The long-anticipated expansion and renovation of the Royal Palm Beach Recreation Center has officially begun. A groundbreaking ceremony was held April 29, attended by members of the Royal Palm Beach Village Council, each with a shovel in hand, joined by other village dignitaries.

The original Royal Palm Beach Recreation Center first opened in 1994, when the population of Royal Palm only hovered around 14,500. The population has since nearly tripled in size to about 39,000 residents, with a continued influx of new residents each year.

Located on Sweet Bay Lane off Sparrow Drive, the well-loved but vast-

ly outgrown recreation center was first set to begin construction in 2022 led by DHGA Design-FL before the unexpected passing of their principal architect. Kaufman Lynn Construction later stepped in to continue designs and planning for the center.

The expansion and renovations are largely funded through the Village of Royal Palm Beach’s capital improvement funds, supported by infrastructure surtax funds.

The 32-year-old recreation center is being revamped with a $21,500,000 budget. The current 28,000-squarefoot building is home to a gymnasium that serves many indoor sports, a fitness/workout room, several multipur-

pose rooms and a preschool. Outside at Preservation Park, there are also multiple grass areas that double as football and soccer fields, a skate park, four basketball courts and four pickleball courts.

The additional 32,000 square feet of space will not just accommodate the increased number of Royal Palm Beach residents, it will also provide space for the large number of programs offered through the recreation center. The facility hosts activities for all ages: toddlers through seniors.

Youth volleyball, basketball, dance, karate, preschool through Early Childhood Adventures and summer day camps all meet in the building.

PALM BEACH COUNTY’S IMAGINATION LIBRARY SUPPORTS YOUNG READERS

BY DEAN GLORIOSO

For more than 30 years, iconic American singer, songwriter and philanthropist Dolly Parton has been making the world a better place, one child and one book at a time.

Launching the Imagination Library in 1995, Dolly Parton and The Dollywood Foundation have been delivering books to children from birth to age five. Receiving one book per month, each child is treated to 60 stories that spark creativity and curiosity with adventurous tales, exciting characters and a few good lessons for their young lives.

Initially benefiting children in Parton’s home county in East Tennessee, the Imagination Library is now found across the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada, serv-

ing children and communities through the gift of reading.

Since 2020, the Palm Beach County community has had a local Imagination Library program partner, thanks to the vision of Christen Thompson.

“I’m always excited for people to learn about the Imagination Library, a wonderful program that truly starts a lifelong love of reading for kids and families,” Christen said. “All they have to do is register, and the books arrive in the mail addressed to the children, which they find so exciting.”

The daughter of a reading teacher, Christen, along with her husband Nicholas, who serves as chair, formed a nonprofit to partner with the Imagination Library and the Dollywood Foun-

dation, which provides resources and guidance for parents.

“We can’t do it alone. An important goal is to make the Imagination Library better known throughout the community, expand its reach, and connect with business and community leaders,” Christen said.

Sponsorships, partnerships and fundraising efforts are helping to support the program, especially through its annual signature event, the Run for Reading 5K at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park, which returns this year on Saturday, Nov. 7. A fun family event that serves a great purpose, the 5K welcomes individuals, teams and sponsors, with all proceeds going to the Palm Beach County Imagination Library.

“What Dolly Parton has created is incredible. It’s a special, lasting impact on children and families with each book. The last one comes with a

certificate

of

completion

and a

Christen’s goal is to expand the Imagination Library and reach more families, encouraging them to join a program that provides books now and brings benefits for life.

The event raises crucial money for the local nonprofit and helps grow its membership.

“Our cost is $2.60 for each book we send — a small price to pay for the love of reading,” Christen said. “And, since we started, we’re thrilled to have distributed more than 35,000 books to more than 2,000 local families.”

Those 35,000 books may be doing more good than most people imagine. The Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County reports that 22 percent of community adults lack basic literacy skills. Furthermore, data from Palm Beach County schools indicates that 46 percent of students from grades three to 10 are performing below grade level.

A research study conducted by the Imagination Library shows that children enrolled in the program, when compared to those not enrolled, are four times more likely to demonstrate stronger literary skills, nine times more likely to listen to storytelling at home and 15 times more likely to participate in reading activities.

There is an expression in K-12 education that up until third grade, kids learn to read. After third grade, they read to learn. The Imagination Library’s efforts in this vital area of childhood development are helping to ensure learning and literacy.

“Putting books in kids’ hands not only instills a love for reading but also strengthens literacy, which can lead

video message

from Dolly herself.”

— Christen Thompson

to greater success in school and even higher graduation rates,” Christen said. “Ultimately, it’s a path to post-secondary education and careers that contribute to the well-being and prosperity of the community.”

That path is paved with the Imagination Library’s generosity, initially supplying books for all newborns at the hospital where Dolly Parton was born. Today, families still receive that same first book, The Little Engine That Could, a tradition that Christen admires.

“What Dolly Parton has created is incredible,” she said. “It’s a special, lasting impact on children and families with each book. The last one comes with a certificate of completion and a video message from Dolly herself.”

“We are a county of diverse communities,” she said. “The Imagination Library may be a catalyst for enhancing the lives of kids and adults and an entire culture.”

Christen and Nicholas Thompson continually seek sponsorships and partnerships to help sustain the Imagination Library. Avid readers and parents of two boys, they both attended Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, inspired to serve in a meaningful way that gives back and pays forward for the future.

Driven by a passion for education, they are investing in the next generation, empowering young people through the wonder and joy of storytelling.

“To create a dream, you have to start somewhere, and this one begins by reading with imagination,” Christen said.

Local families are invited to sign up for the Imagination Library. Only certain areas can use the online form. All others should download, print and send in the registration form or send an e-mail.

To learn more about the Palm Beach County Imagination Library, e-mail info@ palmbeachcountyimaginationlibrary. com, call (561) 975-5526 or visit www. palmbeachcountyimaginationlibrary. com.

PBSC’S NEW DENTAL AND HEALTH INNOVATION BUILDING HONORS JULIE AND JOHN KIME

STORY BY FIONA SLUSAREV | PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN AND COURTESY PALM BEACH STATE COLLEGE

Julie and John Kime, longtime business leaders and philanthropists in the western communities and beyond, were recently honored by Palm Beach State College with the naming of a building on the Loxahatchee Groves campus.

The Julie and John Kime Dental and Health Innovation Building is a fourstory space dedicated to readying students for successful careers in healthcare. The 83,954-square-foot building on the Loxahatchee Groves campus provides a place where students gain hands-on experience in dental and sur-

gical fields. The center also gives back to the surrounding community by offering the public dental services.

“This new facility will help prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals and expand access to lifechanging careers for students from the western part of Palm Beach County,” PBSC President Ava Parker explained. “It is a remarkable space — and most importantly, it will provide residents with access to affordable dental care.”

Palm Beach State College was Florida’s first community college when

it was founded in 1933. It has grown exponentially since its inception, both academically and physically. In 2008, the school’s first bachelor’s degree program was approved by the Florida Board of Education, joining the associate’s degree programs already offered. The college now boasts five campuses in Lake Worth, Belle Glade, Palm Beach Gardens, Boca Raton and Loxahatchee Groves.

Both Kimes are alumni of PBSC, or Palm Beach Junior College as it was called at the time. They credit their

time at the college for their success over their careers. Before their time at PBSC, John grew up in Martin County and served in the U.S. Navy. Julie, born in Connecticut, moved to Cuba in high school after her grandfather’s passing in order for her father to care for his mother.

Julie credits this transition, from the U.S. to Cuba, and subsequent transition back, for teaching her the importance of resilience, education and community. With PBSC as their foundation, the Kimes found successful careers in the insurance industry. Julie was the first Hispanic insurance agent in Palm Beach County, opening her Wellington Allstate agency in 1979. John likewise joined Allstate and opened his own office in Juno Beach.

“This community supported me. It trusted me. And I wanted to lift others up the way people lifted me,” Julie explained.

The Kimes have given back to Palm Beach County in many ways through the years. John served on the board of the Cox Science Center & Aquarium, formerly the South Florida Science Museum. Both Kimes have supported the Boys & Girls Club in Wellington for 38 years and are on the local club’s advisory board. They have also helped organize the annual Wellington Dinner Dance. Additionally, Julie sits on the corporate board of directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County.

“Philanthropy has been part of our lives,” Julie reflected.

John currently serves on the board of directors for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Foundation. Julie, meanwhile, was a co-founder of the Executive

Women of the Palm Beaches Foundation (EWPBF) in 1982, a leadership organization for professional women, and she remains a member more than 40 years later. She was also a founding member of the Palms West Chamber of Commerce, now the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce.

Julie has consistently been an example of what it means to be an active member of the community. She has been recognized with numerous accolades, such as the 1994 EWPBF Women in Leadership Award, the 2023 Lifetime Leadership Award for 30 years of philanthropy from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, the 2024 PBSC Emerald Torch Award, and many more.

With their many avenues of community involvement in Palm Beach County, the Kimes remain perennial supporters of PBSC. They already had a history of supporting the school be-

fore the Dental and Health Innovation Building.

The Julie and John Kime Library Resource Center opened in 2022, providing students with a place to study, access course materials, and use technology like laptops and iPads. They also created the Julie Kime Hispanic Women’s Scholarship at PBSC.

“Establishing the Hispanic Women’s Scholarship was one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever done,” Julie said.

Education has always been important to the Kimes. Both worked fulltime during their college careers and understand the fortitude needed to pursue a degree. They hope to make it easier for students to access a lifechanging education at PBSC, like they were able to.

Parker noted that their support for the school and its students truly supports the community at large.

“For decades, Julie and John Kime have exemplified what it means to give back with purpose,” Parker said. “Their commitment has helped shape Palm Beach State College into the thriving institution it is today, reaching every corner of our community.”

Looking to the future, the Kimes have no plans to halt their commitment to Palm Beach State College. “We are so, so grateful and will continue to support PBSC,” Julie said.

To learn more about Palm Beach State College, visit www.pbsc.edu.

THE MORIKAMI IS YOUR DOORWAY TO THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN

BY SALLY SHORR

At the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, art, history, nature, cuisine and culture come together in one of Palm Beach County’s most distinctive destinations.

This transportive cultural experiences awaits just west of Delray Beach’s palm-fringed beaches and hospitality heartbeat. At the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, serenity and verdant natural surroundings sustain an evocative link to the Land of the Rising Sun, where visitors stroll past dew-soaked gardens hedged with ancient stone lanterns, and wood bridges hover above lush koi-filled ponds.

Founded as a cultural and educational center honoring the legacy of the Yamato Colony, Morikami tells a story that is both global and deeply local. In the early 1900s, a group of young Japanese farmers led by Jo Sakai established the Yamato Colony in northern Boca Raton, hoping to introduce innovative farming practices to Florida. George Morikami, a native of Miyazu, Japan, and one of the colony’s settlers, later helped transform that history into

a lasting cultural bridge between Japan and Palm Beach County.

Today, Morikami continues that legacy through its mission to present Japanese cultural experiences that educate and inspire. The campus features traditional Japanese architecture, three exhibition galleries, a theater, an authentic tea house, classrooms, a museum store, the Cornell Café, lakeside terraces and 16 acres of Japanese gardens.

For many visitors, the gardens are the heart of the experience. Known as Roji-en: Garden of the Drops of Dew, the gardens were designed as a living extension of the museum. Created by garden designer Hoichi Kurisu, Roji-en is composed of six distinct gardens inspired by significant historical periods and styles of Japanese garden design. Rather than serving as replicas, the gardens are conceived in the spirit of Japan’s garden masters, offering a contemplative journey through landscape, water, stone, plantings, bridges and shifting views.

That sense of movement is part of

what makes Morikami so resonant. The gardens invite visitors to slow down, pause and experience Japanese culture through nature and design. Families may come to explore the paths and koi, garden lovers may linger over the plantings and bonsai, and solo visitors may find a place for reflection. For groups, schools and cultural travelers, the museum and gardens together offer a meaningful introduction to Japanese history, art and aesthetics without leaving Palm Beach County.

Inside the museum, rotating exhibitions explore the arts and humanities of Japan through objects, images, textiles and stories. For visitors, one of the most compelling exhibitions is Threads of Silver & Gold, on view through Sept. 20. The exhibition focuses on uchikake, elaborately decorated outer robes that date to the Edo period, when highranking women wore them at court and brides in samurai families wore them for weddings. Their rich colors, raised silk weaving, padded hems and symbolic motifs, including cranes, turtles and cherry blossoms, offer a striking

look at status, ceremony, craftsmanship and good-fortune imagery in Japanese textile traditions.

Museum guests can also experience two traveling exhibitions on view now through Aug. 30.

Yōkai: Scenes of the Supernatural in Japanese Woodblock Prints explores mysterious creatures, shape-shifting animals, vengeful ghosts, demons and other supernatural figures that have inhabited Japan’s folklore, theater, literature and visual culture for centuries. The exhibition includes 90 works, including woodblock prints and printed books spanning more than 250 years, with imagery that connects historic Japanese folklore to the visual language that continues to inspire manga and anime today.

Also on view is Courage & Compassion: Our Shared Story of the Japanese American World War II Experience, which examines the forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans during and after World War II. Through images, audio and interactive elements, the exhibition offers a 360-degree perspective on a difficult chapter of American history while honoring those who stood up for Japanese Americans as friends, neighbors and fellow citizens.

Morikami’s programming expands the experience far beyond the galleries. Visitors can take classes and workshops in Japanese cultural arts, from ikebana and bonsai to taiko drumming and tea ceremony.

Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging, is offered through different schools of study. The Ikenobo School dates back to the 15th century and is considered the oldest and most traditional school, while Sogetsu takes a more contemporary approach centered on creativity and individuality, with the idea that ikebana can be practiced by anyone, anywhere, with almost anything. In both, students create arrangements to take home, making the class both cultural instruction and hands-on artmaking.

Bonsai classes offer another way to understand the patience and discipline embedded in Japanese aesthetics. Students learn to trim and train trees

in containers, creating the illusion of age, maturity and nature in miniature. Morikami offers both beginner and intermediate classes, allowing guests to approach bonsai as an art form, a horticultural practice and a meditative discipline.

For those drawn to music and movement, taiko classes introduce students to Japanese drumming. Taiko can refer to the drum itself, a drumming style, a drum group or drum music, and Morikami’s classes give participants the opportunity to learn the history, culture and techniques behind the instrument.

The museum’s Sunset Strolls also bring the gardens to life after hours with live taiko performances by Fushu Daiko, along with koto performances and cultural programming. On Sept. 17, the Sunset Stroll theme is Japanese Fashion & Cosplay, with a cosplay fashion show hosted by Florida Supercon, offering a lively connection between traditional Japanese culture and contemporary pop culture.

The tea house is one of Morikami’s most distinctive cultural offerings. Seishin-an, the museum’s authentic tea house, allows visitors to observe or study sado, commonly known as the Japanese tea ceremony or “the way of tea.” While tea culture in Japan developed over many centuries, the form most closely associated with today’s tea ceremony was shaped in the 16th century by the influential tea master Sen no Rikyū, who elevated the practice into an art centered on simplicity, hospitality, mindfulness and seasonal awareness. At Morikami, tea ceremony classes are offered in the Omote-Senke style, and students learn in the tea house under instructor Yoshiko Hardick. The experience is never static. The tea ceremony changes from month to month and season to season, making each gathering a reflection of time, place and intention.

Family programs are also forefront to Morikami’s appeal. Craft activities, cultural celebrations, seasonal programs and youth camps invite children to encounter Japanese culture in accessible ways. A child might first experience Morikami by creating a Tanabata-inspired craft,

listening to a story, attending a family program or walking through the gardens. For older children and teens, programs such as taiko and cultural workshops can turn curiosity into deeper engagement.

For visitors who want to complete the experience with cuisine, Cornell Café offers Pan-Asian-inspired dining overlooking the gardens. Menu offerings include bento boxes, teriyaki salmon, teriyaki chicken, cellophane noodles, vegetarian selections, sushi rolls, dumplings, edamame and other dishes that make the café a natural extension of the museum’s cultural mission. It is a place where a visit can become a full afternoon, moving from gallery to garden to table.

Morikami is also an important philanthropic and educational resource. Contributions and memberships help support exhibitions, educational programs, lectures, demonstrations, and the specialized training and maintenance required to preserve the Japanese gardens. Donations help ensure that visitors encounter world-class exhibitions, the gardens remain carefully conserved, children benefit from programs and communities continue to experience the beauty and connection that Morikami offers.

Morikami is both a destination and a historical reminder of the cultural depth available throughout Palm Beach County. It is a place for families, students, art lovers, garden enthusiasts, food lovers, history seekers and anyone interested in experiencing Japan through a South Florida lens. Whether visiting for a garden stroll, special exhibition, classes and workshops, or a delicious lunch at Cornell Café, Morikami offers a thoughtful and transportive experience rooted in beauty, education and cultural connection.

The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is located at 4000 Morikami Park Road in Delray Beach. The museum and gardens are open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Cornell Café is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays and major holidays. For tickets, memberships, donations, upcoming exhibitions, programs and visitor information, visit www.morikami.org.

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NEW LOCAL GROUP HELPS PEOPLE LEARN THE ART OF MINDFUL MEDITATION

STORY AND

BY JULIE UNGER

The reverberating hum of a crystal harp danced through the air on Tuesday, June 2, as Yani Daes, founder and CEO of Soham Yoga, walked among a group of 25 people meditating at the South University Learning Commons.

Daes led the group through a guided meditation before the silent meditation took place.

“What is important about meditation is where you give your attention,” she said. “What are you giving your attention to?”

Daes explained that when you’re working on something you enjoy, time passes quickly and seems to disappear

because you’re present in the moment. She asked participants to concentrate on their breathing, to be fully involved in what they were doing, and to only think about their breath.

The week of June 2 was the third week for this new Mindful Meditation Club, and its first meeting while partnered with South University in Royal Palm Beach.

“Meditation groups are important because they create a sense of connection and belonging,” said Nickeshia Bullock, South University’s campus director and dean of academic affairs and operations. “They provide a safe

and welcoming environment where individuals can step away from the demands of daily life, focus on their well-being, and build meaningful relationships with others who are seeking balance and personal growth.”

Hosting the meditation club at the school was the perfect fit.

“In today’s world, opportunities to slow down, reflect and connect with one another are more valuable than ever. That is one of the reasons I wanted to open our campus space to the meditation group,” Bullock said. “South University is more than a place of learning, it is a part of the commu-

nity. I believe our campus should serve as a resource where people can come together, learn, grow and support one another. By opening our doors to this group, we are creating opportunities for wellness, connection and community engagement, all of which align with the values we strive to promote both on our campus and throughout the community.”

Denis Eirikis and Michelle Elliott met through social media and co-founded the club together.

Elliott had been interested in starting a meditation group, and the two connected, utilizing Elliott’s HOA clubhouse as the location for the first two sessions.

Eirikis, who has always been drawn to meditation, likens group meditation to the difference between bowling alone and bowling in a fun league.

“This is a place for people who want to meditate to come and meditate,” Eirikis said.

The Mindful Meditation Club is free, and everyone is welcome to join. Meetings take place every Tuesday from 6:20 to 7:30 p.m. at South University’s University Centre (9801 Belvedere Road, Royal Palm Beach), with doors closing at 6:30 p.m.

All experience levels are welcome.

Use the south entrance facing Belvedere.

The South University Learning Commons has plenty of comfortable chairs available, and participants are welcome to bring a yoga mat to sit on.

“Group mindful meditation is powerful medicine,” Eirikis said. “Mindful meditation is a simple, evidence-based practice that helps people develop greater awareness of the present moment. Regular practice has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety and emotional reactivity, while improving focus, resilience and overall well-being. Many people also find that mindfulness helps them cope more effectively with chronic pain, improve sleep, and respond to life’s challenges with greater calm and clarity.”

Many of the attendees mentioned stress, pain and community as their reason for attending, including cancer survivor Gretchen Prevatt. It was her second time joining for group meditation.

“I like it,” Prevatt said. “When I’m meditating, I do feel relief, which is great because normally I have pain 247, even on pain medicines and nerve medication.”

Each week, volunteers will be leading the meditations. To learn more, e-mail kindfulness@aol.com.

“Group mindful meditation is powerful medicine. Mindful meditation is a simple, evidence-based practice that helps people develop greater awareness of the present moment.”