Belonging to the Earth in a Changing World
It is with great excitement and hope that we share our collaboration with the Mind and Life Institute to publish an insert in the upcoming issue of the Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR): Belonging to the Earth in a Changing World. This important and timely publication comes out in hard copy on November 9th and online on November 16th.
Together, the seven essays that make up the insert illustrate that remembering our Belonging to the Earth is not only another approach to environmental action—it is a foundational capacity for meeting the intertwined ecological and social challenges of our time.
For a link to the online version of the insert, watch for our newsletter or come back here on November 16th. Check out our Mindful Funders page to learn more about the SSIR insert and how to partner with us in this work. And reach out through our contact form if you would like to talk with us about our work!
Our Mission
About BESS Family Foundation
The BESS Family Foundation, founded in 2008, is a private family foundation based in Massachusetts. We offer grants to organizations that provide evidence-based mindfulness and meditation programs in ways that help human beings joyfully face the challenges of our time, as well as convening others who do the same. We focus on work at the intersection of mindfulness and meditation and the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss.
We are deeply committed to the principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We honor the enduring presence and contributions of all Tribal Nations on Turtle Island, recognizing them as the original stewards of our Mother Earth and all her Beings. We acknowledge the shared history of colonization, historical trauma, and the ongoing challenges faced by Tribal Nations. With gratitude, we embrace their rich cultures, ancient traditions, perspectives, and wisdom, which continue to inspire and guide us. We are dedicated to fostering respectful and meaningful relationships with all Tribal Nations. We stand in solidarity as we work together toward healing and mutual understanding. We are grateful for the land below our feet that supports us and we take responsibility for the well-being of the Earth, water, air, plants, and animals.
This land acknowledgment serves as an invitation to deepen awareness of the historical and present-day realities of the Indigenous peoples whose lands we inhabit. By recognizing their enduring connection to these lands, we open the door for healing and remembrance, ensuring that future generations honor and carry forward the legacy of their ancestors.