Community Wellbeing

Community Wellbeing Highlights:

• In 2026, Founder of The Center for Black Excellence and Culture (CBEC) Rev. Dr. Alexander Gee, and Founder and Director of the Center for Healthy Minds, Dr. Richard J. Davidson signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the two organizations. The agreement aims to strengthen and advance relationship building, co-develop a mutually beneficial research, outreach and education agenda, and advance the research capabilities of CBEC.
   
• In 2025, the Cultivating Justice CoLaboratory launched in collaboration between CHM Research Assistant Professor Dan Grupe, UW-Madison and community research partners, and a community advisory board of formerly incarcerated people. The CoLaboratory develops and implements interventions rooted in restorative and contemplative practices, and conducts rigorous research on the effects of these offerings for individuals and communities impacted by incarceration.
   
• In 2025, the Loka Initiative launched Sacred Wisdom Sacred Earth, a compelling feature-length documentary on how the efforts of Wisconsin’s Native American tribes to restore their spiritual, cultural, and environmental resilience is rooted in their sacred connection to the land and waters of the Great Lakes. The film was designed and led by Indigenous leaders, featuring Wisconsin’s Native Elders, knowledge holders, academics, scientists, activists and youth leaders.