Meditation training for people in prison

Support meditation training for people in prison to bring peace, reduce anxiety, improve relationships and reconnect with the self and others.

Level is a 501c3 nonprofit, EIN 84-2956557.
Have questions about this project or donating with a DAF?

person in prison cell learning about and practicing meditation

The opportunity

Make a meaningful impact for thousands of people in prison who want to learn about meditation

Budget: $19,375

Raised: $15,838

Budget
$19,375 Raised
$15,838

Every month, we receive numerous requests from people in prison who are passionate to learn about meditation. Life in prison is chaotic and often violent. Peace is in short supply. People in prison have often heard about meditation as a way to increase peace, reduce anxiety, improve relationships and reconnect with the self and with others. The impact can be huge, both for the present moment and for the future after release.

To meet this widespread need, Level has partnered with Dean Sluyter to create Natural Meditation For Everyone, a guide that introduces the basics of meditation in a format that anyone can practice, anywhere. Dean has taught and written about mindfulness and meditation for decades and has deep experience teaching meditation, mindfulness and Buddhism in prisons. Natural Meditation For Everyone requires no prior exposure to meditation and is specifically created for people who may have experienced considerable trauma in their lives. It is written for every learner, regardless of cultural heritage or religious background. This guide dispels the myth that meditation is for experts who have practiced for years and introduces meditation as a simple, powerful life skill that anyone can use to reduce stress, increase connection and improve relationships.

The meditation guide has been published and distributed to more than 1,500 people in prison across the country. Learners are reacting very positively. 92% report a reduction in stress. 84% report an improvement in relationships with others. 85% report an increase in happiness. The remainder of the budget for this project involves the continued distribution of this meditation guide to people in prison across the country.

Contributors to this project

We thank our communities of support

We thank all the donors for this project including Trust for the Meditation Process, a charitable foundation encouraging meditation, mindfulness and contemplative prayer, as well as Dean Sluyter, Kircher Family Foundation, Mike Jones, Tejas Potynski, William Brennan, Perry Freeman, Coralie Pearson, Lisa Schnur, Vince Flammini, Scott Passin, Cecilia Hale, Patricia McClory, James Caplan, Dorothy Mountain, Anna Ginzburg, Eric Przybylinski, David Malinowski, Kristin Center, Alan Wright, Victor Nostas, Lindy Wright, Mixaela Corona, Erin Wright, Justin Wright, Nora Wright, Murray Wright, Alice Smith, J.J. Tigges, Katie Fryer, Cynthia Wright, Charles Noble, Brooke Covington, Rob Tourtelot, Joyce Dvoren, Marilee Burton, Alexander Oh and Jennifer Boylston.

This meditation guide helped me learn about myself, and it's become a solution to a lot of my stressful problems. I'm not depressed or stressed about things I can't control. If I don't agree with a person, I don't raise my voice. Instead of being down most days, I'm happy 5 out of 7 days. Sometimes all week!

- Scionti, in prison in Florida

In the environment that I occupy, I am constantly looking for ways to calm myself. This meditation guide was definitely put to the test. It gives what I believe is essential... actual feedback from firsthand experience. The author gave me the things I needed to know, with the confidence and experience to gain my trust.

- Dennis, in prison in Michigan

I'm trying to start changing my life, and one of the changes is to start meditating. This guide has come in very handy. It was very informative, easy to understand, and helps me with exactly what I was looking for when it comes to learning about meditation. I'm a big fan of Level. I really like what you guys are doing.

- Kyle, in prison in California

What I have learned from this meditation guide really helps me with my stress and anxiety. I feel a lot better and think a lot clearer. After 14 days of meditation practice, I have little to no stress or anxiety, I'm more patient with others and things I don't like, and I am much more carefree and happier.

- Brian, in prison in New York

I thought meditation wasn't for me. I can't seem to quiet my mind at all. It's nice to know I can do this. This guide explains meditation to where I can understand it. It doesn't make it sound real difficult. I can see me using it all the time. I like Level - it lets the person work at their own pace.

- Vicki, incarcerated in Nevada

This meditation guide is actually helping me to learn to chill and stay calm. I've spent most of my 14 years locked down. Solitary confinement time is rough to do. These last couple of weeks I've been really chillin'. It's not hard to understand. It's amazing how much meditation can do for you.

- Kelly, incarcerated in Michigan

This meditation guide has taught me a new skill. This is a tool to use when worried, stressed, sad, and when your anxiety is high, when you have a lot on your mind, and when you need to focus and clear your mind. This is an amazing skill to have - perfect in moments of tension, stress, anger, and so much more!

- Brandon, incarcerated in Illinois

This meditation guide was very helpful! I have struggled in the past to learn "traditional" meditation techniques. This helped me to learn that there was another way. I've used this guide daily and the practice has helped me immensely with my anxieties. I have already recommended it to several people.

- Michael, incarcerated in Colorado

This guide has opened my mind to meditation. I believe it's a tool I will use for the rest of my life to enhance the quality of my life. I now understand why meditation is so beneficial. I also understand how to do it in a productive way. I believe meditation will have a profound impact on my life in a beautiful way.

- Jacob, in prison in Kansas

I was severely abused / tortured by my step-father, so I grew up with anger and depression. Meditation has helped me overcome those negative feelings. I have been meditating for 10 years now, and Level's guide has increased my practices by showing me new ways to meditate. Great job Level!

- Christopher, in prison in Colorado

I have been down for 10 years. It's stressful sharing a cell. Your meditation guide touches on so many more subjects than my class did and it was all explained in a very easy manner with humor and stories. I have less stress, anxiety and have found more peace. I am more patient and happy. I can express myself better.

- Allen, in prison in Pennsylvania

Have questions about funding this project?

We've included answers to some general questions below. Please get in touch with any additional questions. Thank you!

What is Level?

Level is a popular, independent, nonprofit prison education program that offers education, career training and personal development for people in prison and connects with family members and supporters on the outside. Our unique approach can reach nearly any person at any prison, even those in high security or solitary confinement. 6,537 people in prison have spent 89,430 hours using the Level program inside 1,044 prisons across the country.

How does Level work?

Level sends printed educational modules - we call them guides - to people in prison across the country. Our guides are designed to pass the stringent restrictions applied to incoming mail at correctional facilities. People in prison can use our guides in their cells or in common areas. Each of our guides is designed to be a 10 hour study program about one topic. People complete our program at their own pace.

When a learner finishes a guide, they transfer their quiz answers onto a Completion Form and send it back to us. Our system registers their completion of that guide, creates a Certificate of Achievement, and then we send a new guide.

We send updates by text or email to family members and supporters on the outside each time a new guide is sent and each time a certificate is earned. These updates help create connections and break isolation.

Can't people in prison learn this from YouTube or a website?

People in prison don't have access to computers or the internet, so they can't access existing educational and job training and content in the same ways that people on the outside can. Most prisons don't even have educational and job training programs that are easily accessed.

Level is a unique lifeline for many people in prison who want to prepare for a brighter future. We take the time to custom create popular educational programs that are specifically written for people in prison. We often partner with formerly incarcerated subject matter experts to ensure that our content is created by people who have walked in the shoes of our learners.

Do you have more specific information on this project including timeline, budget, measurement and impact?

Yes, absolutely! We don't put all that on this page because it's a lot! We are happy to send you detailed project, timeline, budget, measurement and impact information. Please reach out using this contact form and let us know what you'd like to see.

What is a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) and how can I donate to Level with a DAF?

A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a charitable investment account that allows you to contribute money and receive an immediate tax deduction. The funds can be invested to grow tax-free. You can then use the funds in this account to make donations to your favorite nonprofits (like Level) anytime.

If you have a Donor Advised Fund (DAF), you can use it to donate to Level directly on our website. Level incorporates DAF Pay, an express checkout option for Donor Advised Funds. Using this feature, you can securely log into your Donor Advised Fund right from Level's website, check your balance and donate to Level with your DAF account in 3 clicks - faster than a credit card! Look for the button at the top of our donate pages that says DAF Pay.

Don't worry, we don't see any of your DAF account login or account information - that is all securely transmitted to your DAF account and not viewed or stored by Level. Check the DAF Pay website for more information.

Is my donation to Level tax deductible?

Yes! Level is a 501c3 nonprofit, EIN 84-2956557. Let us know if you need a specific receipt or acknowledgement of your donation.