Adrian is the co- founder and guidance teacher of Mindful Harlem and MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction). He has been practicing Mindfulness and Insight Meditation for many years; a practice which has been a deep transformative experience for him and for the people around him.

Alex Beckmann is a musician, producer, and sound meditation facilitator based in NYC.   He has toured the world as a drummer and makes electronic music under the name MMBLR.  A fascination with sound healing and sound meditation has led Alex to study various techniques and instruments including tuning fork Biosonics with John Beaulieu and Gong Yoga with Don Conreaux.

Allison is so grateful to have joined the Mindful Harlem community in meditation and so much more, and is excited to share the Alexander Technique, a mindful movement practice she has been teaching for over 20 years. She received her certification at the American Center for the Alexander Technique, NYC (a unique and life-altering 3 year training).

She was a faculty member of Barnard College for 10 years where she originated the Alexander Technique program and has taught at the 92nd Street Y, Manhattan School of Music, Movement Research, yoga studios, public libraries, and corporate offices.

Andrew has been a Harlem resident since 2008 and it was the only neighborhood he considered living in when moving from Los Angeles to New York City. He's been involved with Mindful Harlem since its inception three years ago and looks forward to its continued growth in the community. 

Archimedes is an inspirational teacher, fluent in three languages, and has served as a keynote address and guest speaker for a number of organizations both in the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors.

Bhante Suddhāso is a Buddhist monk living in New York City, ordained in both the Theravāda and Soto Zen traditions of Buddhism. The co-founder of Buddhist Insights, an organization designed to connect people with Buddhist monks and nuns, his work aims to convey Buddhist concepts and their practical applicability to everyday life.

Rev. Daiken Nelson, Sensei began Zen Practice 30 years ago. Since that time, he has practiced at the Zen Center of Los Angeles, where he ordained with Nyogen Yeo in 1996; The Zen Peacemaker Order, where he studied with Roshi Bernie Glassman & Sensei Jishu Holmes; The Village Zendo, where he was Shuso (Head Trainee) under Roshi Enkyo O’Hara in 2001 and Upaya Zen Center, where he studied with Roshi Joan Halifax. In October, 2013, Daiken received Shiho/Dharma Transmission from Sensei Genkoji. 

Daiken is the Guiding Teacher for The Pamsula Zen Center which meets on Mondays at 6:00 at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 521 W. 126th Street (betw. B’way & Amsterdam). pamsulazen.org.

Fay Leeper, the treasurer of Mindful Harlem, can be found at meditation most Saturday mornings at 9 am. She has taken the MBSR class many times. Each time, for her, it is simply a magical revelation. she declares that through Mindful Harlem's teachings and meditation, the breath and breathing mindfully for her is the most powerful discovery toward relaxation.

Fay has encouraged many people to come and check out the Mindful Harlem family. Not only will one learn and share, but as importantly, it's a lot of fun.

Elizabeth is a licensed social worker and discovered Mindful Harlem when exploring ways to manage stress while pursuing her graduate degree.  Having a space for the practice has benefited her more than she could have imagined.  Her involvement has allowed her to work collaborate with teachers from different modalities, including meditation, somatic movement, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), all of which continue to enrich her work and therapeutic perspective.  She is passionate about the center's dedication to making mindfulness practices accessible to the Harlem community.  

If you have ideas about potential program offerings, send her an email at elizabeth@mindfulharlem.org

Howard joined Mindful Harlem at its inception in 2014. He serves Mindful Harlem as a board member, digital strategist, and mindfulness instructor. He started and led the center’s Wednesday evening meditations, and has served as assistant facilitator for several MBSR courses. Howard has led Mindfulness classes for the New York City Board of Education, Bellevue Hospital, the American Cancer Society, and in several New York based corporations. 

Howard is a media and marketing executive with deep industry experience in utilizing digital platforms in the concert, television, and music industries. Notable producing team credits include concerts for Simon & Garfunkel, Aretha Franklin, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Diana Ross, and Metallica, as well as the Broadway show, Liza’s at the Palace starring Liza Minnelli (which won a Tony Award), and the Emmy nominated TV show Wonderama.

His current practice centers around a simple Vipassana meditation, and bringing the tenets of mindfulness into everyday activities and interactions.

Jayne Gumpel LCSW - Co-founder of MindfulHarlem and a qualified MBSR teacher.

Joan Walsh is The Nation’s National Affairs Correspondent and a CNN political contributor. She is the author of What’s the Matter With White People? Finding Our Way in the Next America, which the Philadelphia Daily News called “one of the best books of 2012 – and even more relevant now.” Author Anne Lamott described it as “a brilliant and illuminating book about America since the upheavals of 60's and 70's." Walsh lives in New York.

Senior complex litigation and white collar associate with experience in securities lawsuits, international white collar investigations, arbitration, and a robust pro bono practice that encompasses criminal defense, economic justice, and immigrants’ rights.

Nevah Assang is a long-time member of Mindful Harlem and supporter of the arts and humanities in New York City. She currently holds the position of senior vice president of Cultural and Community Affairs at NYC & Company, serving as a key liaison between New York City’s official tourism organization and the many cultural institutions and community organizations throughout the five boroughs.

Pamela Newkirk, PhD, is a native New Yorker and award-winning journalist who spent ten years working as a reporter and writer before joining the journalism faculty at New York University. Pamela began her meditation practice at Mindful Harlem about three years ago and cherishes the brilliant minds she meets in the community.