Create Social Impact
Pay It Forward
Help us go further together
Calm Clarity builds mental health equity and socioeconomic inclusion through our non-profit initiatives.
Help us deliver high quality programs to under-served groups who would benefit most from learning effective tools to address and heal the effects of toxic stress and trauma.
Our chief priority:
Supporting and empowering first-generation/low-income (FLI) college students to succeed in college and beyond
3 key issues facing FLI students
1. Severe trauma and toxic stress
Students who are the first-generation of their families to attend college and who grow up in low-income communities have higher rates of exposure to toxic stress and severe trauma.[1]
According to the Centers for Disease Control, severe experiences of trauma are associated with: lower educational attainment, higher substance abuse, addiction, depression, and suicide rates higher incidence of asthma, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases, higher incarceration rates.[2]
“Philadelphia Trauma Map”[1]
Percentage of Population with Four or More Adverse Childhood Experiences by Zipcode, 2013
Out of 100 Philadelphia high school students: 24 enroll in college; six out of ten, or 14 drop out of college, with debt, but no degree; only 10% or 10 of these students earn a college degree.
This means that of those who make it to college, more than half will not graduate.[3]
2. High barriers to college graduation
2. High barriers to college graduation
Out of 100 Philadelphia high school students: 24 enroll in college; six out of ten, or 14 drop out of college, with debt, but no degree; only 10% or 10 of these students earn a college degree.
This means that of those who make it to college, more than half will not graduate.[3]
3. Poor mental health
Mental health is a leading cause of high drop-out rates in students.
64% of young adults no longer attend college because of mental health related reasons (depression and post-traumatic stress disorder are primary diagnoses).[4]
Furthermore, first-generation college students report greater levels of depression and stress, lower ratings of belonging, and lower use of services, compared to continuing-generation students.
They often experience culture shock on campus, and lack the social support, mentorship, and toolkit of skills needed to navigate the challenging transition.[5]
Sources
-
PHMC, “Findings from the Philadelphia Urban ACE Survey,” Sept 18, 2013.
-
CDC Study, “Adverse Childhood Experiences Reported by Adults― Five States, 2009.”
-
Philadelphia Public School Notebook, “New data: only 10% of Philly students earn a degree,” 2010.
-
National Alliance on Mental Illness, “College Students Speak: A Survey on Mental Health,” 2012
-
Michael Stebleton, “First-Generation Students’ Sense of Belonging, Mental Health, and Use of Counseling Services at Public Research Universities,” 2014; The Hamilton Project (Thirteen Economic Facts about Social Mobility and the Role of Education, June 2013).
We help FLI students overcome great odds to succeed
To support FLI students to successfully navigate these challenges, Due Quach developed neuroscience-based leadership trainings that enable people to rewire their brain to break self-limiting patterns linked to toxic stress, trauma, and poverty. The trainings also enable people to learn new skills and habits that support resilience, academic success, well-being, and forming healthy relationships.
Calm Clarity programs draw from Due’s personal experience with healing PTSD as a FLI student at Harvard University.
We are now collaborating with college students to share our free online course, "A Mind-hacker's Toolkit to Calm Anxiety," which provides 10 practical, effective techniques to soothe an anxious brain."
In addition, Calm Clarity helped found the Collective Success Network to rally professionals to support and mentor FLI students to successfully navigate college and enter professional careers, and to de-stigmatize the FLI identity.
To learn more, read Due’s article “Poor and Traumatized at Harvard” and her book Calm Clarity.
See a summary of our social mission and college pilot here.
Volunteer
There are many ways to give. Contributing your time and skills will help us make a much larger impact in under-served communities.
Different paths to pay it forward
Student Peer Mentors
Are you a college student or graduate student? Are you the first-generation in your family to graduate from college? Would you like to improve mental health and well-being among your loved ones, classmates, and community?
Become a Peer Mentor to guide groups of students through the Calm Clarity online course on how to calm anxiety.
Donate
Support Calm Clarity's mission. Your gift will enable us to continue programs to freely share essential tools to help people navigate adversity and improve their lives
Support our Fellowship and Peer Mentoring Program
The Calm Clarity Fellowship Program empowers college students who are passionate about mental health to design and build a Peer Mentoring and Support Program on their campus. Through this initiative, we train college students from diverse backgrounds to facilitate and share Calm Clarity resources on calming anxiety with their classmates and communities. This unique leadership development platform guides student leaders to create student-centered programs that make a positive impact on their campus and community.
We are now raising funds to expand the Fellowship and Peer Mentoring and Support Program.
Here’s how your donation will be put to work:
-
$1,000 enables us to grant a Fellowship and build a Peer Mentoring & Support Program on a college campus for 1 month
-
$500 supports one month’s stipend for a Fellow to initiate and lead the Program on their college campus
-
$250 supports a group of 10 students to learn how to calm anxiety with a Peer Mentor
-
$100 supports us to train and coach a student volunteer to serve as Peer Mentor and facilitate our anxiety course
-
$50 supports the monthly costs of student outreach activities on a campus (tabling, info sessions, flyers, small giveaways)
-
$25 supports a Peer Support group session led by a Peer Mentor
Join our Circle of Champions
Our Circle of Champions help Calm Clarity realize our vision to improve collective well-being and mental health by strengthening and spreading Brain 3.0. Champions sustain our non-profit initiatives by making a recurring donation of $50 or more each month or $600 or more each year.
We acknowledge our Champions in their efforts to strengthen and spread Brain 3.0 in the following ways:
-
Invitations to semi-annual virtual gatherings for the Circle of Champions to meet each other, learn about Calm Clarity's progress, and brainstorm ideas for programming.
-
A deck of Calm Clarity Cards: use it to strengthen Brain 3.0 for yourself, your loved ones, and team.
-
A 20% discount on Calm Clarity online courses and virtual workshops: we will start sharing the Calm Clarity Mindful Leadership program this year through virtual workshops.
-
Ability to request autographed copies of the Calm Clarity book at cost plus shipping and handling.
-
Plus more ways to come...
To become a Calm Clarity Champion, simply make a recurring monthly donation of $50 or more or an annual donation of $600 or more.
Please reach out to us at info@calmclarity.org with any questions. Thank you!
Give Today
To donate by check, please write & mail checks to:
Calm Clarity of CultureTrust
Attn: Trust Director
1315 Walnut Street, Suite 320
Philadelphia, PA 19107
If you have any questions or would like to talk to our team, please email us at info@calmclarity.org.
Collaborate
If you are a nonprofit organization or educational institution, there are many ways to collaborate with Calm Clarity to help low-income communities affected by toxic stress.
Train your staff: Calm Clarity training can enable your staff to more effectively serve your beneficiaries and practice self-care to prevent burn-out.
Train your students and constituents: Through our social impact initiatives, we aim to work with effective, like-minded organizations to develop and implement sustainable approaches to deliver Calm Clarity training to under-served communities.
Due's talks for high school students empowers them with insights and tools to navigate challenging situations and manage stress, anxiety, and negativity.
This photo shows Due guiding the students at Liguori Academy in the Kensington section of Philadelphia through a mindful listening exercise to quiet the default mode network.
Due's talks for college students help them understand how to better take care of themselves mentally, emotionally, and physically, and how to embody and express the highest version of who they can be.
This photo shows Due explaining how the brain works at an intercollegiate talk for first-generation college students hosted by the University of Pennsylvania
Testimonials
"I appreciated how accessible and understandable this program is to both people who are new to meditation and long-time practitioners in the way it explains the science behind what happens in our bodies when we engage in contemplative practices. The workshop offers time for individuals to name their own triggers and create a plan for practical ways to incorporate mindfulness into their daily lives to move away from fear-based reactions and towards collaboration, creativity, empathy, and compassion. This program would be immensely helpful for staff and students to meet the reality of full schedules from a place which is centered and open."
~Michelle Sherman, Campus Minister for Retreats and Post-Grad Service, Villanova University
"I work very closely with many of the students who were able to attend the [Calm Clarity] talk and workshop and can testify firsthand that they are dealing with incredible challenges in their home life and in their transition to college at an elite institution... Several students have already commented on how inspirational, informative and accessible [this experience] was. I truly feel like the impact was real, deep and lasting for so many of the students, particularly those contending with challenging circumstances. I can honestly say that the opportunity to engage [with Calm Clarity] was life changing for several of the students."
~Kelly Wilcox, Director, Office of Academic Resources and Associate Dean, Haverford College
"Due presented to a standing room only crowd at New York University... Her expertise is of value no matter your field or role. She was able to move people with her own personal story, convey the complex brain science behind her methods and enable people to experience the power of mindfulness. We see that our students are busier than ever these days, juggling academic, professional and personal commitments. The practices Due shared can be easily applied in any life – no matter how busy you are – to increase focus, reduce stress and achieve high performance."
~Bethany Godsoe, Associate Vice President, Student Leadership Initiatives, New York University
Sponsor a Program
Become a Sponsor to bring Calm Clarity training to a school, non-profit organization, or community to improve mental health and well-being.
Diamond
$20,000
Sponsor a Calm Clarity Catalyst Program to train an entire cohort of volunteers to support people facing adversity and financial hardship to shift into Brain 3.0
Sponsorship Levels
What your tax-deductible donation enables us to do
Sapphire
$10,000
Sponsor a Calm Clarity collaboration with a school or nonprofit organization to train staff and students to calm anxiety
Gold
$5,000
Sponsor a short-term Calm Clarity program on behalf of a school or non-profit organization serving low-income communities
Silver
$1,000
Sponsor the monthly cost of one Peer Mentorship Program, empowering college students to improve well-being and mental health on their campus.
Bronze
$500
Sponsor one month of a Calm Clarity Fellowship for a college student to lead and run a Peer Mentorship Program on their college campus
Take Action
Let's keep the conversation going
Please contact us at info@calmclarity.org to discuss how to create impact together
