about
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Grace Helms Kotre, MSW (pronouns: she/her) is the founder of Power to Be, LLC. She is certified in mindfulness instruction and holds degrees in community social work and human development. Her passion for facilitating inner transformation and social change through contemplative practice informs her life and her work.
Since 2015, Grace has offered mindfulness and social justice training to adults and youth in various settings including schools, community groups, non-profit organizations, businesses, civic clubs, parent groups, and professional conferences. Grace has additional training in the areas of mindful parenting, mindful communication, trauma-informed instruction, intergroup dialogue, and organizing for racial justice.
Prior to her work in mindfulness education, Grace served as a youth teacher and program leader with City Year Chicago, Outreach 360 in the Dominican Republic, and with the University of Michigan SERVE Project. She has worked on social justice issues with the Social Welfare Action Alliance, Program on Intergroup Relations at the University of Michigan, and for several years on staff with the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice. Grace currently also teaches courses as an adjunct instructor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. As a white person, Grace is continually in the work of deepening her consciousness of internalized white racial identity, white privilege, white supremacy, and racism. As a woman, Grace is regularly challenging internalized gender conditioning, patriarchy, and sexism. And in her many other social identities, Grace is exploring how privilege and oppression manifest on a daily basis. Grace lives in Ann Arbor, MI, the native land of the Pottawatomie, Ottawa, and Chippewa, with her partner and two daughters. She loves a cup of decaf coffee and a walk outside pretty much anywhere. |
POWER TO BE PAST & CURRENT CLIENTS:
YWCA Chicago Annual Educators' Conference, Presenter Upper Peninsula Children's Coalition, Keynote Speaker Coalition of Schools Educating Mindfully Conference, Presenter Preschool Mindfulness Summit, Speaker EMU EcoJustice & Activism Conference, Facilitator Mindful Schools’ Mindful Summer Speaker Series, Presenter Southeastern MI Stewardship Coalition PD, Presenter Washtenaw Head Start & GSRP Annual Conference, Presenter 
Pleasantview Elementary School, Eastpoint Washtenaw Community College Lakewood Elementary School, Ann Arbor Lawton Elementary School, Ann Arbor Clara B. Ford Academy, Dearborn Heights Detroit Leadership Academy, Detroit Honey Creek Community School, Ann Arbor Hebrew Day School, Ann Arbor First United Methodist Co-op Nursery, Ann Arbor Gretchen's House Childcare Centers, Ann Arbor 
Crim Fitness Foundation Preferred Title Agency of Ann Arbor Ann Arbor District Library Ann Arbor Public Schools Community Rec & Ed Peace Neighborhood Center Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition, EMU University of MI Health System Children’s Center St. Joseph Mercy Hospital St. Mary’s Student Parish |
"I went in skeptical and by the end had found myself using several techniques in my personal life as well as work.”
– Professional, 8-Week Mindfulness Class participant
“I appreciated the versatility of the different exercises and choices that are available to complete
mindful activities (not offered in past workshops). Thank you.”
– Teacher, Workshop participant
“I loved Grace’s demeanor – calm, confident, and knowledgeable.”
– Teacher, Workshop participant
“This class helped me to calm down internally and to start to assess situations before reacting – with big and small things.”
– Professional, 12-Week Mindfulness-Based Equity Class participant
"Grace is a wonderful teacher. I have studied meditation for years and struggle with bringing it into our
family life. She gave us wonderful simple tools. I really loved this."
– Parent, Healthy Family Habits Workshop participant
"Through Grace’s support and trainings for our staff, we now feel comfortable encouraging
students to be mindful at [the Center], school, and home.”
– Community Center Staff, Training participant
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past event highlights
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"Mindfulness Practices for Exploring Racial Identity and Systemic Whiteness"
Feb. 2020 - Co-facilitator of a half-day workshop for educators at the Educating Mindfully Conference, IL
“Mindfulness & Social Identity: Practices for Challenging Implicit Bias”
Sept. 2019-Feb. 2020 - Professional development series for faculty at Washtenaw Community College
“Mindfulness-Based Equity Workshop for Educators”
Oct. 2019 - Half-day professional development workshop for educators at the Washtenaw Intermediate School District
"Using Mindfulness to Enhance Youth Work"
May 2019 - Keynote presentation for educators at the Upper Peninsula Children's Coalition Annual Conference
"Using Mindfulness to Challenge Bias"
Feb. 2019 - Coalition of Schools Educating Mindfully Conference, St. Charles, IL
"Doing Our Own Work: Using Mindfulness to Challenge Bias"
Jan. 2019 - Workshop for preschool educators and parents, Online International Preschool Mindfulness Summit 2019
Mindfulness & Implicit Bias Live Sit
Aug. 2018 - Guided Meditation, Mindful Schools Mindful Summer Series
"Mindfulness for Activists"
March 2018 - EcoJustice & Activism Conference, Eastern Michigan University
"Awakening Race Consciousness: Using Mindfulness to Challenge Racism"
Aug. 2016 - 3-hour workshop co-created with La'Ron Williams for the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice community
Feb. 2020 - Co-facilitator of a half-day workshop for educators at the Educating Mindfully Conference, IL
“Mindfulness & Social Identity: Practices for Challenging Implicit Bias”
Sept. 2019-Feb. 2020 - Professional development series for faculty at Washtenaw Community College
“Mindfulness-Based Equity Workshop for Educators”
Oct. 2019 - Half-day professional development workshop for educators at the Washtenaw Intermediate School District
"Using Mindfulness to Enhance Youth Work"
May 2019 - Keynote presentation for educators at the Upper Peninsula Children's Coalition Annual Conference
"Using Mindfulness to Challenge Bias"
Feb. 2019 - Coalition of Schools Educating Mindfully Conference, St. Charles, IL
"Doing Our Own Work: Using Mindfulness to Challenge Bias"
Jan. 2019 - Workshop for preschool educators and parents, Online International Preschool Mindfulness Summit 2019
Mindfulness & Implicit Bias Live Sit
Aug. 2018 - Guided Meditation, Mindful Schools Mindful Summer Series
"Mindfulness for Activists"
March 2018 - EcoJustice & Activism Conference, Eastern Michigan University
"Awakening Race Consciousness: Using Mindfulness to Challenge Racism"
Aug. 2016 - 3-hour workshop co-created with La'Ron Williams for the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice community