Pepperdine alumna Jessica Gray graduated only last spring but she has spent the year hard at work founding her own nonprofit early childhood education program— yogacore.
A business and economics major Gray combined her skill and passion for yoga with the spirit of volunteerism to make an impact in the lives of young children.
Gray said her job with Jumpstart while at Pepperdine helped inspire the program.
“It really changed my life seeing those children come alive Gray said. It made me realize I have a gift for working with children.”
She also discussed her business classes and how they were a nightmare as well as a blessing because they made her see what she could accomplish when she put her mind to it.
Gray began doing yoga while at Pepperdine following a friend’s recommendation. “I was hooked Gray said. It gave me a sense of calmness.”
The task was then to channel that positive effect to an environment where kids can benefit from it.
“With the budget cuts on physical education schools are having to get creative Gray said.
That’s where yogacore comes in. Gray’s team offers yoga training in classrooms completely free of charge, with volunteer instructors bringing all necessary materials into the classroom for the lesson.
We’re filling the gap the state can’t really fill Gray said. Yoga helps [children] succeed academically and deal with stress. What a great thing to bring into children’s lives.”
The program is in two elementary schools in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District: John Muir Elementary and Westside Children’s Center where Gray first worked in Jumpstart.
“There’s an overwhelming positive response Gray said. They practice their breathing during class when we”re not even there.”
One student uses the techniques he learned from yoga to cope with the stress of his parents” divorce a teacher informed Gray.
“It really makes a difference Gray said. Personal relationships are developing between the volunteers and the students.”
The principal at John Muir has witnessed the benefits and has agreed to continue implementing yogacore curriculum in classrooms next year. Gray is also encouraging the school to consider the Healthy School Initiative which aims to improve cafeteria options among other areas to promote healthy choices in school-age children.
Gray submitted the paperwork to file for nonprofit status last September which only received approval this month. Since then she has worked on developing curriculum for volunteers to teach inside the classroom.
Gray credits her experience at Pepperdine as the motivation behind her program where she says her passions experiences values professors and work in the Volunteer Center helped her realize her life goals.
“If I had gone to any other school it wouldn”t have been possible Gray said.
Three other Pepperdine alumni, Valerie Clack, David Kim and Dillon Desai, work alongside Gray at yogacore foundation.
As for the future, Gray is focusing on writing federal, state and private grants to gain more funding.
So far, yogacore has received all its funds from community partnerships. In fact, all their yoga mats were donated thanks to a fundraiser put on by the yoga apparel company lululemon.
Gray also talked about future plans to expand the program. Her goal is to incorporate yogacore curriculum in five more schools by the fall, making a total of seven schools that would participate in the program.
Pepperdine alumna Alexandra Magiera, who teaches in San Jose, Calif. through Teach for America, plans to bring yogacore to her classroom, expanding the program to Northern California.
Gray works for an advertising agency while heading yogacore.
I’ve become so incredibly passionate about it Gray said. I hope that it can be my career.”