Our Anti-Oppression Statement

Updated February 17, 2025: Our commitment to these principles remains unwavering, despite recent federal actions that have eliminated Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. We recognize that fostering an inclusive, trauma-informed environment is not only essential but also a fundamental human right. Every individual deserves safety, dignity, and access to healing, regardless of identity, background, or lived experience.

Anti-Oppression Statement

At Peace of Mind Yoga, Counseling, and Wellness Center in Berkeley Heights, NJ, we are guided by the belief that mental health, safety, and access to wellness are fundamental human rights. We stand in complete alignment with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and the United Nations Covenants on Human Rights. Our work also reflects the values outlined in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Our staff, therapists, yoga instructors, and administrative team are committed to upholding these principles in both policy and practice. We take particular care to center the rights and experiences of those most affected by systemic inequality, including women, children, people of African descent, Indigenous peoples, refugees, ethnic and religious minorities, LGBTQIA+ communities, and persons with disabilities. We believe in their right to safety, support, and a sense of belonging.

As a trauma-focused wellness center, we recognize that racism, oppression, and discrimination are traumas that affect individuals, families, and entire communities. Intersectionality is at the core of our approach; we understand that many people experience overlapping vulnerabilities and systemic harm due to the intersections of race, gender identity, class, immigration status, ability, and other social positions.

We are committed to addressing the following human rights issues within our work:

• Discrimination and harassment, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion

• Protection of children and freedom from child labor

• Freedom of association and the right to collective belonging and voice

• Occupational health and safety for our staff and community members

• Advocacy for appropriate living wages, fair labor practices, and inclusive hiring

• Proactive identification of power dynamics and privilege within all relationships and structures we participate in

Our internal practices also prohibit all forms of modern slavery, forced labor, and human trafficking. While we are not a high-risk supply chain business, we are committed to ethical oversight in all our partnerships and procurement.

We maintain open channels for feedback and accountability. Our work with anti-oppression consultant Tamu King of TKLane LLC ensures that we regularly review our internal systems, acknowledge bias, and repair harm when needed. We recognize the importance of naming white privilege, dismantling oppressive behaviors, and refusing to be complicit in systems that harm others.

We reject the idea that racism or oppression are conditions to be excused; they are choices and systems that must be unlearned and dismantled. Our role is to support those impacted by harm and to hold ourselves and each other accountable to a higher standard of equity, healing, and care.

As the Director of Peace of Mind Yoga, Counseling, and Wellness Center, I affirm our responsibility to stand firmly in support of human rights. Our mission is more than words; it is action. We call on everyone in our space to walk with us in this commitment, not with tolerance, but with full-hearted acceptance, allyship, and advocacy.

Kristina Silvestry (she/her) MA, NCC, LPC, ACS, CCTP, RYT
Director, Peace of Mind Yoga, Counseling, and Wellness Center