James O'Sullivan

Hilary Kearns studied Social Science and Music at Stony Brook University, where she was also formerly introduced to the concept mindfulness over 10 years ago.  She is passionate about her own continued study of mindfulness and conscious living, as well as sharing that with others.  In addition to working with Missions Be, Hillary also teaches piano lessons.  She lives in Bay Shore with her husband and young daughter.

Karyn O’Beirne has worked as a corporate consultant for over 15 years, designing unique solutions for complex statutory financial reporting.  Karyn has trained corporate staff to use and master new software and technologies in a variety of roles for over 25 years.  Karyn has an undergraduate degree in Economics and Communications and received her MBA from Adelphi University.

While raising her family, Karyn ran for political office and later became interested in mindfulness and conscious living.  After training with a variety of teachers, Karyn wrote her own story Findings from the Hunting Party’s Scout, which was published in 2008.

Karyn is on the Advisory Committee of LIUUF, a non-profit organization that funds grass-roots social justice organizations on Long Island.  Often the treasurer of many organizations, Karyn now hopes to use her personal long term mindfulness practice to enhance the lives of people of all ages.  Karyn is a Mission Be mindfulness trainer and contributes to the editing of the curriculum for specific groups.

Lauren Levine, owner of Good Life Yoga, is an art, yoga and wellness educator. She is a Yoga Alliance registered 500 hour teacher and holds certificates in Yoga Ed.™, Trauma Yoga, personal training, and is thrilled to add Mindful Educator to her professional education. Lauren received her undergraduate degree in art history and studio art from SUNY New Paltz and her graduate degree in Art Education, with New York State Teacher Certification, from New York University. During her time at NYU, Lauren was fortunate to research and employ creative mindfulness; a synthesis of both yogic meditation and fine arts that she invented as a tool to help her young students foster non-judgmental sentience prior to artistic practice. Since the development of this practice, Lauren has implemented creative mindfulness with youth involved in the juvenile justice system through the non-profit organization, Artistic Noise. She continues to lead these programs while also exploring art teaching opportunitiesin the public school arena, in addition to programs through Good Life Yoga. Lauren also works as an adjunct professor of Hatha Yoga at Molloy College. As a teacher and student of art, yoga and meditation, Lauren realizes the complementary nature of the creative arts and mindfulness. She teaches her young students about the therapeutic nature of creating art, in conjunction with the importance of mindfulness and movement, as a means to foster physical health, social-emotional intelligence, interpersonal aptitude and social responsibility. Lauren is honored to be a part of the Mission Be community and looks forward sharing the gift of mindfulness through Mission Be’s invaluable programming!

Mary Gnieser is a licensed clinical social worker and co-owner of the Center for Soulful Living, a holistic health and wellness psychotherapy practice in Commack, NY. As an undergraduate, Mary studied at the University of Maryland, College Park and received her Masters in Social Work at Adelphi University.

Mary is a warm, intuitive and compassionate therapist who uses a creative holistic approach to engage adults, adolescents and children in the therapeutic alliance. Mary also facilitates groups at the Center for Soulful Living, for children experiencing parental separation and divorce and teaches mindfulness to group participants as part of the group experience. Mary has a passion for working with children and adolescents which she has carried forth from her prior experience at Madonna Heights School in Dix Hills, NY and the Child Mobile Unit/Smithtown Pederson-Kreg Center.

Mary is excited to be a Mindful Educator for Mission Be. Bringing mindfulness to our children and adolescents in the public school system through Mission Be is beautifully aligned with Mary’s own personal desire to bring all she gained from her own mindful practice to others.

Meghan Lambert embodies a combination of professional school counseling experience, community mindfulness activism, and a deep commitment to yoga practice and wellness. Co-creator and organizer of Be the Peace Long Island, Meghan initiated and organized a meditation event that took place on the Fire Island National Seashore on the International Day of Peace this past September. Academically, Meghan holds a degree in Communications from Fairfield University and a Master of Science in school counseling from Long Island University where she graduated with high honors. Passionate about health, wellness and education, Meghan has studied and practices mindfulness. She is enthusiastic about Mission Be, and committed to its vision.

As a counselor Meghan provided academic, emotional and social guidance for students at the middle and high school levels. Her focus and specialty is social emotional literacy (SEL), a course of action aligned with the vision of Mission Be, which empowers young people to  be able to handle emotions in a way that increases their personal power and improves the quality of life around them as they move through the toils and triumphs of adolescence.

Part of Meghan’s creative side finds its outlet in designing and creating jewelry inspired by the shells and other natural materials that surface on her beach combing expeditions. The most fulfilling creative aspect of Meghan’s life lies in the daily nurture and care of her two young children, and the delight she and her husband derive from bearing privileged witness to the miracle of young minds blossoming.

Meghan is a Mission Be Mindful Educator and editor of our written materials.

Midge Leavey is the owner and founder of Miss Midgies Preschool. Midge has been teaching and supervising a wonderful staff of Early Childhood Educators since ‘2000. Her passion to educate children in school and self-worth led her to write a children’s book. The Missing Mommy Cure (helps relieve separation anxiety) was published in April 2013. Her book won an award shortly after it was published at the New York Book Festival. She is also a proud member of the LIAWS (Long Island Author and Writers Society).

Midge also enjoys motivating others. Therefore, she started her own Networking Group in 2011. The C2B Networking group is comprised of men and women following their dreams. The group encourages success, motivation, problem solving and friendship.

Natalie Gmora Holds a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from the Drama Therapy Program at The California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, and a Bachelors Degree in Theatre from Binghamton University. Natalie maintains a successful career as a children and adolescent freelance drama teacher, playwright and director. Participated in an anti- bullying program utilizing Playback Theatre called “No Bully”. Under the supervision of Registered Drama Therapist, Armand Volkas, created and led a “Progressive Parenting” workshop to facilitate creative means of exploring child rearing strategies that enhance a child’s ability to be open minded, self-confident, tolerant and compassionate. Natalie consistently leads Drama Therapy groups for children and adolescents focusing on topics such as: Social Skills, Divorce Support, Anger Management, and Drama Therapy for children with Pervasive Developmental Disorder. She is passionate about health and wellness as a preventative form ofmedicine and a lifestyle that promotes happiness and successful relationships. Natalie also writes and performs songs on the spot about various poignant topics. She is enthusiastic about this project and feels fully committed to its purposes.

Natalie will be assisting in creating the assembly, as well as the drama therapy workshops.

Rosemary Marcaccio is an energetic, dynamic therapist and co-founder of The Center for Soulful Living in Commack, NY.  Rosemary proudly co-facilitates this holistic health and wellness psychotherapy practice where she uses her dedication and competence to help individuals and families to improve their quality of life.  She brings a wealth of knowledge and evidence based practice from her history of working as The Director of the Residential Treatment Facility at Madonna Heights in Dix Hills, NY and as a child and family specialist at The Child Treatment Program in Smithtown, NY.

Rosemary uses a warm and validating approach to help people to connect with themselves in an intimate way.  This ultimately helps them to shift away from choices that no longer serve them toward a more mindful, conscious approach to life.  Rosemary holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from S.U.N.Y. Stony Brook and a Bachelor of Science degree from Manhattan College.  She is a Field Liaison adjunct professor at Adelphi University School of Social Work where she supports and challenges students of social work at the master’s level.  Helping people to learn to love themselves in action is a passion for Rosemary and teaching mindfulness to children aligns with everything she believes.

Tracy Zizza holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology, a Masters degree in Secondary Education, a Professional Certificate in School Administration. She began her career as a science teacher in the West Babylon Junior High School. After the birth of her first child, she took a leave of absence to raise her children. She returned to the working world as an employee of BioProtection Services.

She has a great passion for health and wellness and practices it in every way throughout her daily life. She feels extremely blessed that she is able to use her passion in her career each day. She is passionate about educating herself and her family in the healthiest lifestyle possible and implement it their daily lives.

Tracy is happily married to Jason Zizza and together they have three beautiful children. She strives to educate her  family be lifelong learners in all the goodness that our world has to offer.

Tracy is a Mindful Educator with Mission Be.

Heather Simonson, LMSW, ERYT-200, RPYT, RCYT, LSW, and AASECT-Certified Sexuality Educator, is the founder of Sexuality Education and Counseling Services, an organization that empowers others to help build the foundation needed to embrace sexuality with pride and in a positive light. She is also the Founder and Director of The Yoga Womb, Long Island’s first Yoga Alliance-approved prenatal yoga center.

Previously, Heather was the Director of Training and Education, where she established the agency’s first parent education program. She also oversaw their award-winning prevention-through-the-arts program, as well as their male Latino outreach. She has since created Long Island’s leading parent education program.

Heather is nationally known as a trainer and counselor, and she provides educational workshops in schools and for community-based organizations, works as a corporate consultant, and shares her services with other professionals.

Heather will be coordinating the mindful education implementation and will assist in writing the curriculum for other classroom workshops.

Erin McManus earned her Body Centered/Somatic Psychology master’s degree from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado and her undergraduate degree in Exercise Physiology from Arizona State University. She specializes in promoting body-centered practices that integrate awareness and mindfulness, as well as intrapersonal and interpersonal connections. Erin taught Mindful Movement and Mediation at Cornell University. She is a Nutrition and Wellness Consultant. Erin received her yoga certification from Shoshoni Eldorado Mountain Ashram and adores teaching yoga for the last 10 years to all ages.

 Erin is a Mindful Educator with Mission Be.