Meet Jouvanna ‘JoJo’ Brame: CMP’s Summer Intern!
“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.” — Rumi
Writing about myself doesn’t come easily. I often wish I could hand the job over to a journalist—someone who could shine a light on my work without me having to say a word. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that storytelling—especially your own—can be a powerful act of presence and that is what Community Mindfulness Project (CMP) represents.
I first encountered CMP last summer during Norwalk ACTS’ Social Emotional Learning Day of Training. The day began with a mindfulness session, and for a few quiet minutes, I was fully present—aware of my breath, grounded in my body, and connected to the moment. The experience stayed with me. I looked up the organization as soon as I could, inspired by how something so simple could feel so meaningful. CMP’s mission to share mindfulness practices in accessible ways immediately resonated with me.
When I saw the opportunity to apply for CMP’s Marketing and Operations Internship, I didn’t hesitate. I was drawn not only to the work but to the why behind it. As someone who strives to move through life with intention, I felt a natural alignment with CMP’s values.
Much of my work is shaped by curiosity and community. Over the past several months, I’ve served as a CARE Health Leader through Bridgeport Prospers’ Cradle to Career initiative, developing a project focused on resilience and trauma-informed care. Through this work, I was introduced to the Community Resilience Model (CRM), a framework that explores the biological, emotional, and social dimensions of stress and healing. It deepened my interest in how mindfulness and resilience intersect—how they co-exist as vital tools for well-being, particularly in underserved and marginalized communities.
Now, as I began my time with CMP this, I’m researching the science of mindfulness while simultaneously continuing to share the resilience project with as many communities as possible. Soon, I’ll begin training to become a certified Community Resilience Model teacher.
My hope is to create safe, supportive spaces for nonprofits, educators, frontline workers, and others to explore how grounded, resilient individuals can lead to healthier, more connected communities. Because before we can care for others, we must first learn how to care for ourselves.
JoJo Brame is a Norwalk, CT native with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Writing from Loyola University Maryland. While in college, she founded and hosted a mental health conference focused on education and resources for communities of color—a reflection of her early commitment to equity and care.
After graduating, JoJo moved to Memphis, TN to pursue work in behavioral health. There, she supported both youth and adults through individual and group care in diverse settings including hospitals, in-home services, and residential treatment centers. Her direct experience with the long-term impacts of untreated mental distress—including anxiety, depression, and gaps in access to care—motivated her to transition into the nonprofit and community health sector, where she’s worked for the past two years. Her passion for service, however, began long before—in her teenage years.
Outside of her professional work, JoJo is a self-published poet. Her writing has been featured in Harness Magazine and The Brazen Collective, and she is set to release her first full-length poetry book, to my friend, sincerely, later this year. JoJo lives in Bridgeport, CT and in her free time, she enjoys binge-watching thriller and mystery shows, discovering new restaurants, listening to music, and exploring art museums.