What We Are About
 

The Center for Sustainable Change Emerges from 25 years of work in schools, communities and organizations, applying an understanding of the Principles of Mind, Consciousness and Thought—and of innate, non-conditional resiliency. Our President, Roger C. Mills, Ph.D., author of Realizing Mental Health: Toward a New Psychology of Resiliency, is recognized globally as a leader in his work with inner-city communities, and in the social services. Director Ami Chen Naim, author of The Spark Inside: A Special Book for Youth, has applied an understanding of "the principles" to her work with children, youth and the "ecologies" in which they live, for the last 15 years. Their combined efforts have led to adoption of a principles-based psychology in schools and school districts, community organizations, neighborhoods and housing projects, county governments, and correctional facilities across the state, the country and internationally.

 

Mission
The Center for Sustainable Change works to promote an understanding of universal principles underlying human change, and the innate capacity for wisdom and well-being. We do this in order to alleviate human suffering and contribute to a more harmonious global community.

 

Specifically, we teach educators, youth-service workers, communities and families how to engage the innate resilience—the natural human capacity for learning, creativity, compassion, common sense and well-being—in the youth they teach and care for, and in themselves … to become outstanding positive role models for our children.

 

"The best thing for me is the simplicity of the Principles." 
–Matt Kulis, administrator, Court and County Schools
San Francisco, CA

 

Goals
We are dedicated to establishing and disseminating a Principles-based, or innate resilience psychology in the fields of prevention, education, school psychology, and juvenile justice; and in youth-serving community organizations. We reach our youngest generations, grounding them in their own resilience, and contributing to their abilities to see others with understanding and compassion. These youth will go on to comprise a global society that is more peaceful and constructive, less violent, less conflicted and less afflicted with mental distress, stress and dis-ease.

 

Milestones/Accomplishments

 

  • Modello/Homestead Gardens Housing Project, Dade County, Florida. Over 50 percent improvements in employment levels, school attendance, parent/school involvement, decreased criminal activity and school disciplinary actions, as documented in Modello: A Story of Hope for the Inner City and Beyond. Project featured on Today Show. Book wins Martin Luther King Storyteller’s Award for exemplifying the "beloved community." 1987-1990, book award, 2001.
  • Oakland’s Coliseum and Lockwood Gardens, CA. Homicides ceased from highest in city, and remained at zero for ten years. Violent crimes dropped 45 percent. Assaults with firearms down 38 percent. Trainee, police officer Jerry Williams, wins California Peace Prize. Early 1990’s.
  • Fresno, CA. Significant, positive impacts on depression and "negative affective states" in housing project as documented by Mark Borg, Ph.D. in dissertation. Mid 1990’s.
  • Santa Clara County (Silicon Valley), CA. CSC President Dr. Mills helps establish "3 Principles Services Division" in county’s Drug and Alcohol Services Division. Director Ami Chen Naim serves for eight years in various roles, including "Lead Trainer" and consultant to division’s Leadership Team—and leads Community Facilitator Training program. This division now teaches 3 Principles psychology to county staff across departments (including county supervisors); inmates in county corrections; juveniles in Juvenile Hall, and boys and girls correctional ranches; residents of sober living environments and homeless shelters. 3 Principles Services has now trained juvenile probation staff, the executive team and director. CSC staff involvement: 1994-2008.
  • Visitacion Valley, San Francisco. Dr. Mills spearheads Visitacion Valley Community Resiliency Project, attracting over $2 million in foundation funding with assistance from the Pottruck Family Foundation. During the time frame of this project, homicides decrease in this neighborhood, while increasing in the rest of San Francisco. Concurrent with innate resiliency training at Visitacion Valley Middle School, attendance increases to 98 percent, school most improved in city, principal wins Principal of the Year Award. (Wider outcomes documented in external evaluator Melanie Moore’s report.) 1996-2005.
  • National Community Resiliency Project, Des Moines, IA. CSC staff (and others) provide community and facilitator trainings, collaborating with the 3 Principles Network there, and help galvanize school-wide training at Callanan Middle School and Carver Elementary School, resulting in significant positive shifts in school culture; as well as at social service agencies across Des Moines. A Rand-developed health survey administered through one of Des Moines’ largest employers shows Three Principles training achieving significant positive impacts on health-related measures at six-month follow up. 2006 to present.

 

Recent work, San Francisco, CA: SF School District, Court and County Schools, Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice. 2006 to present.

 

  • Several presentations and trainings for MOCJ grantees, leading to enrollment in two Facilitator Training programs held in Visitacion Valley and at the Principals School site. (Funding from San Francisco Foundation & MOCJ)
  • Small group, two-day trainings for all staff and administrators of Court and County schools (Funding from MOCJ)
  • Two day, all staff training for Court and County Schools, held at Principals School site (Funding from San Francisco School District)

 

Some SF participant comments: "Subtle, powerful, impactful and gentle." … "Calm, intuitive trainers." … "Ami and Roger imparted knowledge from a calm, deep, nurturing state."… "The best thing was seeing the staff learning together and cooperating or functioning at a very high level. I came to appreciate everyone more." … "I got in touch with how mental health is innate and present in all of us. Wisdom is present in all of us."

 

For documentation or further information about of any of these projects and/or outcomes, or to learn about current CSC activities and services, please contact the Center for Sustainable Change at (650) 424-0705.

 

For further information about a 3 Principles Psychology, please see the many of works of Mr. Sydney Banks, including: The Missing Link, The Enlightened Gardener, Second Chance, and more. Audio-visual materials by Mr. Banks are available at Lone Pine Publishing.