Contract Your Next Workshop or Training With BFGP
Trainings & Workshops
Our training and workshops fall under two classifications: Brain Food Garden Project Presents or BFGP Presents: Feeding Our Mental Health. Under the Brain Food Garden Project Presents label, we offer a wide variety of Mental Health peer-related recovery and advocacy topics. Our most recent workshops under this label have been Peer Leadership Through Public Speaking: Using Your Voice to Support Your Community & Create Positive Change a two-hour workshop created for the Urban Justice Center's Systems Advocacy 10-week program. Self-Advocacy Understanding the Power of Your Own Voice, and Red, White, Blue, and YOU: Understanding When to Vote, What You Believe In, and Your Rights both created for Baltic Street AEH, Inc. Also, under this label, we offer the first-of-its-kind training to restaurant professionals, management, and line staff, Nourishing a Culture of Care: Peer-Led Approaches for Mental Wellbeing in Restaurants
Under the BFGP Presents: Feeding Our Mental Health label, we develop community and behavioral health peer-centric training related to Brain Food Garden Projects’ mission statement: "To promote constructive and person-centered conversations in the mental health community and beyond, regarding mindful eating and gardening as viable and important tools for behavioral health recovery." Our first training under this label was a six-hour training for the Community Access peer training program Howie the Harp Advocacy Center titled Food Justice, Food as Medicine, Shopping & Budgeting for Mindful Eating. Also, two workshops were developed and presented in 2024 for InUnity Alliance formerly known as The Coalition for Behavioral Health, these workshops were commissioned to focus on two central themes: A Healing Garden for Behavioral Health, and Food Justice, Food as Medicine, and the Power of Mindful Eating.
Endorsements
Gisele Villares, BFGP Presents: Feeding Our Mental Health Workshop participant
As a girl who grew up in Sunset Park, Brooklyn I never thought of city farming as a means of healing. At “feeding our mental health” I learned that city farming is a reachable, doable, possible, beneficial and beautiful way to heal, connect with others, and grow your own vegetation. When I learned about the importance of urban agriculture I felt inclined to learn more about how urban gardeners are impacting the environment and economy. I am learning about the different ways that Brain Food Garden Project is impacting the mental health community. I could say a “seed” was “planted” in my head.
Isaac Brown Healing Arts & Community Center
January 2024
Melissa Miccio, BFGP Presents: Feeding Our Mental Health Workshop participant
The fundamental holistic goal of Brain Food Garden Project is that of fostering wellness in the mental health community through mindfulness in action. It has taught me of the deep connection between self-compassion— in what I take into my body in order to embrace mental wellbeing— and the sense of community that arises when we strive, quite literally, to sow the seeds and of the foods that heal us. This project is fertile in more ways than one!
Isaac Brown Healing Arts & Community Center
May 2023
E. Rose Tramantano, BFGP Presents: Feeding Our Mental Health Workshop participant
I am writing in support of the Brain Food Garden Project and the positive impact the project has on the Peer Community. Sean Brennan was passionate, educated and compassionate when speaking of the importance of food in one’s recovery journey. Mr. Brennan effectively engaged with the group of trainees, allowing for inquisitive questions, stimulating conversations and most importantly, there was a consensus of true understanding of the power of food choices in mental health and recovery. Over the course of the presentation, Mr. Brennan presented multiple options for engaging with our future participants, all in efforts to promote healthy eating. In addition, the conversation surrounding how working in a garden can be healing for some experiencing distressing moments in their recovery. Mr. Brennan opened our minds to a new concept that can aid in our own personal journey and well as benefit those we will be working with in a Peer capacity.
Without reservation, I support the mission and values of Brain Food Garden Project.
Community Access, Howie the Harp Advocacy Center
Peer Training Program/Class of 2024
Madonna Heertjes, BFGP Presents: Feeding Our Mental Health Workshop participant
We all know that healthy food is good for you. To actually learn what all those foods are (or against popular belief are not), but also why (and why not), is a whole different ball game. Learning together and gaining insight through active participation does more than simply being told. This also goes for sharing and learning from each other's knowledge and experiences, which is very much encouraged. Combine all this, and you are experiencing mental nourishment in more ways than one, which makes these workshops not only a want, but most definitely also a need.
Isaac Brown Healing Arts & Community Center
Zoom participant from the Netherlands
March 2020
Laurie Vite, Co-Director of the Isaac Brown Healing Arts & Community Center
I wanted to create an indoor garden space at the Baltic Street Wellness Solutions Community Resource and Wellness Center as well as introduce educational programming around food and its effects on brain health for our participants (Now renamed the Isaac brown Healing Arts & Community Center). The Baltic Street Center is a drop in Center operated by mental health peers with lived expertise for the NYC community. Our focus is on holistic and person-centered recovery. I had heard Sean Brennan’s Brain Food Garden Project had built an outdoor garden space for an adult housing program in Queens, NY and asked if he would work with our program in Brooklyn. He agreed, assisting in creating a weekly garden club for participants and implementing his Feeding Our Mental Health workshops once a week creating a conversation with participants around how our food choices affect our mental health. The program he created has been well received by the Center’s participants and we are grateful our partnership with Brain Food Garden Project has continued to grow."
December 2019
Mary Paganelli, Founder/Editorial Director, Native Foodways Magazine
I am so very impressed with your initiative Brian Food Garden Project. Having worked for many years with an at-risk population on the Tohono O'odham Nation, I am deeply familiar with the vital role that food and gardening play in revitalizing health and self- esteem.
Our publication celebrates the work that is taking place to restore health through traditional foods in Native American communities nationwide and showcases positive, life=affirming programs. Your program Brain Food Garden Project, has provided us with "food for thought" and we whole-heartedly support your efforts.
November 2014
Also, to inquire about Sean speaking at your next panel discussion, conference, or event, email brainfoodgp@gmail.com
“My intent is to do well, be well, and speak for those who feel like their own voices aren’t being heard. This is what keeps my personal demons at bay.”
-Sean Brennan-