mindful service

The need was present and abundantly clear.

The passion to address the need was present and clear as well.

The question, though, was, How? How do you provide people the resources to stand steady amidst the cacophony and turbulence of the times? How do you create a mindset that enables them to perform their best? How do you help them find balance? How do you help them find peace?

The answer, in part, is the Peavey Project, for several years a dream but now a reality. The idea for the organization, which is designed to teach mindfulness to individuals and groups, began several years ago with discussions between Collin McConaghy, the director of Collegiate’s Summer Quest program, and his associate Jake McDonald.

Both are certified mindfulness instructors. Both have worked closely with and draw inspiration from Alex Peavey, who arrived on North Mooreland Road in 2004, headed the boys basketball program and assisted with lacrosse, served as Upper School counselor, and established Collegiate’s mindfulness curriculum.

A trusted and beloved friend and colleague, Peavey was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in 2017 and stepped back from his Collegiate duties in 2018 though he has continued to be a presence on campus and throughout the community.

“A lot of my research from graduate school (sports leadership program at VCU) had been in peak performance,” said McDonald, a 2007 Collegiate graduate who joined the faculty in 2015. “Alex, Collin, and I had a common interest of exploring how we can really, effectively understand (mindfulness) practice and teach the skill to enhance and expand the wellbeing and performances of ourselves and, most important, those around us.”

Peavey’s departure created a void. With his guidance, McDonald and McConaghy intensified their efforts to become further certified so that they could continue his legacy both with both freshman mindfulness and senior-level mindful leadership as well as spreading the message to those who expressed interest.

“For us, our passion has been partnered with a pursuit of knowledge,” McDonald said. “How can we get this very researched-backed, scientifically-proven practice and package it in a way that’s most tangible for people?  I think a misconception is that you have to be in a loincloth on top of a mountain to meditate. That’s not the case. We’ve worked with a lot of students and teachers and parents from time to time. From there, it’s been, Wow! The need is great.”

McDonald and McConaghy, with Peavey’s mentorship, have partnered with Summit Emotional Health, the Cameron Gallagher Foundation, and the Innerwork Center to enhance their community presence and reach a wider audience. 

“The more we were able to train and the more skilled we became, the more confident we became to fill in the gaps,” McDonald said. “We sponged off the information we learned from Alex, learned our own information, and then communicated it.”

Then came the pandemic. 

“That exposed how reactive we are specific to mental health in our country,” McDonald said. “Our hope is to be part of the solution, to help people heal and also empower people to grow.”

This past spring, McDonald took part in a book club of Collegiate graduates from around the country and conducted via Zoom.  During a break from the intensity of the reading and discussion of contemporary social issues, he conducted a four-week mindfulness program for the participants.

The experience was very real and powerful for instructor and pupils, several of whom requested that he share his expertise with their teams at work. More requests followed. The support was affirming, but McDonald, with administrative, coaching, and family responsibilities, quickly found himself overextended. Something had to give, and he made the decision to step away from Collegiate to manage the organization.

“Fund raising, programming, merchandising, app design, and everything in between,” he said. “We want to create a platform to allow us to do as much good as we can and continue Alex’s legacy.”

What will The Peavey Project look like?

In addition to organizational duties, Jake will work with individual clients, corporate groups, and athletic teams.

The plan, ultimately, has two components, “Fight & Smile” and “Help the Helper.”  Both are mantras which Peavey has articulated over the years.

The former reflects his words, actually a rallying cry, to the boys lacrosse team following his diagnosis. 

 “Fight & Smile is a curriculum for any team (athletic or otherwise) that’s looking to elevate their mental performance and access that zone state,” McDonald said. “These are tools we wish we had when we were playing.”

The latter reflects Alex’s selfless, pay-it-forward approach to his health challenges and is geared toward serving those who serve others.

“There’re so many people within our society who are exhausting themselves for the betterment of others,” McDonald said. “Our hope is to teach and bring mindfulness to those people as a tool for enhanced wellbeing and to provide the energy source that fuels them. The goal, really, is to carry on the passion that Alex has and we have. If anything, we’re trying to amplify all the great things that he’s done.”