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NOTE - Members of EJP's Mindfulness Discussion Group are not compensated.
Due November 15, 2026 for participation starting Winter/Spring 2026-27.
What is Mindfulness Discussion Group (MDG)?
The MDG program aims to build a positive co-created community of mindfulness meditation learners. In this community, we uphold a holistic approach to learning, thus reading and discussing scholarly text is accompanied with the practice and discussion of mindfulness meditation during each meeting. After earning the Mindfulness Discussion Group (MDG) Facilitation Certificate, inside members may pursue the 16-week teaching experience for the Certificate for Education Studies through The University of Illinois from within MDG.
MDG meets on Thursday evenings from 5-8pm at Danville Correctional Center (DCC) including winter, spring, and summer break. To make our travel to Danville more pleasant and efficient we carpool, leaving around 4pm and returning around 9pm. About 10-15 EJP students participate in MDG each semester. Joining MDG would mean you are committing to attending our MDG meetings at DCC twice per month unless exceptions have been arranged with the coordinators.
What would your responsibilities be as a member of MDG?
Daily - Maintain your personal meditation practice.
Monthly - Attend at least one MDG meeting as well as prepare and facilitate the MDG meeting's activities as delegated (e.g., leading reading discussions, guiding meditations, etc.).
Read materials for MDG meetings (usually one chapter per week, though it is only necessary to read the material for the week you plan to attend)
Attend a 1-hour MDG program planning meeting.
At least once per year - Participate in EJP outside of MDG activities, (we will share more about these when we meet for training).
Ongoing/Varies - Stay on top of EJP & MDG communication efforts (e.g., reading/replying to emails regarding MDG, writing and posting MDG meeting summaries on an online platform called "BambooHR" when assigned, reading EJP BambooHR reports as appropriate).
Assisting with SMART goals. This can mean as little as sharing thoughts/opinions on the goals for the year, and as much as researching materials to add to MDG's library collection. Your level of participation with this is up to you.
Beyond these responsibilities, we also expect our members to:

• Uphold an inclusive MDG community culture.
• Embody the core attitudes of mindfulness (e.g., kindness, curiosity, openness, nonjudgment) throughout all MDG activities.
• Help us think boldly and creatively about the MDG program!

What kind of prior experience do we anticipate from our MDG member applicants?
Required experience:

1. Personal Meditation Practice - We expect our members to possess and maintain a sincere personal meditation practice that includes daily meditation practice.

Preferred experience (however, don't let these keep you from applying!):

1. Group Facilitation Skills - Experience leading small groups in a learning environment (e.g., teaching at a school or university, in courses you have taken, leading therapy-related groups, facilitating small church discussion groups, or other group facilitation experience where there is open dialogue and perhaps sensitive topics are discussed and facilitated by you).
2. Formal Meditation Training/Experience - Experience taking formal mindfulness meditation classes such as an 8-week/20-hour secular meditation class, or regular attendance with a meditation group within a particular tradition for at least 6 months (e.g., Prairie Sangha, Prairie Zen Center). If you haven't done one of these options, we can talk about how you can get this experience in a way that is accessible to you!

Please apply!
All applications are welcome. However, because EJP aims to create a supportive learning environment for our incarcerated students, we especially encourage applications from individuals whose backgrounds align with those of our students. This includes members of racial minority groups, first-generation degree holders, and individuals from low socioeconomic status backgrounds. Please note that the educational offices are on the second floor of the prison and that there is no elevator.
We regret that, according to current Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) practice, if you are formerly incarcerated within Illinois or are actively visiting a friend or family who is incarcerated in IDOC, it is unlikely that IDOC will approve your clearance application.
Please complete the online application, which you can access by clicking the "Apply for this Job" button in the top right corner. We realize this language may be confusing. Working with MDG is a non-compensated position, not a part-time job. Unfortunately, our platform does not allow us to change the word "job."
After we receive your application form, we will contact you to discuss your application. Those who are accepted to work with MDG will be required to complete an application by the Illinois Department of Corrections that is required to gain approval to enter the prison, a training session at Danville Correctional Center, and a half-day EJP training session on campus. This clearance process can take anywhere from 2-6 months, on average. Thank you, again. We look forward to receiving your application.
Questions?
If you would like to talk to someone about MDG prior to applying please email the MDG coordinator, Jessica Augustson, at jaugust2@illinois.edu.