Joanne O.S. Kelly

As a karma yogi and firm believer in civic responsibility, Joanne established an unregistered nonprofit called Project Surya.

Under this banner, Joanne brings yoga to under-served communities, fund-raises for meaningful purposes, plans community events and brings yogis together for Sun Salutation dedications.  She recently received a scholarship from Yoga Journal for her efforts in providing free yoga classes to groups in need.

Her work under the Project Surya name includes . . .

Yoga for At Risk Youth

• Working with TMM Family Services in Tucson, Arizona, Project Surya provided weekly yoga classes for abused youth living in half-way homes.
• Students at Brookview Preschool in Tallaght, Ireland participated in two yoga workshops as a part of their movement curriculum.
• Yoga and English classes at Parmarth Niketan School for Boys in Rishikesh, India.

Yoga for Native Populations

• Project Surya is currently designing a program free for Native Hawaiians integrating the ancient health and healing wisdom of Hawaiian and yogic techniques.
• August, 2011 – Gratitude Offering: Yoga on the Omonho Reservation, Nebraska

Japan Aishteru

• To raise awareness about the Japan earthquake and tsunamis of 2011, Project Surya organized an offering of 108 Sun Salutations on the shores of Abu Dhabi
• Participants were sponsored by private donors and raised $2500 for Direct Relief International
• The event was featured on the front page of the Gulf News, the UAE’s largest English newspaper

Kashi Ganga Cleanup

• To raise awareness about the pollution problem along Varanasi’s River Ganga, Project Surya organized a karma yoga day
• 500 people participated and were featured in the Hindustan Times, Gandiv Daily, Aaj, Dainik Jagran, Compact, Hindustan (Hindi), Sahara, STV, KTV, City Channel
• Sister organizations signed a Declaration of Commitment to ensure the future health and cleanliness of the city
  Pioneer

Project Surya also worked with Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest to deliver nine classes of specialized yoga classes per week to three government subsidized housing locations in Tucson. Participants included seniors, veterans, people of low-socio economic backgrounds and the disabled.

Previous volunteer efforts include:

Member and Public Relations Director - Best Buddies, MA

• Recruit Tufts University volunteers to match with Medford neighbors who have special mental and physical needs
• Foster relationships between members and their buddies by  coordinating program excursions and activities