The Holistic Life Foundation (HLF) is a Baltimore-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to nurturing the wellness of children and adults in underserved communities. HLF is run by BiPOC and demonstrates a deep commitment to learning, community, and stewardship of the environment.

Established through social entrepreneurship in response to the need for mental health services in underserved communities in Baltimore, HLF currently works with 5,000+ Baltimore City Public School students on a weekly basis. The organization's goal is to improve social, community, educational, and emotional outcomes in low-income, underserved communities by providing multi-faceted programming that empowers youth, families, and adults through yoga, mindfulness, and human and environmental health.

HLF's socio-emotional behavioral curriculum encourages youth and young adults to develop their inner lives through yoga, mindfulness, conflict resolution, teamwork, restorative practices, self-care, and to appreciate the value of learning, community, and stewardship of the environment.

Founded in 2001 by brothers Ali Smith and Atman Smith and their good friend from college, Andres Gonzalez, HLF began teaching yoga and mindfulness practices to at-risk youth in their community. Since then, the organization has expanded to teaching private and group classes to students of all ages, demographics, and levels of experience. They have authored and piloted two curriculums, as well as many workshops and training sessions. HLF teaches their own unique blend of many styles of yoga, mindfulness, and other self-healing practices.

Since its inception, HLF has served more than 100,000+ youth and adults through yoga, mindfulness, and environmental-based programs and trauma-informed training. The organization is also committed to developing high-quality evidence-based programs and curriculum to improve community well-being. These programs have been facilitated in many different settings, including schools, detention centers, drug treatment centers, mental illness facilities, recreation centers, group homes, colleges, senior centers, and wellness centers across the nation.

90% of HLF’s original mentoring cohort graduated from high school, and 100% are in school or working.

HLF has been recognized locally, nationally, and internationally, and their innovative and effective work has been featured in multiple media outlets, including nationwide print, television, radio, and podcasts, including Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News, PBS, Mindful Magazine, Yoga Journal, CNN, CBS, O the Oprah Magazine, and The Washington Post, to name a few.

HLF has achieved worldwide success and accolades through diligence, professionalism, skill, and authenticity. Our Mindful Leaders embody these virtues and practice what they teach daily with the HLF senior staff. They hone their mind and body to be highly effective pillars of change within the community through the practice of mindfulness and yoga.

In 2022, HLF created a multi-year strategic plan and began working with the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) to expand to other underserved areas across the United States. CGI works with established organizations to develop Commitments to Action to address climate resilience, health equity, and inclusive economic recovery and growth. Aligned with health equity, our goal is to implement our Mindful Moment program in a minimum of five new cities by the end of 2023 and the potential cities include: Madison, Richmond, Philadelphia, Dallas, Denver, Chicago and Buffalo.

The Holistic Life Foundation's vision is to continue creating a generation of healthy, supported, mindful students with the knowledge, access, and support to be successful in life.