Episode 1: Robin Casarjian of the Lionheart Foundation

Robin Casarjian, M.A. is the Founder and Director of the Lionheart Foundation and its National Emotional Literacy Projects. She is an educator, public speaker, writer, and consultant. In developing and implementing programming for prisoners and youth-at-risk, she draws from her experience as director of a school for at-risk adolescents, as well as extensive experience in education, stress management training, psychotherapy and administration. She is author of Forgiveness: A Bold Choice for a Peaceful Heart (Bantam, 1992) and Houses of Healing: A Prisoner’s Guide to Inner Power and Freedom (Lionheart Press, 1995), and co-author, with Bethany Casarjian, Ph.D., of Power Source: Taking Charge of Your Life (Lionheart Press, 2003). Lionheart provides: exceptional quality rehabilitative resources to be used directly by prisoners,at-risk adolescents and teen parents resources and training for professionals who work with these populations in a prevention, rehabilitation and re-entry capacity; and direct emotional literacy education programs for adults in prison; at-risk youth in juvenile institutions and public and private programs and schools; and at-risk teen parents in shelters, hospitals, social service agencies, schools and other community programs. Lionheart also conducts public education on the need for transforming our nation’s prisons and juvenile institutions into places where nurturing emotional (re)habilitation, inspiring positive values, and imparting behavior patterns necessary for healthy functioning in our communities are primary goals. Lionheart Values: Justice (Restorative) Supporting the emotional health of people who have been marginalized so that they can unmask their potential and live productive lives. Excellence Creating and producing exceptional quality resources and delivering outstanding programs and trainings to serve our target populations. Competence Identifying a vast array of programs and institutions and effectively getting our resources to those they are intended to serve. Generosity Assuring exposure to Lionheart’s resources through free nationwide distribution, knowing that without it only a tiny fraction of those who could benefit would be given the opportunity.