ELM COMMUNITY INSIGHT
AN ENGAGED MEDITATION COMMUNITY
We are a TheraVada Buddhist community based in New Haven, Connecticut that seeks to create an inclusive space for all to learn about and practice meditation
Please join us in person or online for Saturday, March 14.
About Elm Community Insight
Elm Community Insight was founded by Gina LaRoche and Lee Barbera in 2015 in Hamden, Connecticut, with the intention of creating a community in the Theravada tradition. In June 2019, the community voted to move to the New Haven Free Public Library, which graciously offered us space and has welcomed us. Elm Community Insight seeks to create an inclusive space for all to learn about and practice meditation, as a tool to start to “see things as they are”.
OUR Founder & Facilitators
We are a community based in New Haven, Connecticut that seeks to create an inclusive space for all to learn about and practice meditation
Lee Barbara, Co-Founder
As a Vietnam veteran dealing with post traumatic stress disorder Lee was introduced to Vipassana meditation in the late 70s and found a strong connection to the practice through the Veterans Yoga and Mindfulness Project in the mid 90s. His off the cushion practice centers on living mindfully from generosity and compassion. Lee is one of the co-leaders of the Saturday morning Elm Community Insight Sangha. He leads daily morning practice open to the public for free. He also teaches and leads Vipassana meditation for cancer survivors at the West Haven VA facility and at the VA Errera Community Care Center. Although currently on hiatus due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, he also teaches and leads Vipassana meditation at the New Haven Residential Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program."My aim is to help all of us on the path to awakening, ease the life of those who are suffering from the lack of basic necessities, social injustice and disenfranchisement."
Joy Burns, Facilitator
Joy was introduced to Vipassana in the mid-1990s while working in AIDS research and witnessing the deaths of many patients and friends. Subsequently, she participated in retreats at the Omega Institute, the Insight Meditation Society, Spirit Rock, the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, as well as having participated in three retreats with Thich Nhat Hanh, the first People of Color retreat at Garrison Institute, and two non-residential retreats with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.Joy has worked for more than 30 years as a physician assistant. For the past 15 years, she has worked in hematology and oncology at The Smillow Cancer Hospital. "The dharma invites each of us to fully experience the present moment and to recognize the interconnectedness of all beings. There are endless lists to memorize yet all any of us really need to know is the truth of suffering and the end of suffering."
Traci Hodes, Facilitator
Traci came to the Dharma through the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction doorway. Her first Mindfulness read was Jack Kornfield's book "The Wise Heart", and from there, her search for Sangha ensued. After living with life-long anxiety, meditation provided Traci a place to find refuge within her own heart, mind, and body.Traci is one of the co-leaders of Elm Community Insight, leading both daily morning meditations and Saturday Sangha. She facilitates mindfulness workshops within the Hamden community, with local school districts, and with Copper Beech Institute. Traci's mindfulness practice comes from a place of compassion, curiosity, and the finding of voice. She continues to study within the Insight tradition as well as non-dual lineages and Shamanism. Traci also has a private therapy practice in the Hamden community and brings all of these practices to her clients within the therapy setting. "I welcome all parts of our human-ness into the Sangha. May all beings be free from suffering and the causes and conditions of suffering."
ECI FACILITATORS'
MEDITATION and TALKS
Bringing you HERE through the breath
"Meditation is impossible for a person who lacks wisdom and wisdom is impossible for a person who does not meditate."
RESOURCES
All of these Sanghas or organizations provide sitting practice and are of the Insight tradition or the more secular Mindfulness tradition.
updated Feb 2026
Affirming and Affinity BIPOC Sits
-
Cambridge Insight Meditation Center (monthly and BIPOC affinity groups)
https://cambridgeinsight.org/what-we-offer/drop-in-programs/
-
Center for Mindful Self-Compassion (Thursday evening. Sign up in advance)
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScraA6Zb-IH5GYabq1-WBEw5fUCpwdbbil0kvhji5BrIj9hXA/viewform
-
Harlem Insight (weekly)
-
East Bay meditation (weeklycimcpoc@googlegroups.com)
POC sign up: https://poc.eastbaymeditation.org/
-
Spirit Rock BIPOC Voices (morning and evening, ongoing)
https://www.spiritrock.org/programs/drop-ins
-
Garrison Institute BIPOC Meditation Sangha (Thursdays from noon - 1 pm)
https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/a-virtual-sanctuary/bipoc-meditation-sangha/
-
Heartwood BIPOC
Monthly on Fridays 6—7pm(ET) POC practice with Rahil
Sign up form at:
-
New York Insight Insight Out Refuge Sangha
search in their monthly calendar: https://dev.nyimc.org/events/month/
LGBTQI+ Sits
-
Insight Meditation Center of Washington
https://events.imcw.org/event/?eventId=762
-
Cambridge Insight Meditation Center
https://cambridgeinsight.org/what-we-offer/drop-in-programs/
-
East Bay Meditation Center (Tuesday evenings, 7 pm)
https://alphabet.eastbaymeditation.org/
-
Center for Mindful Self-Compassion (First Sunday of the Month at 4:00 AM Pacific Time and Third Monday of the Month at 6:00 PM Pacific. Sign up in advance)
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSegx5sDGD5_UNWpLsJE9AKpq0Q-GqSD0vHcmaArbYicQvoqPg/viewform
Recovery from addiction
-
Recovery Dharma
Peer-led community unified by the potential in each of us to recover and find freedom from the suffering of addiction: https://recoverydharma.online
DONATE Donate donate
Elm Community Insight's sole source of income is via the practice of Dana. Dana is the ancient Buddhist practice of individuals developing their generosity through giving to others without expecting anything in return.
HOW DO I MAKE A DONATION?
Simply click on one of the two buttons below, all major credit and debit cards are accepted.
Once you click one of the buttons, you will have the option to make your contribution on a one-time basis or by automatic monthly donations. Pledging a monthly donation is convenient, easy, and generates a steady and dependable stream of support which allows for better budget planning.
WHAT ARE OUR REGULAR EXPENSES?
-
Expenses to support the training and development of our facilitators
-
support for the New Haven Free Public Library that provides our meeting space
-
support for New Haven area soup kitchens
-
support for our community members in need
WHAT ARE SPECIAL INITIATIVES?
From time to time we also solicit supplemental gifts designated for a special initiative that we cannot afford within our normal budget.
Currently, we are asking for extra help to:
-
feed the New Haven community in need
If you have a venmo account you can donate directly by scanning the qr code or clicking on it.
If you want to send a check by mail, please address it to:
Elm Community Insight
PO Box 6195
40 Putnam Avenue
Hamden, CT 06517
ELM COMMUNITY INSIGHT IS AN APPROVED CHARITY UNDER 501C3 SECTION OF THE IRS TAX CODE
Elm Community Board & Board Contact
Elm Community Insight is a
not-for-profit organization.
CONTACTS:
ECI BOARD MEMBERS:
-
Joseph Alling — President
-
Amy Tate — Secretary
-
Jorge A. Alfaro-Murillo — Treasurer
Members-At-Large
-
Erica Ando
-
Teresa Russo
-
Melanie Stengel
-
Annette Szczesiul
ETHICS COMMITTEE:
-
Gina LaRoche
-
David McCoy
-
An extra Sangha member outside of the Board per issue