Making a Difference
At The SouLuna Project Inc., our impact is rooted in connection—connection to self, to community, and to the natural world. We have created healing-centered spaces that have supported youth and adults on their wellness journeys. Through nature-based retreats, breathwork, creative expression, and affinity group circles, we offer culturally affirming practices that nurture rest, reflection, and restoration. Our growing community of collaborators, facilitators, and participants continues to affirm what we know to be true: when people are given the space to heal, they become powerful agents of change in their lives and communities.
Our Response
Creating Solutions:
The Souluna Project is dedicated to:
- Expanding wellness and mental health support for youth through affinity groups, storytelling, and nature based healing experiences.
- Reducing burnout for educators, caregivers, and organizations.
- Reducing burnout and fostering well-being for educators, caregivers, and organizational teams.
- Providing inclusive, culturally responsive spaces for healing, growth, and connection.
- Strengthening organizational wellness with tailored workshops, experiences and facilitation.
- Creating opportunities for creative expression, reflection, and personal growth across all our services.
The Crisis
Key Statistics:
Youth Mental Health (NAMI):
- 1 in 4 youth have a diagnosed mental health condition; 28% received treatment.
- 65% feel comfortable discussing mental health with close contacts, but only 48% talk regularly with parents and 22% with friends.
- Only 34% seek mental health information from parents, 18% from friends, 8% from the internet, 7% from teachers/trusted adults, and 6% from social media.
- 1 in 5 youth experience a mental health disorder; over 50% go untreated.
Adult Mental Health (Mental Health America):
- It is estimated that more than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness (59.3 million in 2022; 23.1% of the U.S. adult population). Mental illnesses include many different conditions that vary in degree of severity, ranging from mild to moderate to severe.
- Over 5% reported serious suicidal thoughts; 2022 saw the highest recorded suicide deaths.
- Number of US adults living with anxiety: 42.5 million.
- Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental illnesses in America.
Educator Burnout:
- A 2024 survey of 1,479 teachers nationwide, 59% of respondents reported frequent job-related stress, 60% reported burnout, 22% reported difficulty coping, and 19% reported symptoms of depression (Doan et al., 2024)
- Almost one in four teachers reported “supporting my students’ mental health and well-being” as a top-ranked stressor in 2024 (Doan, et al., 2024).
BIPOC Communities:
- Systemic barriers worsen wellness inequities.
- People of Color are less likely to receive mental health services compared to those who are white. From 2008-2012 among adults with any mental illness, 46.3% of white adults received mental health services, compared with 41.6% of American Indian or Alaska Native (AIAN) adults, 30% of Black adults, 27% of Hispanic adults and 18.1% of Asian adults.
Frequently
Asked Questions
Curious about our organization?
What is The SouLuna Project Inc.?
The SouLuna Project Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) dedicated to advancing wellness equity, healing, and growth for youth and adults. We offer a range of customizable services, retreats, workshops, facilitations, circles, and nature and creativity based experiences that help people connect, grow, and foster community and holistic well-being.
What is our mission?
Our mission is to advance wellness equity by increasing awareness, access, and opportunities for healing. We empower individuals and organizations through nature based experiences, creative expression, and alternative wellness practices to cultivate resilience and belonging.
What services do we offer?
We offer wellness centered experiences for youth, adults, and organizations, designed to support emotional well-being and resilience through culturally grounded approaches, Our services focus on connection, growth, and holistic wellness, and include:
- Wellness retreats rooted in nature and community
- Affinity groups and healing circles
- Creative expression workshops (art, storytelling, movement)
- Healing-centered storytelling experiences
- Facilitations for teams and organizations
- Wellness experiences for schools and workplaces
- Leadership development for educators and changemakers
How do we address mental health challenges?
We provide inclusive, culturally responsive spaces that offer accessible alternatives to conventional mental health support. Many youth and adults face challenges with stress, anxiety, and emotional well-being, and our work helps bridge that gap with non-clinical, community-rooted healing experiences.
We also offer a sliding scale to ensure our services are accessible.
Our offerings focus on healing, resilience, and creativity, using nature based retreats, community storytelling, expressive arts, mindfulness practices, and affinity circles. These experiences support emotional well-being in inspiring, and affirming environments, helping participants reconnect with themselves, each other, and their communities.
We also offer a sliding scale to ensure our services are accessible.
Our offerings focus on healing, resilience, and creativity, using nature based retreats, community storytelling, expressive arts, mindfulness practices, and affinity circles. These experiences support emotional well-being in inspiring, and affirming environments, helping participants reconnect with themselves, each other, and their communities.
How can you support The SouLuna Project?
You can help expand access to healing and wellness by donating, partnering, or volunteering with us. Every contribution helps us offer restorative spaces to individuals and communities.
How do our workplace wellness services help?
Our retreats and workshops support individual healing by regulating the nervous system and relieving the effects of chronic stress and burnout. When people feel grounded and well, they bring clarity, compassion, and resilience back to their workplaces—helping to shape healthier, more connected cultures. With 80% of employees seeking mental health support at work (NAMI), we support the individual, recognizing change starts with self first.
Who founded The SouLuna Project?
Dr. Pilar Vázquez-Vialva, an educational leader and wellness advocate with over 24 years of experience, founded The SouLuna Project to address wellness disparities, burnout, and health and wellness inequities in schools, workplaces, and communities. Inspired by both her personal journey and professional experience, she creates healing-centered spaces that empower individuals and communities to reconnect and grow.