The Luminous Minds Project is a left-leaning organization that provides training and conducts advocacy efforts surrounding mental health and education issues. The organization was created in 2014 by Jodie Knowles, a self-described “Trauma Informed Strategic Intervention Coach” and offers consulting and coaching sessions to a variety of schools and organizations. The organization also offers workshops on various mental health related topics such as “Emotional Intelligence,” “Creative Intelligence,” and “Heart Intelligence.” ^{1 2}

The organization was among the firms and consultants profiled by Parents Defending Education in its “Consultant Report Card,” which uncovered through public records research that the Bainbridge Island school district in Washington had hired Knowles for a paid speech. ^{3 4}

Background

The Luminous Minds Project was founded by Jodie Knowles in 2014 and bills itself as a mental health coaching and training organization. The organization states that it advocates for “Trauma Informed Care and equitable Arts Based Education” as well as for “institutions and organizations to create psychologically safe, inclusive and emotionally supporting spaces for all minds.” The group offers services including one-on-one coaching, events, and workshops, primarily conducted by Knowles. ^{5 6}

Knowles founded the organization in response to claimed “harm the prison and medical industrialized complex is having on the minds of our youth.” Knowles is a practicing Buddhist and is a board member of Arts Ed Washington. ⁷

Programs

The organization’s one-on-one coaching is offered by Jodie Knowles and bills itself as “strategic intervention” bookings for the coaching are available on the organization’s website and start at $75 for one hour of “Luminous Minds Project Coaching,” “empowerment coaching” and “creative coaching” for $125 an hour, and “Executive Coaching” for $250 an hour. ⁸

The organization also offers public and private workshops, often for $25 per participant. The organization offers seven different workshops on heart intelligence, emotional intelligence, and creative intelligence. The organization also conducts workshops and coaching around “adverse childhood experiences” and “six human needs.” The group advertises that its programs are “neuro-divergent friendly, anti-oppressive and trauma informed.” ⁹

Consultant Report Card

The Luminous Minds Project was among the firms and consultants profiled by Parents Defending Education in its “Consultant Report Card,” which uncovered through public records research that the at least Bainbridge Island school district in Washington state had hired Knowles for a paid speech at a 2018 Martin Luther King Day celebration. Parents Defending Education also noted that the organization’s model is indicative of a trend of left-leaning diversity, equity, and inclusion teachings and policies entering schools through consultants working in mental health and “trauma informed care.” ¹⁰

1. “Our Mission.” Luminous Minds Project. Accessed December 4, 2021. https://www.luminousmindsproject.com/our-mission
2. “Luminous Minds Project.” Parents Defending Education. Accessed December 3, 2021. https://defendinged.org/report/luminous-minds-project/
3. “About the Consultant Report Card.” Parents Defending Education. Accessed December 3, 2021. https://defendinged.org/case-study/about-the-consulting-report-card/
4. “Luminous Minds Project.” Parents Defending Education. Accessed December 3, 2021. https://defendinged.org/report/luminous-minds-project/
5. “Jodie Knowles.” LinkedIn. Accessed December 4, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodie-knowles-3b703343/
6. “Workshops.” Luminous Minds Project. Accessed December 4, 2021. https://www.luminousmindsproject.com/services/workshops
7. “Jodie Knowles.” LinkedIn. Accessed December 4, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodie-knowles-3b703343/
8. “Coaching.” Luminous Minds Project. Accessed December 4, 2021. https://www.luminousmindsproject.com/services/coaching
9. “Workshops.” Luminous Minds Project. Accessed December 4, 2021. https://www.luminousmindsproject.com/services/workshops
10. “Luminous Minds Project.” Parents Defending Education. Accessed December 3, 2021. https://defendinged.org/report/luminous-minds-project/