On Saturday, November 1, nonprofit UYM Charities (UYM) hosted its first Aging Well ‘Pop-Up’ for 15 older adult residents at Webster at Rye. The pop-up featured a 45-minute mindfulness program led by integrative holistic life coach and mindfulness teacher Gi Indoccio, LCMHC.

“It was inspiring to see the creative ways in which Gi was able to adapt mindfulness practices to fit the abilities of the participants,” said UYM Development Associate Rowan Wilson. “It was powerful to see seniors, especially those struggling with mobility and cognitive issues, focus in and find presence during the program.”

Aging Well is a donation-based program that provides access to integrative health and wellness services for older adults, many of whom are underserved or economically vulnerable. Aging Well reflects UYM’s broader commitment to address interconnected challenges facing communities, recognizing that individual well-being and community resilience are deeply connected.

Organizations interested in hosting Aging Well sessions or individuals seeking more information can contact Rev. Dr. Robert Levey at rlevey@uymcharities.org.

Founded in 1980, UYM Charities supports underserved individuals and communities through wellness, mentorship, and community-based care and initiatives rooted in dignity, equity, and holistic well-being.

On Saturday, November 1, UYM Charities will host its first Aging Well ‘Pop-Up’ for older adults at Webster at Rye, a Silverstone Living Community, in Rye, NH.

Led by Gi Indoccio, LCMHC, who brings decades of experience in mindfulness and meditation, the inaugural session will introduce participants to practical mindfulness strategies they can use every day.

“Mindfulness is always part of what I wanted to do,” she said. “To me, mindfulness is meditation—they’re used interchangeably. I’ve practiced and taught mindfulness for years, and it has truly changed my life…I’m honored to be the first practitioner for Aging Well and to bring these tools to older adults for the first time.”

Indoccio’s journey with mindfulness began in the 1990s, which has included training at UMass Medical School and silent retreats. She has taught children, adults and now, for the first time, seniors.

“I’ve always been involved with the elderly—whether through family, friends, or volunteering—but this is my first time teaching mindfulness with seniors,” she stated. “I’m grateful UYM asked me, and I’m excited to share these practices with this community.”

Noting he has known Indoccio for years and has always appreciated “her work and care,” Rev. Dr. Robert Levey, UYM’s Executive Director, said mindfulness is “a great way for participants to try something new.” “The hope is they enjoy it, feel better, and are empowered to explore other offerings both within and outside of Aging Well,” he added.

Levey also expressed gratitude to Webster at Rye for hosting Aging Well’s first session and their ongoing commitment to the well-being of older adults. “Their receptivity to our ideas has been wonderful,” he said. “I hope our offering can enhance what is already a welcoming environment for older adults.”

Aging Well reflects UYM’s broader commitment to address interconnected challenges facing communities, recognizing that individual well-being and community resilience are deeply connected. Organizations interested in hosting Aging Well sessions or individuals seeking more information can visit uymcharities.org or contact Rev. Dr. Robert Levey at rlevey@uymcharities.org.

Founded in 1980, UYM Charities supports underserved individuals and communities through wellness, mentorship, and community-based care and initiatives rooted in dignity, equity, and holistic well-being.

When Rev. Dr. Robert Levey was approached by UYM Charities’s Board President Dr. Robert Costanzo to lead the organization in late 2024, he knew he wanted to get involved because it touched on a cause close to his heart.

“Older adults matter,” said Robert, whose academic interest in aging was preceded by a personal one. “Growing up, I had the chance to literally live next door to my grandmother, who moved up to eastern Long Island when I was almost 13, as my grandfather continued to become more ill.”

Noting his grandfather passed away just days after their arrival, Robert said he was able to forge a close bond with his grandmother, who would live another 25 years. His favorite memories of his grandmother consist of the stories she shared about growing up in rural South Carolina in the early 1900’s.

“We would eat poundcake and watch the [Atlanta] Braves on TBS,” Robert said. Her house was attached to my parents’ house, so my parents sometimes would come over while we were hanging, but we would start laughing like only we did when we were alone again.”

For Robert, the chance to make a difference in the lives of older adults through Aging Well is particulary gratifying. A donation-based program that assists older adults seeking integrative health and wellness services, the program supports access to complementary modalities such as acupuncture, massage therapy, energy healing, mindfulness, spiritual counseling, and more.

“How we treat older adults says so much about ourselves as individuals and America as a society,” he said. “There is so much unrest in society today that it is easy to lose sight of the need for older adults to age with dignity and grace.”

Costanzo agrees and said supporting seniors has been a lifelong passion. Acknowledging he is now an older adult himself, he said his passion is now grounded in his own experience.

“As I age, I can see that the focus of society no longer addresses many of my concerns,” he said. “‘Aging well’ is important to me, and that it means something different to me now than it did 30, even 10, years ago.”

For Robert, the opportunity with Aging Well is two-fold, as he said he wants to also capture and share some of the stories of those they serve in addition to providing holistic health services.

“My hope is we can give older adults a chance to be heard,” he said.

Click here to learn more about Aging Well, donate, or facilitate/host a pop-up session.

Founded in 1980, UYM Charities supports underserved individuals and communities through wellness, mentorship, and community-based care and initiatives rooted in dignity, equity, and holistic well-being.

UYM Charities is offering free 30-minute introductory sessions to EcoDialogues, a program that uses dialogue to reimagine the spaces we inhabit within ourselves, between one another, and within larger societal systems.

“EcoDialogues asks participants to investigate and discuss what matters to them, who they are, and how they know what they know,” said Rev. Dr. Robert Levey, UYM’s Executive Director.

Guided by Space as Metaphor, an open-source conceptual framework released by Levey through The Philosopher Files, EcoDialogues provides a practical way for individuals and organizations to discover how their assumptions connect to everyday life.

“Oftentimes, the problems we think exist in the external spaces of our offices, for example, really stem from issues we have within ourselves,” said Levey. “The methodology here is self-inquiry. If we can help people better understand themselves, they can better appreciate others and their perspectives.”

This appreciation, according to Levey, whose postdoctoral research explores dialogue and its connection to the transformation of perspective, leads to practicable and actionable ethical insight.

“Do we want to be better or more efficient employees, or do we want more compassionate human beings who understand what they think and feel?” noted Levey. “EcoDialogues represents a brief dialogic experience that can have profound implications for participants.”

In offering free 30-minute introductory sessions to EcoDialogues, Levey said he wants to introduce the EcoDialogues approach and provide an authentic experience of how sessions unfold.

To schedule a free 30-minute introductory EcoDialogues session, contact UYM Charities at rlevey@uymcharities.org.

Founded in 1980, UYM Charities supports underserved individuals and communities through wellness, mentorship, and community-based care and initiatives rooted in dignity, equity, and holistic well-being.

UYM Charities has welcomed Gi Indoccio, LCMHC, as its first Aging Well practitioner, launching a new initiative to bring mindfulness-based wellness services directly to older adults in community settings across New Hampshire.

Indoccio, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor with over 20 years of experience in counseling and holistic health, will offer integrative sessions combining mindfulness practices, Reiki energy healing, and guided imagery. Her approach aligns with UYM’s mission to provide accessible, whole-person care that promotes dignity and connection in later life.

“Finding peace is simpler than you think,” said Indoccio, who holds a Master’s in Counseling and Applied Psychology from Antioch University. “When someone listens with true presence, the world just seems to slow down. For many participants, these sessions are the first time in ages they’ve felt truly heard and at peace.”

The Aging Well program addresses a critical need identified by the National Academies, which found that social isolation and loneliness in older adults raise risks for cardiovascular disease, dementia, and earlier death. UYM’s community-based approach expands access to evidence-based practices like Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and complementary therapies at no cost to participants.

“We believe that aging is not just about adding years to life, but about adding life to your years,” said Rev. Dr. Robert Levey, UYM’s Executive Director. “Gi’s integrative methods help older adults develop resilience, find meaning, and reconnect with what matters most to them.”

UYM is currently seeking partnerships with community centers, libraries, senior centers, and other venues where older adults naturally gather to host Aging Well popup wellness sessions. UYM plans to focus on mindfulness programming with Indoccio through the remainder of 2025, with sessions designed to be accessible and welcoming to all backgrounds and belief systems.

Aging Well reflects UYM’s broader commitment to address interconnected challenges facing communities, recognizing that individual well-being and community resilience are deeply connected. Organizations interested in hosting Aging Well sessions or individuals seeking more information can visit uymcharities.org or contact Rev. Dr. Robert Levey at rlevey@uymcharities.org.

Founded in 1980, UYM Charities supports underserved individuals and communities through wellness, mentorship, and community-based care and initiatives rooted in dignity, equity, and holistic well-being.

UYM Charities’ Gathering Space in Center Ossipee is nearing completion of its first construction phase, intending to raise an additional $30,000 to complete electrical, water, and interior finishing for a spring 2026 public opening.

Featuring expansive windows and sliding glass doors overlooking the mountains, the rustic structure will provide a dedicated setting for EcoDialogues, a dialogue-based program designed to help individuals and organizations work more effectively with complexity and uncertainty.

“We need space—both literal and metaphorical,” said Rev. Dr. Robert Levey, UYM’s Executive Director. “While EcoDialogues is primarily a virtual offering, the space in Center Ossipee will provide periodic public programs that spotlight dialogue as a tool for transformation of both perspective and organizational processes.”

Grounded in transdisciplinary research, EcoDialogues offers structured conversations that help participants surface assumptions, listen across perspectives, and generate shared meanings that inform responsible action. “Its purpose is to help participants think beyond simple, single-issue solutions to complex problems,” added Levey.

According to UYM Board President Dr. Robert Costanzo, the Gathering Space complements the organization’s community-based programming by offering “a serene environment for deep conversations and collaborative problem-solving. If we cannot talk or even listen to another, how can anything change?” he noted.

When complete, UYM’s Gathering Space will hold public programming and special events. “It’s an intimate spot that individuals and organizations can also use,” said Levey.

Founded in 1980, UYM Charities supports underserved individuals and communities through wellness, mentorship, and community-based care and initiatives rooted in dignity, equity, and holistic well-being.

Individuals and organizations interested in supporting the completion of the Gathering Space can contact UYM Charities at rlevey@uymcharities.org or visit uymcharities.org.