Restorative Wellness Playground exists to build safe, inclusive spaces where people can strive-together.
Isolation and fear of the unknown can contribute to the failure of individuals and groups. When people experience belonging, understanding, and mutual respect, they are more able to learn, lead, and heal.
The heart of the work
Educational community-building games and activities foster relationships across difference and help eliminate misconceptions and walls that separate people. Instead, we build bridges that connect.
Wherever you go in the world-despite differences in culture, personality, race, age, gender, and status-people share basic emotional needs: to love, to be loved, to be understood, to be respected, and to connect with others in a healthy way.
My Approach & Training
Approach
My work brings together relational, somatic, and reflective practices that help individuals and groups reconnect with themselves and one another. Through guided movement, circle dialogue, and structured reflection, participants are invited into experiences that support nervous system regulation, emotional awareness, and authentic communication.
This approach is informed by several streams of learning and practice. I completed the year-long graduate training in Compassionate Inquiry, the trauma-informed therapeutic approach developed by Gabor Maté. This training deepened my understanding of how stress patterns, early experiences, and emotional suppression can influence our behavior, relationships, and well-being.
Elements of somatic movement, breath awareness, and culturally grounded practices such as Afro-Yoga also inform my facilitation. Together, these modalities create environments where participants can explore new perspectives, release tension, and strengthen their capacity for presence and connection.
At the heart of this work is a simple belief: when people feel safe enough to slow down, listen inwardly, and engage one another with curiosity and respect, healthier individuals and more connected cultures can emerge.
Training
- Trauma-informed relational facilitation
- Graduate training in Compassionate Inquiry
- Somatic movement and Afro-Yoga practices
- Circle-based dialogue and reflective practice
Meet Kelvin Cooper, Founder/Facilitator
Kelvin Cooper
Facilitator of restorative wellness and connective culture
Kelvin Cooper was born in the Bahamas and holds a Master’s Degree in Dance Education from New York University. He is an Associate Professor at Bronx Community College, taught Afro-Caribbean dance at NYU, and is a teaching artist with Alvin Ailey’s Arts in Education Program.
Kelvin has performed at the Apollo Theater, BAM, Joyce Theater, and Symphony Space, and has facilitated intercultural workshops, conferences, and performances in diverse communities across the Bahamas, Haiti, Ghana, Uganda, Singapore, Mexico, Ecuador, Barbados, China, Australia, India, and Suriname. He is particularly committed to empowering individuals and strengthening communities through holistic dance, wellness, and restorative practice.
Kelvin completed the year-long graduate training in Compassionate Inquiry, the trauma-informed therapeutic approach developed by Dr. Gabor Maté. This training deepened his understanding of how early experiences, stress patterns, and emotional suppression influence behavior, relationships, and well-being. Elements of this perspective inform Kelvin’s facilitation style, helping participants approach themselves and others with greater curiosity, compassion, and awareness.
Featured In, Publications & Conversations
Explore selected articles, research publications, and featured conversations that reflect the philosophy, practice, and growing impact behind Restorative Wellness Playground.
Featured In
Norwood News Feature
A closer look at how Restorative Wellness Playground is creating space for wellness, justice, and community-building at Bronx Community College.
Bronx Community College Spotlight
A featured institutional highlight on how restorative wellness practices are supporting connection, healing, and equity in higher education.
Publications
Employing Restorative Wellness to Build Student Agency and Personal Voice/Choice (2024)
A peer-reviewed publication outlining restorative wellness as a framework for voice, choice, and human-centered growth.
Building Student Engagement, Inclusion, and Retention (2018)
A published article exploring games, movement, and community-building as tools for engagement, inclusion, and student success.
Conversations
Featured Spotify Conversation
A deeper audio conversation that expands on Kelvin Cooper’s perspective, process, and the restorative philosophy behind the work.
These features, publications, and conversations offer a broader view of the thinking, practice, and lived experience that shape Restorative Wellness Playground.