Zen & Zest: Learning Resource Center Opens Meditation Room with Mindfulness Retreat

Zen & Zest: Learning Resource Center Opens Meditation Room with Mindfulness Retreat

The SIUE Learning Resource Center at the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus in East St. Louis is inviting community members to pause, breathe and reconnect during the Zen & Zest Mindfulness Retreat from 10 a.m.-noon Tuesday, July 14.

The retreat will celebrate the grand opening of the Learning Resource Center's new Meditation Quiet Room, a dedicated wellness space created to support stress reduction and well-being for members of the campus and surrounding community.

Guests can begin the morning with a continental breakfast before participating in guided meditation and creative activities offered through an SIUE Art Hive. Visitors will also have an opportunity to explore the new meditation space, which was made possible through funding awarded as part of SIUE's 2025-26 Mental Health Incubator Challenge.

"Libraries have always been places of learning, but they are also places of belonging," said Juliet Gray, biomedical learning director. "Creating spaces that encourage reflection, wellness and connection helps ensure that students have the resources they need to thrive both academically and personally."

For Learning Resource Center Director Amber Davis, establishing a dedicated meditation space on the East St. Louis campus represents an investment in equity, accessibility and the well-being of the people the LRC serves.

"Mental wellness resources shouldn't be a luxury," said Davis. "Everyone deserves access to spaces where they can breathe, reset and care for themselves. My hope is that this room becomes a place where people feel safe, supported and encouraged to make their well-being a priority."

The Meditation Quiet Room and Zen & Zest retreat grew from a collaborative effort among the Learning Resource Center, SIUE Counseling and Health Services and Library and Information Services. Together, the campus partners developed a retreat centered on mindfulness, creativity and connection.

"This project demonstrates what is possible when campus partners come together around a shared commitment to student success," said Gray.

Graphic courtesy of the LRC.