You might recognize neighbor Dotty Stratton as an avid runner in the neighborhood, or from classes she taught at ACAC. A Midlothian native, Dotty has lived in Tarrington with her husband, Gregg, and her children Penny and Teddy for six years. After a recent job displacement, Dotty took the opportunity to team up with a friend, Angela Rosas, she’d met a few years ago in the fitness industry to start a new non-profit. Angela Rosas wanted to be independent and allow work to work for her and her family, so she created A Calm Kid in 2021. Angela grew up in Manassas and lives with her husband and two children in Bon Air.  When they reconnected, Angela had just begun the process of moving into a new phase of her business. When Dotty came on board, their new non-profit Rise Up Roses was born.  

 

With a goal of making a difference in the community, Dotty and Angela teach children and their caregivers mindfulness tools through movement. The classes are designed to help participants experience a stronger belief in themselves, regulate emotions, create inner awareness, and improve overall health. Currently, they offer before and after-school programs for kids and teachers at several local public and private schools. Eventually, they will provide classes in schools for teachers and students, and plan to host one for Teacher Appreciation Week this year. There are also community classes available at several locations around Midlothian.  Beginning April 8, they will be partnering with TrailRVA for a class that will take place at Robious Landing Park.  

 

We asked what led them into this industry, and Dotty explained, “There is such a need for support in mental health for children and caregivers. A combination of isolation from technology and the pandemic has made mindfulness tools for ourselves and our children more important than ever.”

 

To give you an idea of the impact they are making, this is just one interaction they shared with us: “There was one moment when a child in the class was discussing why someone should be kind. He and Angela discussed whether he liked it when people were kind to him. Afterwards, they wrote his affirmation, I am kind, and smiled together. Moments like this are why we are doing these classes.”

 

If you are interested in attending one of the Rise Up Roses classes or would like to find out more about them, you can check out their website at http://riseuproses.org/.  Good luck to Dotty and Angela as they enter this new endeavor. To quote them and give them a piece of their own advice, “Keep dreaming and don’t give up trying to change the world.”