What is The MAYE Center?

Meditation. Agriculture. Yoga. &Education

The MAYE program is rooted in self-discovery through awareness of the self, our ancestors, community, and our environment.

The scientifically-backed elements of MAYE — meditation, agriculture, yoga, and education — are designed to nurture and enhance the mental, physical, and spiritual well-being of individuals.

MAYE PURPOSE:

Empowering Wellness: Cultivating Self-Healing, Resilience, and Sustainability

The MAYE Center is dedicated to fostering self-healing, resilience, and wellness within our community through trusted, culturally mindful, and eco-friendly practices.

MAYE VISION FOR CARMELITOS:

Building Stronger Communities: The Transformative Power of Self-Healing Practices at The Growing Experience and Carmelitos

Our aim is to provide our members with the necessary tools and knowledge for self-healing, thereby empowering and uplifting the community. This adaptable model, which has been successfully implemented at The Growing Experience Urban Farm and the Carmelitos Community, demonstrates its versatility and effectiveness. By encouraging widespread adoption and customization, we ensure that diverse communities can benefit from these practices, tailored to harmonize with their unique cultural and environmental settings.

How We Started

The Beginnings of MAYE

The MAYE Center was created by Laura Rhatmeny Som, a refugee of the Cambodian Genocide.

When Laura found refuge in Long Beach, California, she noticed an overwhelming population of other refugees unknowingly suffering through their day to day lives. Many of them did not realize their unhealthy tendencies were a result of traumatic experiences.

Even with her traumatic memories, Laura shares her story, tools for healing, and encouraging spirit from her home country of Cambodia with the Long Beach community.

Listen to “Laura Som's Story,” (2:02).

“MAYE is a concept being practiced in Long Beach as a solution or prevention to trauma. This is the story of Laura Som, a trauma survivor who brought healing tools with her from Cambodia, and shares them in Long Beach.” Courtesy of Elgin Ozlen of VoiceWaves—Long Beach, CA

Khmer History

The Cambodian Genocide of 1975

WARNING: GRAPHIC MATERIAL
This video is about the Cambodian Genocide, 1975-1979.

The Cambodian Genocide began in 1975 and lasted until 1979. The Khmer Rouge was the name popularly given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK) and by extension, to the regime through which the CPK ruled in Cambodia during those years. The regime was responsible for one of the worst mass killings of the 20th Century, claiming the lives of up to two million people.

They believed returning to more simple ways of agricultural and farming culture was the right direction for the entire country. They also believed citizens with a background in arts, intelligence or technology would oppose and fight against the Khmer Rouge's plan. Therefore, teachers, students, politicians, artists, sculptors, women, children and infants fell victim to this brutal regime and few were spared. Concentration camps were set up around the country and prisoners were forced to dig their own graves. Whole families died from execution, starvation, disease and overwork.

Fleeing from the Genocide, refugees came by boat, arriving in Long Beach, California. Many survivors found a home and miraculously, some even found family they did not know were still alive. Located in Cambodia Town in Long Beach, The MAYE Center promotes self-healing in the community, paving the way for health of mind, body and spirit as a continuum from generation to generation. For the past few years, the MAYE Center has been working with Cambodian health professionals to create a holistic integrated health system in Long Beach.

Our Mission, Vision & Values

Mission

The mission of The MAYE Center is to establish and sustain a center for self-healing and the mindful cultivation of well-being for survivors of trauma, and their family members, using an integrated practice of physical, spiritual and community growth. MAYE uses culturally sensitive and environmentally healthy methods including Meditation, Agriculture (Gardening), Yoga and Education.

Vision

The vision of The MAYE Center is for a sustainable and equitable community that integrates and takes the “whole” into account for well-being for people, nature, environment, and our planet. We envision a resilient community where different cultures can share healing techniques and pave an holistic pathway for the younger generation.

Shared Values & Beliefs

The MAYE Center values of "Social Justice, Nonviolence and Forgiveness" is the moral center of community organizing. We value seeing opposition leaders become more supportive of The MAYE Center because of the inclusive, transparent manner in which MAYE conducts its business.

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