Cheryl Groce-Wright’s journey with mindfulness began after a work burnout in 2019. Seeking solace, she was guided by a colleague teaching a mindful, self-compassion course. This experience ignited a transformative journey of self-discovery that enhanced her well-being.

Groce-Wright firmly believes in the transformative power of mindfulness, self-compassion and meditation. She explains that these practices are a gateway to self-improvement, fostering a deeper connection with oneself, reducing stress and nurturing joy and gratitude.

Her mindfulness journey has been a testament to her resilience. Despite facing multiple losses within a short span, including her mother, godmother, aunt and mother-in-law, she found solace and strength in the practice of self-awareness and personal development.

Groce-Wright believes the unknown prevents most people from self-discovery. She understands it’s a personal journey but thinks everyone should take it. She encourages people to try the broad array of methods for introspection available at The Innerwork Center, cautioning that there’s no one “right” way.

“Be open. You need the tools,” Groce-Wright explains.“People need to try because there’s so much more to enjoying life when you understand your thinking better. It makes us better partners, parents, friends, or whatever relationships we have.”

A Philadelphia native, she came to Richmond in 1993 when her husband was accepted into a doctoral program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Given its smaller size and population, they felt Richmond offered a more manageable urban experience than Philadelphia. Now Richmond is home for them.

She’s also an avid runner, having completed a number of half and full marathons. She is the head coach for the Sports Backers Half Marathon Training Team, which motivates and trains runners for the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon.

Running and helping people find and live better lives are Groce-Wright’s passions. Her path to finding her joy is at The Innerwork Center.

Meet Cheryl Groce-Wright, a wife, mother, runner, coach and this week’s Personality.

Volunteer positions: Board president for The Innerwork Center, Sports Backers Half Marathon Training Team head coach.

Occupation: Consultant, health and wellness coach and instructor.

Date and place of birth: Oct. 3 in Philadelphia.

Where I live now: Richmond.

Education: SUNY Oswego, University of Pennsylvania, VCU.

Family: Spouse, son Nigel and son Carson.

The Innerwork Center is: A place to gather and do the most essential solitary work that cannot be done alone.

Location: 213 Roseneath Road.

When founded and by whom: 1994 by Nancy Milner. 

Mission: The Innerwork Center is a catalyst for well-being through programs that inspire curiosity, cultivate mindfulness, and awaken the spirit. We envision an individual and collective human experience rich with compassion, authenticity and meaning.

Why I accepted the position as board president: The Innerwork Center has been an essential support to my own personal journey after a period of family loss and burnout.

Through learning methods of restoration like mindfulness, meditation, self-compassion, I found my way to a place of peace and harmony that I never thought was possible. Serving as the board president after the organization and its people have given so much to me was an absolute no-brainer.

When elected board president: April 2024.

Length of term: Two years. 

No. 1 goal or project: Guided by our new staff leadership, The Innerwork Center is positioned for expansion, sharing our intentional approaches for personal evolution and processes for growth and transformation with a wider, more diverse community — both locally and beyond our region.

Strategy for achieving goals: The Innerwork Center offers award-winning keynotes, single and multi-session programs, retreats, donation-based drop ins, and other unique opportunities to do inner work individually and collectively.

No. 1 challenge facing The Innerwork Center: Financial sustainability continues to be a priority and where we place great emphasis. After 30 years of serving this community, we are committed to finding the secret sauce that will allow us to serve another 30 years and more.

Ways I have witnessed The Innerwork Center make a difference: Through programs and classes in mindfulness, movement, and through concentrated offerings like our annual silent retreat, I have seen many individuals achieve a sense of peace and calm in their lives.

What it means to do inner work: For me, it is the journey into my own inner world, my soul if you will, to meet, commune with, and become reacquainted and reunited with my true self.

The Innerwork Center and racial equity: Through belonging – We are creating an organizational culture where everyone feels welcome to be their true selves.

That can only happen with explicit effort from all key stakeholders including staff, board, faculty and volunteers. We value each other’s diverse experiences, our common humanity and our inter-connectedness.

Ways The Innerwork Center intentionally addresses race-based stress and trauma: Our programs in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, Somatic Healing and several other classes and offerings help participants begin their personal healing journey.

We also offer an intentional BIPOC monthly gathering opportunity for participants to share in their personal and collective healing journey.

Richmond and compassion: Through methods in mindful compassion, I would offer this: May we all be well, may we all find peace, may we all live in harmony, may we all be free from attitudes and experiences that separate us rather than unite us, may we all heal from the wounds of the past, may we find our way back to each other.

Inner work Richmond needs to do in 2024: Honest and open dialogue aimed to build people up, focused on supporting people’s journeys however different or diverse they may be from our own.

How The Innerwork Center, truth and reconciliation work together: The difficult work of truth and reconciliation must truly start within each one of us, by understanding our own attitudes, biases, prejudices and examining our innermost feelings is the only place to truly begin to build what great things can happen between us on the outside, however those relationships are built over time.

Mindfulness is: Allowing oneself to be in the present moment. 

Ways mindfulness can improve Richmond and its relationships: By being present with one another, and not focusing on the past or where we are racing off to next, we can really connect more deeply with others affording us many chances to connect, educate, understand and grow in relation to one another.

The Innerwork Center is intended for: Any and everyone seeking a closer and deeper understanding of self, and understanding how when we begin within, we open ourselves to the entire universe of opportunities that await us every day.

Upcoming events and details: Rites of Passage: an Interfaith Panel on Sept. 26; Creative Contemplation for Radical Change on Sept. 12 & 13; Death Café on Aug. 15; Healing with Ayurveda on Sept. 11 & 18; Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (Mondays) Sept. 9 - Nov. 4; The Power and Inner Peace of Your True Nature on Aug. 17, and others listed on our website innerworkcenter.org.

The Innerwork Center partners with: Richmond Public Schools, Chesterfield Public Schools, Henrico Public Schools, ACTS, YWCA, SOAR, Fit4Kids, Junior League of Richmond, Habitat for Humanity, VCU Health, University of Richmond, Robins Foundation, Special Olympics, Four Paws Veterinary and others.

Other ways readers can participate with The Innerwork Center: Attending programs, being mindful and intentional about seeking joy in all things, being kind and compassionate wherever possible, donate to support our programming, become a member of the center, become a sponsor of our programs and offerings.

Ways to contact The Innerwork Center: hello@innerworkcenter.org, www.innerworkcenter.org, (804) 359-0384, or visit us at 213 Roseneath Road.

How I quiet my mind during challenging times: I have a meditation practice of at least 30 minutes each day, I get out in nature and I play with my dog LoKee.

Three daily self-care tips: 1) Meditate or a mindfulness time, 2) get the appropriate amount of sleep for your optimal health, 3) take a walk of any length.

How I start the day: Yoga and meditation.

The three words that best describe me: Vibrant, enthusiastic and compassionate.

If I had 10 extra minutes in the day: I would remember to do my gratitude journal.

If I hosted a dinner party my dream guest would be: My grandmother Ruby because I miss her so deeply.

Best late-night snack: Sourdough pretzels.

Something I love to do that most people would never imagine: Listen to birds singing to get my day started.

A quote that inspires me: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”— Marianne Williamson

At the top of my “to-do” list: Complete my life coaching course.

The best thing my parents ever taught me: How to be respectful and giving to others.

The person who influenced me the most: My mother, Marcella B. Groce. She taught me how to work hard, and to always have the interest of others at the forefront of my intentions.

Book that influenced me the most and how: “Ubuntu” by Steven Lundin. It’s an inspiring story about teamwork and collaboration and how that is possible to have in all spaces in our lives.

What I’m reading now: “A Promised Land” by Barack Obama, still early in the text.

Everything we do in life is a journey and some are more arduous than others.

Next goal: Pursue my health and wellness goals through teaching and coaching others to live their best and healthiest life.