Niema Golphin, a local a meditation coach, author and speaker, is hosting the inaugural Philadelphia Meditation For Peace gathering from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., June 21, the first day of summer, on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum. She says, “Every summer, senseless violence takes the precious lives of Philadelphia youth.” This year, her "gathering for peace" will allow Philadelphia locals to gather on the art museum steps to meditate and take a peaceful stand as a community for the lives lost in the city and the lives of the youth still living.

Golphin’s younger brother was murdered via gun violence earlier this year. Donations from this gathering will be given to the nonprofit EMIR Healing Center.

Golphin also offers Minding My Soul, a meditation workshop, on a monthly basis. These workshops show, step-by-step, how to invoke blessings, release negative energies and live a life filled with love, peace, joy and ease. The workshop is for expert and beginning meditators and does not require any prior special knowledge, skills or experience, and the methods can be practiced at home.

Meditation For Peace location: 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., Philadelphia. Get tickets at Tinyurl.com/MeditationForPeaceTickets. For more information, call 215-828-5177 or visit NiemaGolphin.com.