our purpose

 PIE is here to help you, and your loved ones, de-stress and live in the present moment.

All are welcome here. We’re all the same on the inside. We’re all after the same things in life—love + connection.

At Peace in Ellenville, we’re all family. Your struggles are our struggles; you are never alone.

We believe self-care should be accessible to everyone.

The mission of Peace in Ellenville (PiE) is to help you, and your loved ones, de-stress and live in the present moment. PiE is a non-profit that will offer free and reduced tuition mindfulness classes, workshops, and enrichment programs to children, adults, and families in the area in-person and online. 

A charity to honor the life of Joseph (Joe) P. Stoeckeler Junior—beloved father, husband, friend, and community member—and continue his life-long commitment to amplifying the village of Ellenville. 

Daughter of Joe, and founder of PiE, Katie Stoeckeler is on a mission to make mindfulness accessible to all residents of her hometown. As a former lead teacher at Head Start in Ellenville and special education teacher in Westchester, Katie witnessed first-hand the dire need for children to learn social-emotional skills, and to understand themselves deeper. She believes mindfulness practices are the missing piece of current public school curriculum and is working hard to be part of its reformation. In the meantime, she is launching PiE to offer Ellenville residents access to affordable, and free for anyone in need, self-care. 

What is Mindfulness & Why Does it Matter?

Mindfulness is the practice of being in the present moment with curiosity and non-judgement. Mindfulness practices reduce the activity of our amygdalas, which turn on our stress response. This shift naturally lowers our level of stress and allows us to focus better and think clearly. Other benefits of mindfulness include: improved concentration; increased emotional intelligence and one’s ability to relate to themselves and others with kindness, compassion, and acceptance; enhanced flexibility, more self-control, affect tolerance, and much more.