For more than three decades, the work of The Personal Engagement Institute (PEI) operated under various banners—including SoundOut and The Freechild Project—acting as a global catalyst for meaningful involvement and systemic reform. In 2025, to better reflect our shift from institutional advocacy to a universal philosophy of human connection, we became The Personal Engagement Institute. We want to make it clear: we are here to help you master the art of being tethered to what matters.
Welcome to the Personal Engagement Institute
The Personal Engagement Institute welcomes all people of any age, race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, class, ability, language, or cultural background into our community. You are welcome here, and the “invisible” ways you are already engaged are welcome, too.
Everyone is already engaged. (35 years of field-tested truth)
What We Do
The mission of the Personal Engagement Institute is to bring more Heartspace Model™ to the world. We provide professional development for leaders, a practitioner network for those seeking engagement coaching, and international learning opportunities for individuals exploring personal growth. We aim to make our programs as inclusive and accessible as they are transformative and grounded.
What is Personal Engagement?
Personal Engagement is our framework that recognizes every human being already has and already is a system of profound connections. We teach what we have learned: No one is truly “disengaged”; rather, they are simply engaged in ways that are often invisible to others. Just as institutions can become stagnant, our internal parts can be forced into extreme roles of survival or silence.
At the center of our philosophy is the Heartspace Model™—the core of the individual that cannot be damaged and inherently knows how to lead. Emerging research across global institutions—from the US Department of Education to the World Scout Bureau—points to a foundation for understanding how people can lead more effectively by connecting with their own internal “Compass.”
Personal Engagement fosters both inner and relational connection by guiding individuals to access their “Lighthouse”—that centered place of solid foundation—and from there, intentionally direct the energy they are already spending. It is a way of stepping into life with our core capacities: humility, boldness, curiosity, and flow.
Professionals from diverse backgrounds—including school administration, legal mediation, community organizing, and corporate leadership—utilize the Heartspace Model to inform and guide their work. Our growing list of educational programs aims to serve not only organizations but the wider public and individuals seeking to live a more intentionally connected life.
Read more about the Evolution of Heartspace Model™.
In alignment with our mission to reclaim human meaning and deep connection, The Personal Engagement Institute does not maintain a presence on traditional social media platforms. We prioritize direct, intentional dialogue via email and phone calls.
The Personal Engagement Institute 