“Cheri, we were very happy when you came to us with the idea to bring the mindfulness practice to law enforcement. We encourage you to bring all you have learned about the practice of mindfulness and peace into the field of criminal justice. We all must have a spiritual practice so as not to burn out in our service to others. This Lamp is a token of the love and trust we have in you. Through your practice and efforts, this Lamp will shine for a long time.”
— Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen Master, author, poet, human-rights activist
"I recruited Cheri to serve as Assistant Attorney General to help communities improve public safety. The projects she designed inspired confidence and generated results beneficial to communities and the state. She is extraordinarily innovative and visionary in her thinking. She is an exceptionally skilled speaker, networker and trainer.”
— Peg Lautenschlager, former Attorney General, State of Wisconsin
“Cheri Maples is a significant pioneer in bringing the practice of mindfulness into the realm of action. She is remarkably skilled at blending her considerable "real world" experience and mindfulness practice into lessons that serve each of us as ways to bring greater awareness, compassion, balance and resiliency into our everyday lives.”
— Sharon Salzberg, Insight Meditation Society (IMS) co-founder, one of America's leading spiritual teachers and authors
"Cheri was instrumental in partnering with me to implement my vision for the Madison Police Department, improving employee morale and the department's accountability and effectiveness. She was a positive, driving force, and without her, this vision would never have become a reality."
— David C. Couper, former Chief, Madison Police Department
"In one visit, Cheri Maples consulted diligently on organizational issues with our Board of Directors, delivered an inspiring dharma talk as a guest teacher, and provided a powerful and insightful mindfulness workshop on privilege and oppression for the leadership and diversity sanghas. In each, one could feel the strength of her practice, the depth of her wisdom, and her embodiment of the dharma.”
— Tara Brach, author, Radical Acceptance; founder, Insight Meditation Community of Washington
"As a result of her rich blend of experience, Cheri has a multi-faceted understanding of the criminal justice system. Cheri has very successfully used her deep understanding of problem-oriented policing in building the capacity of neighborhoods to improve their safety and the quality of its residents' lives. She is an incredible leader, speaker and trainer.”
— Herman Goldstein, one of the foremost authorities on policing in America
