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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250426T123000
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SUMMARY:LOVE is the Most Powerful Force in the Universe: A Virtual Retreat
DESCRIPTION:LOVE IS THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE\nIN THE UNIVERSE\n  \nMindfulness teacher Sharon Salzberg joins with Atman Smith\, Ali Smith\, and Andres Gonzalez of the Holistic Life Foundation (HLF) to offer a program exploring the depths\, capacity\, and meaning of love. Love is the most powerful force in the universe. Love is cohesive and attracting\, and is not bound by space or time. Learn to get in touch with and share the infinite love inside of you with meditation\, yoga\, and additional contemplative practices. \nIn a world where division and polarization prevail\, can love be known not as giving in\, but as transformative? If conventionally\, love is seen as weakness\, can we come to understand it as a powerful force in seeking change? \nHow do we find balance in love amidst all of our relationships? How do we love in a way where we feel that we are not being taken advantage of? How do we know when to be compassionate and when tough love is needed? How do we love from our higher selves? How do we unconditionally love ourselves? \nWe will explore a myriad of practical tools to promote greater love in your inner and outer life: \n• Connect with the reservoir of love within you \n• Learn greater self-love and self-acceptance \n• Meditation techniques to better understand the love we share in relationships \n• Learning to love with boundaries \n• Cultivating greater love through loving kindness practice \n• Yoga and breathwork to ground ourselves and reduce stress\, to better receive love from others \nJoin us for this virtual retreat to develop the skills needed to cultivate love within ourselves\, to better love ourselves\, the people in our lives\, and the world. No prior meditation experience is necessary to attend. \n  \nRETREAT SCHEDULE\nThis virtual retreat will be conducted through Zoom on Saturday April 26\, from 12:30 PM – 6:00 PM EST. The virtual retreat link will be emailed to participants within twenty-four hours of your registration. Please email us at events@garrisoninstitute.org with questions. \n  \nTEACHERS\n  \n Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer\, world-renowned teacher\, and New York Times bestselling author. She is one of the first to bring mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation to mainstream American culture over 45 years ago\, inspiring generations of meditation teachers and wellness influencers. Sharon is co-founder of The Insight Meditation Society in Barre\, MA\, and the author of twelve books\, including the New York Times bestseller\, Real Happiness\, now in its second edition\, and her seminal work\, Lovingkindness. Her latest release\, Finding Your Way\, from Workman Publishing is being released in October 2023. Her podcast\, The Metta Hour\, has amassed six million downloads and features interviews with thought leaders from the mindfulness movement and beyond. www.sharonsalzberg.com \n  \n Ali Smith was born and raised in Baltimore\, Maryland. He is a graduate of the Friends School of Baltimore and the University of Maryland\, College Park. Ali started his journey with contemplative practices as a small child\, learning meditation from his father and attending the Divine Life Church of Absolute Oneness\, run by Swami Shankarananda. He deepened his practice and learned the art of teaching as a young adult\, studying many forms of yoga\, meditation\, mindfulness\, and breathwork from his teacher and godfather Will Joyner. Ali has almost 20 years’ experience teaching these practices to a broad demographic spectrum\, internationally. He is a published author\, and is a pioneer in the fields of yoga and mindfulness in education\, as well as trauma informed yoga and mindfulness\, developing best practices that are used around the world. He co-founded the Holistic Life Foundation in 2001 and The Involution Group in 2019. Ali is also a co-host of the Look Again Podcast which you can find at www.theinvolutiongroup.com \n  \n Atman Smith is a Co-founder of the Holistic Life Foundation\, where he served as Director of Youth Programming for ten years Director of Fundraising for five years and currently serves as the Director of Development. Since 2001\, he has been teaching yoga and mindfulness to a diverse population including underserved and high-risk youth in Baltimore City Public Schools\, drug treatment centers\, wellness centers\, and colleges. A native of Baltimore\, Atman attended the University of Maryland\, College Park where he was a letter award winner for the University’s men’s basketball team. He graduated with a B.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice. His work with the Holistic Life Foundation has been featured on Making a Difference on the NBC Nightly News\, CNN\, and CBS\, as well as O the Oprah Magazine\, The Washington Post\, Upworthy\, Mindful Magazine\, Yoga Journal\, Shambala Sun\, and many other publications. https://www.theinvolutiongroup.com/ \n. \n Andres Gonzalez is one of the Co-Founders of the Holistic Life Foundation. For eighteen years\, Andres has taught yoga to diverse populations throughout the world\, including Baltimore City Public School students\, drug treatment centers\, mental crisis facilities\, homeless shelters\, wellness centers\, colleges\, private schools and other various venues throughout the nation and throughout the world. He has partnered with John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health and the Penn State’s Prevention Research Center on a Stress and Relaxation Study and is a published author in the Journal of Children’s Services. His work with the Holistic Life Foundation has been featured on Making a Difference on the NBC Nightly News\, CNN\, and CBS\, as well as O the Oprah Magazine\, The Washington Post\, Upworthy\, Mindful Magazine\, Yoga Journal\, Shambala Sun\, and many other publications. He is a certified Health Coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition\, maintains a B.S. in Marketing from University of Maryland\, College Park and an MBA from the University of Maryland\, University College. https://holisticlifefoundation.org/ \n  \n\nSCHOLARSHIPS\nPlease note that all scholarships have been issued for this gathering. We thank you for your interest and overwhelming response. We regret that we are not able to assist more participants. For more information on our scholarship funds\, please visit this page.  \n 
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/love-is-the-most-powerful-force-in-the-universe-2-2/
CATEGORIES:Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/LOVE-is-the-Most-Powerful-Force-in-the-Universe.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250426T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250426T180000
DTSTAMP:20260405T093834
CREATED:20250205T184413Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250205T184413Z
UID:42007-1745670600-1745690400@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:LOVE is the Most Powerful Force in the Universe: A Virtual Retreat
DESCRIPTION:LOVE IS THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE\nIN THE UNIVERSE\n  \nMindfulness teacher Sharon Salzberg joins with Atman Smith\, Ali Smith\, and Andres Gonzalez of the Holistic Life Foundation (HLF) to offer a program exploring the depths\, capacity\, and meaning of love. Love is the most powerful force in the universe. Love is cohesive and attracting\, and is not bound by space or time. Learn to get in touch with and share the infinite love inside of you with meditation\, yoga\, and additional contemplative practices. \nIn a world where division and polarization prevail\, can love be known not as giving in\, but as transformative? If conventionally\, love is seen as weakness\, can we come to understand it as a powerful force in seeking change? \nHow do we find balance in love amidst all of our relationships? How do we love in a way where we feel that we are not being taken advantage of? How do we know when to be compassionate and when tough love is needed? How do we love from our higher selves? How do we unconditionally love ourselves? \nWe will explore a myriad of practical tools to promote greater love in your inner and outer life: \n• Connect with the reservoir of love within you \n• Learn greater self-love and self-acceptance \n• Meditation techniques to better understand the love we share in relationships \n• Learning to love with boundaries \n• Cultivating greater love through loving kindness practice \n• Yoga and breathwork to ground ourselves and reduce stress\, to better receive love from others \nJoin us for this virtual retreat to develop the skills needed to cultivate love within ourselves\, to better love ourselves\, the people in our lives\, and the world. No prior meditation experience is necessary to attend. \n  \nRETREAT SCHEDULE\nThis virtual retreat will be conducted through Zoom on Saturday April 26\, from 12:30 PM – 6:00 PM EST. The virtual retreat link will be emailed to participants within twenty-four hours of your registration. Please email us at events@garrisoninstitute.org with questions. \n  \nTEACHERS\n  \n Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer\, world-renowned teacher\, and New York Times bestselling author. She is one of the first to bring mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation to mainstream American culture over 45 years ago\, inspiring generations of meditation teachers and wellness influencers. Sharon is co-founder of The Insight Meditation Society in Barre\, MA\, and the author of twelve books\, including the New York Times bestseller\, Real Happiness\, now in its second edition\, and her seminal work\, Lovingkindness. Her latest release\, Finding Your Way\, from Workman Publishing is being released in October 2023. Her podcast\, The Metta Hour\, has amassed six million downloads and features interviews with thought leaders from the mindfulness movement and beyond. www.sharonsalzberg.com \n  \n Ali Smith was born and raised in Baltimore\, Maryland. He is a graduate of the Friends School of Baltimore and the University of Maryland\, College Park. Ali started his journey with contemplative practices as a small child\, learning meditation from his father and attending the Divine Life Church of Absolute Oneness\, run by Swami Shankarananda. He deepened his practice and learned the art of teaching as a young adult\, studying many forms of yoga\, meditation\, mindfulness\, and breathwork from his teacher and godfather Will Joyner. Ali has almost 20 years’ experience teaching these practices to a broad demographic spectrum\, internationally. He is a published author\, and is a pioneer in the fields of yoga and mindfulness in education\, as well as trauma informed yoga and mindfulness\, developing best practices that are used around the world. He co-founded the Holistic Life Foundation in 2001 and The Involution Group in 2019. Ali is also a co-host of the Look Again Podcast which you can find at www.theinvolutiongroup.com \n  \n Atman Smith is a Co-founder of the Holistic Life Foundation\, where he served as Director of Youth Programming for ten years Director of Fundraising for five years and currently serves as the Director of Development. Since 2001\, he has been teaching yoga and mindfulness to a diverse population including underserved and high-risk youth in Baltimore City Public Schools\, drug treatment centers\, wellness centers\, and colleges. A native of Baltimore\, Atman attended the University of Maryland\, College Park where he was a letter award winner for the University’s men’s basketball team. He graduated with a B.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice. His work with the Holistic Life Foundation has been featured on Making a Difference on the NBC Nightly News\, CNN\, and CBS\, as well as O the Oprah Magazine\, The Washington Post\, Upworthy\, Mindful Magazine\, Yoga Journal\, Shambala Sun\, and many other publications. https://www.theinvolutiongroup.com/ \n. \n Andres Gonzalez is one of the Co-Founders of the Holistic Life Foundation. For eighteen years\, Andres has taught yoga to diverse populations throughout the world\, including Baltimore City Public School students\, drug treatment centers\, mental crisis facilities\, homeless shelters\, wellness centers\, colleges\, private schools and other various venues throughout the nation and throughout the world. He has partnered with John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health and the Penn State’s Prevention Research Center on a Stress and Relaxation Study and is a published author in the Journal of Children’s Services. His work with the Holistic Life Foundation has been featured on Making a Difference on the NBC Nightly News\, CNN\, and CBS\, as well as O the Oprah Magazine\, The Washington Post\, Upworthy\, Mindful Magazine\, Yoga Journal\, Shambala Sun\, and many other publications. He is a certified Health Coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition\, maintains a B.S. in Marketing from University of Maryland\, College Park and an MBA from the University of Maryland\, University College. https://holisticlifefoundation.org/ \n  \n\nSCHOLARSHIPS\nPlease note that all scholarships have been issued for this gathering. We thank you for your interest and overwhelming response. We regret that we are not able to assist more participants. For more information on our scholarship funds\, please visit this page.  \n 
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/love-is-the-most-powerful-force-in-the-universe-2-3/
CATEGORIES:Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/LOVE-is-the-Most-Powerful-Force-in-the-Universe.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250716T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250716T140000
DTSTAMP:20260405T093834
CREATED:20250523T191640Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250714T144645Z
UID:42697-1752670800-1752674400@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:Virtual Conversation: Apprenticing to the Wild
DESCRIPTION:Pathways to Planetary Health Forum\nApprenticing to the Wild:\nA conversation with Kurt Hoelting and Stephen Posner \nWhat if engaging with the wild – both within us and around us – could radically transform how we live in the world? \nJoin us for a thought-provoking conversation with Kurt Hoelting\, author\, long-time Zen practitioner\, mindfulness teacher\, and founder of Inside Passages – an organization that provided mindfulness and nature-based expeditions in Alaska. \nDrawing on his decades of experience weaving mindfulness practice into wilderness exploration\, Kurt will share how ancient human traditions rooted in nature can offer balance in a technology-driven world. He will also share insights on how embracing elderhood can mean shifting from striving and achieving to a path of giving oneself away. \nTogether\, we will explore what it means to cultivate resilience by facing challenges with an intact heart and a spirit of optimism. \nJoin this session to learn about how the ways we engage with wildness can transform our sense of purpose and belonging. \nWe will hold this live Forum on Zoom at 1:00 p.m. ET July 16\, 2025. After registering\, you will receive a link to join the session. \n  \nSPEAKERS\n  \nKurt Hoelting grew up by the shores of Puget Sound and makes his home on an island in the Salish Sea. He has lived a migratory lifestyle his entire adult life\, heading north every summer to work as a commercial fisherman and wilderness guide in Southeast Alaska. A graduate of the University of Washington and Harvard Divinity School\, Kurt is an ordained minister\, Zen practitioner and mindfulness teacher\, who has sought to blend his passion for spiritual inquiry into his life on the wild edge of Alaska. He is the author of the recently published book Apprentice to the Wild (2025) and The Circumference of Home: One Man’s Quest for a Radically Local Life (2010). \n  \n  \n  \nStephen Posner\, PhD\, is Director of the Pathways to Planetary Health initiative at the Garrison Institute. Stephen draws from scientific inquiry and contemplative practices to align human systems with nature. He builds understanding of nature across sectors and serves as a trusted advisor to policymakers and funders. Stephen has published over 50 technical and non-technical articles and reports on sustainability science\, leverage points for systems change\, and scientific assessment methods. His encounters with the wild include urban and suburban adventures growing up in Baltimore\, solo retreats in the wilderness\, and 20 years of rock climbing from Yosemite to the Spanish Pyrenees Mountains. \n  \n  \n  \nPlease contact us for questions and inquiries at events@garrisoninstitute.org.
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/virtual-forum-apprenticing-to-the-wild/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Apprenticing-to-the-Wild.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250723T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250723T133000
DTSTAMP:20260405T093834
CREATED:20250529T191826Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250716T184316Z
UID:40500-1753272000-1753277400@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:Garrison Institute Fellowship Forum: Cultivating Courageous Wholeness
DESCRIPTION:CULTIVATING COURAGEOUS WHOLENESS\nAn Online Dialogue with Dr. Max Klau & Dr. Angel Acosta \nWhat does it mean to lead with wholeness in an age of division? How do we confront the shadows—within ourselves and our society—to co-create a more compassionate\, resilient future? \nIn this timely conversation\, leadership expert Dr. Max Klau joins visionary facilitator Angel Acosta for a deep exploration of shadow work\, civic leadership\, and the urgent need for courageous wholeness. Drawing on insights from developmental psychology\, servant leadership\, and Max’s decades of experience developing civic leaders at scale\, this session will unpack why integrating our personal and collective shadows is not just therapeutic—it has become an urgent civic necessity. \nTogether\, Max and Angel will discuss: \n\nWhat is the “shadow” and why it matters for both personal growth and civic renewal\nHow leaders and citizens alike can and must courageously confront their own inner wholeness if we are to move beyond the multiple crises we see unfolding all around us\nThe relevance to this topic of Max’s forthcoming book\, Developing Servant Leaders at Scale: How to Do It and Why It Matters\nThe launch of the Center for Courageous Wholeness—a bold new initiative designed to help individuals and organizations cultivate wholeness at scale\n\nThis session is part of the Garrison Institute Fellowship Forum series—an offering that brings together contemplative changemakers across disciplines to explore the intersection of spirituality\, justice\, leadership\, and social transformation. \nFree and open to all \nZoom links will be emailed within 24 hours of registration. Please contact us at events@garrisoninstitute.org with questions. \n\nSPEAKERS\n  \nDr. Max Klau is the Founder of the Center for Courageous Wholeness\, an organization dedicated to helping individuals and organizations integrate shadow\, serve others\, and scale their impact. He recently served as the Chief Program Officer at the New Politics Leadership Academy (NPLA)\, an organization focused on bringing more servant leaders–military vets and alumni of national service programs like AmeriCorps and Peace Corps–into politics. Prior to that\, he was the Vice President of Leadership Development at City Year\, the education-focused AmeriCorps program. He received his doctorate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2005 with a focus on human development and leadership. His second book\, Developing Servant Leaders at Scale: How to Do It and Why It Matters\, will be published in August 2025. He is a husband\, father\, consultant\, speaker\, Integral Master Coach\, and musician. He lives outside of Boston with his wife and two children. Learn more about him at The Center for Courageous Wholeness. \n  \nDr. Angel Acosta is a visionary educator\, scholar\, and facilitator\, leading efforts at the intersection of healing-centered education\, contemplative practice\, and leadership development. As the director of the Garrison Institute Fellowship\, Dr. Acosta is dedicated to nurturing a global community of change-makers. \n  \n 
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/fellowship-forum-cultivating-corageous-wholeness/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Fellowship-Forum-Cultivating-Courageous-Wholeness.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250828T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250828T201500
DTSTAMP:20260405T093834
CREATED:20250812T204558Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250826T175002Z
UID:45327-1756407600-1756412100@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:Why Ecological Civilization & Why Now? A Pathways Global Speaker Forum Series
DESCRIPTION:Co-sponsored by the Pathways to Planetary Health initiative at the Garrison Institute and the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology \nWhy Ecological Civilization\, and Why Now?\n  \nIn this session\, we will outline the 4-part Global Speaker Series by focusing on: What is Ecological Civilization and why is it important now? How can economic growth be reconciled with ecological limits? How do modern expressions of very old ideas contribute to Ecological Civilization? \nWe will explore these questions through the lens of China’s Ecological Civilization vision – including human development\, sustainable development\, and practical implications such as reforestation\, regeneration\, and the Great Green Wall. We will also explore communitarian models of service\, social harmony\, ethics\, and education at the heart of Confucianism\, and what this means for society and cultural resilience. \nKey aims: \n\nLearn how the concept of Ecological Civilization is being understood in China and  implemented in Chinese environmental policy today.\nExplore opportunities that an Ecological Civilization vision creates along with challenges that it faces.\nConsider the key roles that cultural and ethical frameworks can play in shaping environmental policy and action.\nAppreciate how traditional spiritual and ethical systems—like Confucianism\, Daoism\, and Buddhism—can reshape our understanding of environmental responsibility.\n\n\n\nTIMING\nWe will conduct this live Forum on Zoom at 7:00 p.m. ET on Thursday August 28\, 2025. After registering\, you will receive a Zoom link to join the session. \n  \n  \nSPEAKERS\n \nMary Evelyn Tucker\, PhD\, co-directs the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology\, which examines cultural and religious values for broadened environmental ethics. This arose from a series of 10 conferences at Harvard on world religions and ecology that she organized with John Grim. She has published several books on Confucianism including The Philosophy of Qi. She co-edited Confucianism and Ecology (Harvard) and two volumes with Tu Weiming on Confucian Spirituality. She is the co-author of Journey of the Universe with Brian Thomas Swimme and the executive producer of the Emmy Award winning Journey film. This was inspired by Thomas Berry whose books she edited and whose biography she wrote with John Grim.They have been traveling in China since 1985 studying Ecological Civilization. \n  \n \nPeter Senge\, PhD\, is Co-Founder of the Center for Systems Awareness and Senior Lecturer in Leadership & Sustainability at MIT. Peter has been at the forefront of organizational learning since publishing his classic text\, The Fifth Discipline\, which provided theories and methods to foster aspiration\, develop reflective conversation\, and understand complexity in service of shaping learning-oriented organization cultures. Throughout his career\, Peter asks “how do we create the conditions for people to work together at their best\, cultivating the innate systems intelligence that is our birthright but is all but lost in modern culture?”  \n  \n \nStephen Posner\, PhD\, is Director of the Pathways to Planetary Health initiative at the Garrison Institute. He has published over 50 technical and non-technical articles on sustainability science\, leverage points for change\, and methods for assessment of social and ecological systems. Stephen applies science integrated with contemplative practices to help align human systems with nature. He builds understanding across cultures and sectors and serves as a trusted advisor. Stephen was given a copy of the I Ching in his mid 20s and has practiced Qigong and Tai Chi for only 5 years.  \n  \n \nYan Zhu\, PhD\, is an ecologist at Yale University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. She is widely published in scientific journals on the environment. Her research focuses on mechanisms of species coexistence of biodiversity and forest ecosystem services. Originally from China\, she seeks to bridge local ecological wisdom\, such as the harmony between heaven and humans (Tian-Ren He-Yi ) and community-based practices\, with global scientific dialogue. She is dedicated to building cross-cultural understanding\, advancing research\, and sharing knowledge together with ecological environments. She believes that culture- and nature-based solutions can reinforce one another for a more sustainable future of the mutual flourishing of all beings (Wan-Wu Gong-Sheng ). This is part of China’s aspiration for building Ecological Civilization. \n  \nCultivating Ecological Civilization: Wisdom\, Practice\, and Systems Change\nA Global Speaker Series\n  \nJoin us for our global speaker series that seeks to explore and activate the concept of Ecological Civilization – a guiding philosophy and policy framework for how a nation can balance human development\, social development\, and environmental stewardship. \nThese online dialogues with thought leaders in the field will focus on China’s model as a case study of integrating cultural\, spiritual\, political\, economic\, and ecological dimensions when technological solutions alone are proving insufficient for addressing the deeper roots of our planetary predicaments. \nWe will reflect on how insights from China’s aspirations\, experiments\, and serious efforts to address their own internal challenges might inspire grounded and integrative approaches to Ecological Civilization in Western contexts. \nHosted by Stephen Posner\, PhD\, Director of our Pathways to Planetary Health initiative; Mary Evelyn Tucker\, Co-Director of the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology; Peter Senge\, Co-Founder of the Center for Systems Awareness and Senior Lecturer in Leadership & Sustainability at MIT; and esteemed guests Zhu Yan\, Yao Xinhong\, Binbin Wang\, and Hazim Xie. \nThis series builds from an initial conversation among Mary Evelyn\, Peter\, and Stephen in spring 2025 focused on The Ecological Turn: Bridging Wisdom from Contemplative Traditions with Ecological Ways of Life. \nWe will conduct these LIVE forums on Zoom from 7:00 – 8:15pm ET on  \nAugust 28 \n October 6 \n November 5  \n  \n  \n  \nPlease contact us for questions and inquiries at events@garrisoninstitute.org.
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/why-ecological-civilization-pathways-speaker-series-2/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Forum,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Why-Ecological-Civilization-and-Why-Now.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250922T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250922T190000
DTSTAMP:20260405T093835
CREATED:20250822T184306Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250922T204314Z
UID:45638-1758564000-1758567600@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:Virtual Forum: Inner Work\, Outer Change
DESCRIPTION:Mapping the Field of Spiritually Informed Social Change\nA Garrison Institute Webinar with Steve Varley and Gretchen Steidle\n  \nJoin the Garrison Institute’s Managing Director Steve Varley and Gretchen Steidle\, Director of our Spirituality & Social Change Initiative\, for a dynamic conversation exploring the powerful relationship between contemplative inner work and meaningful outer transformation. This webinar offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Garrison Institute’s bold new initiative to map\, connect and learn from the diverse\, inspiring organizations across the United States and world that are integrating spiritual practice for social and environmental change. \nTogether\, Steve and Gretchen will reflect on what the Garrison Institute is learning from this expansive research and convening — how inner transformation illuminates social change\, where the boundaries of the “field” are growing\, and how the shared language of spirit and service is being reimagined by communities at the forefront. The session will include a live demonstration of the Spirituality & Social Change Map\, an interactive tool open to the public that invites users to explore this evolving field and discover opportunities for connection\, collaboration\, and collective insight\, along with an opportunity for participant Q&A. \nPractitioners of all levels who are curious about the intersection of contemplative practice and social change will find in this webinar an opportunity to participate in the weaving of this emerging narrative rooted in wholeness\, relationality\, and purpose. \n  \nZoom links will be emailed within 24 hours of registration. Please contact us at events@garrisoninstitute.org with questions. \n\n  \n  \nSPEAKERS\n  \nRadha Ruparell\, Head of Global Leadership Accelerator\, Teach for All: Radha Ruparell is a global cross-sector expert in personal transformation and collective leadership\, having worked with CEOs\, Fortune 500 executives\, social entrepreneurs\, and grassroots leaders around the world. She heads the Global Leadership Accelerator at Teach For All\, a growing movement spanning 60+ countries and tens of thousands of locally rooted\, globally informed leaders committed to ensuring all children can fulfill their potential.  Radha also serves as a Chief Learning Officer for the Global Institute for Shaping a Better Future where she focuses on inner leadership and system-wide change. Previously\, Radha was a consultant at McKinsey & Company\, advising CEOs and senior executives on growth strategy\, organizational transformation\, and innovation. Her work in global health included pioneering public-private partnerships that expanded access to essential medicines for millions of children across Asia and Africa. She is also the co-founder of Y2Y (Youth to Youth)\, the largest movement of young leaders bringing innovative ideas to the World Bank. Radha holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School.  She sits on the Board of Directors of the Open Future Institute and has served on the Nationswell Council\, a nationwide network of changemakers and thought leaders. Radha also hosts a monthly talk series with global leaders the People First Community\, a cross-sector coalition advocating for a new paradigm of leadership to advance sustainable development.  Radha is the author of Brave Now and co-editor of What Leadership We Need Now?  Her ideas have been featured in publications such as Forbes\, CEO World\, OECD Forum\, & Greater Good Science Center. She speaks frequently on topics of personal transformation\, system change\, collective leadership\, healing & leading for a new future. \n  \nGretchen Ki Steidle is the Founder and President of Circles for Conscious Change\, a transformative education firm working with social entrepreneurs\, nonprofits\, and corporations on the use of mindfulness as a design tool for social innovation. Gretchen is also the founder and President of Global Grassroots\, an international organization that operated a social venture incubator and mindful-leadership program for women and girls in East Africa. She has an MBA from the Tuck School at Dartmouth and a BA in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia.\nGretchen is author of Leading from Within: Conscious Social Change and Mindfulness for Social Innovation (MIT Press\, 2017) and lectures and teaches on mindfulness and social change worldwide. A certified Integrative Breathworker\, Gretchen has been delivering breath-based therapeutic practices\, resilience training\, and trauma healing since 2002 to a range of individuals globally\, including survivors of and first responders to war and mass disaster. Her workshops have been offered at institutions including the Skoll World Forum\, Omega Institute\, Kripalu Institute\, Wellbeing Project\, AshokaU Exchange\, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and University of Virginia\, among others.\nIn 2007\, Gretchen was honored by World Business Magazine and Shell as one of the top International 35 Women Under 35. She was recognized in 2010 as a CNN Hero volunteering in Haiti after the earthquake. She was chosen in 2011 as one of seven Remarkable Women of the World by New Hampshire Magazine. In 2018\, Gretchen was named one of Inc.’s Top 100 Leadership Speakers. \n  \nSteve Varley serves as the Managing Director at the Garrison Institute. In this role\, Steve is responsible for the comprehensive strategy and support of the Garrison Institute’s efforts to apply the wisdom developed from contemplative practice to modern problems\, with a special interest on the translation of individual practice to community\, organizational\, and systems-level problems. Steve’s previous experience includes leadership roles at prominent organizations such as National Public Radio (NPR) and the University of North Carolina. His leadership at UNC Pembroke resulted in record-breaking fundraising years and was defined by his orientation of service and partnership toward the local community and the Lumbee Tribe. Steve also served as President of the UNC Pembroke Foundation\, an independent organization with endowment management and fundraising responsibility\, where he oversaw millions of dollars in annual grantmaking for students with financial need. Previously\, Steve served as associate dean of advancement at Yale University\, completing a long term of service in health-related fundraising and global health initiatives. Prior to Yale\, he was the vice president of development at Gardner-Webb University\, where he spearheaded the Higher Ground capital campaign\, the university’s most successful fundraising effort in its history. \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/virtual-forum-inner-work-outer-change/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Forum,Virtual
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251006T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251006T201500
DTSTAMP:20260405T093835
CREATED:20250828T181020Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250925T085642Z
UID:45459-1759777200-1759781700@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:Spiritual Cultivation: Inner Practices for Outer Change\, A Pathways Global Speaker Forum Series
DESCRIPTION:Co-sponsored by the Pathways to Planetary Health initiative at the Garrison Institute and the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology \nSpiritual Cultivation: Inner Practices for Outer Change\n  \nIn this session\, we will explore cultivation traditions in China and what they can teach us about resilience and mind-body / inner-outer integration. These practices contribute to the historical\, cultural\, and spiritual roots of Ecological Civilization and provide a foundation for what it looks like today. We will also discuss institutions as a bridge from personal cultivation to societal impact – with connections to what’s happening in schools\, how businesses work\, and the role of governments at different scales. \nKey questions: \n\nWhat are the limitations of technological solutions alone in addressing complex ecological crises?\nHow can science and contemplative traditions be integrated to foster a more holistic understanding of planetary health?\nHow are the cultural and spiritual dimensions of Ecological Civilization unfolding today? What motivates and supports the revival of historical traditions? Where are the applications of these traditions coherent\, and where are they messy and complex?\nWhat does it mean to view humans as part of an interconnected\, living Earth community rather than separate from nature?\nWhat lessons can other nations learn from China’s efforts to embed cultural values in environmental governance?\n\n\n  \nTIMING\nWe will conduct this live Forum on Zoom 7:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. ET on Monday October 6\, 2025. After registering\, you will receive a Zoom link to join the session. \n  \n  \nSPEAKERS\n \nMary Evelyn Tucker\, PhD\, co-directs the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology\, which examines cultural and religious values for broadened environmental ethics. This arose from a series of 10 conferences at Harvard on world religions and ecology that she organized with John Grim. She has published several books on Confucianism including The Philosophy of Qi. She co-edited Confucianism and Ecology (Harvard) and two volumes with Tu Weiming on Confucian Spirituality. She is the co-author of Journey of the Universe with Brian Thomas Swimme and the executive producer of the Emmy Award winning Journey film. This was inspired by Thomas Berry whose books she edited and whose biography she wrote with John Grim. They have been traveling in China since 1985 studying Ecological Civilization. \n  \n \nPeter Senge\, PhD\, is Co-Founder of the Center for Systems Awareness and Senior Lecturer in Leadership & Sustainability at MIT. Peter has been at the forefront of organizational learning since publishing his classic text\, The Fifth Discipline\, which provided theories and methods to foster aspiration\, develop reflective conversation\, and understand complexity in service of shaping learning-oriented organization cultures. Throughout his career\, Peter asks “how do we create the conditions for people to work together at their best\, cultivating the innate systems intelligence that is our birthright but is all but lost in modern culture?”  \n  \n \nStephen Posner\, PhD\, is Director of the Pathways to Planetary Health initiative at the Garrison Institute. He has published over 50 technical and non-technical articles on sustainability science\, leverage points for change\, and methods for assessment of social and ecological systems. Stephen applies science integrated with contemplative practices to help align human systems with nature. He builds understanding across cultures and sectors and serves as a trusted advisor. Stephen was given a copy of the I Ching in his mid 20s and has practiced Qigong and Tai Chi for only 5 years.  \n  \n \nYao Xinzhong\, PhD\, is Professor of Ethics\, and formerly Dean of the School of Philosophy at Renmin University of China. He was also formerly Professor and Director of the King’s China Institute at King’s College London. Prior to this appointment\, Professor Yao was Professor of Religion and Ethics at the University of Wales\, Lampeter\, and a senior research fellow at the Ian Ramsey Centre\, University of Oxford. In 1998\, in recognition of his work promoting Confucianism in the UK\, he was made Honorary President of the Confucian Academy in Hong Kong. Yao has published books and articles on the subject of Confucianism\, including comparative studies with Christianity. He is the author and editor of the 2 volume Encyclopedia of Confucianism and co-edited with Weiming Tu the 4 volume Confucian Studies—Critical Concepts in Asian Philosophy.   \n  \nCultivating Ecological Civilization: Wisdom\, Practice\, and Systems Change\nA Global Speaker Series\n  \nJoin us for our global speaker series that seeks to explore and activate the concept of Ecological Civilization – a guiding philosophy and policy framework for how a nation can balance human development\, social development\, and environmental stewardship. \nThese online dialogues with thought leaders in the field will focus on China’s model as a case study of integrating cultural\, spiritual\, political\, economic\, and ecological dimensions when technological solutions alone are proving insufficient for addressing the deeper roots of our planetary predicaments. \nWe will reflect on how insights from China’s aspirations\, experiments\, and serious efforts to address their own internal challenges might inspire grounded and integrative approaches to Ecological Civilization in Western contexts. \nHosted by Stephen Posner\, PhD\, Director of our Pathways to Planetary Health initiative; Mary Evelyn Tucker\, Co-Director of the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology; Peter Senge\, Co-Founder of the Center for Systems Awareness and Senior Lecturer in Leadership & Sustainability at MIT; and esteemed guests Zhu Yan\, Yao Xinhong\, Binbin Wang\, and Hazim Xie. \nThis series builds from an initial conversation among Mary Evelyn\, Peter\, and Stephen in spring 2025 focused on The Ecological Turn: Bridging Wisdom from Contemplative Traditions with Ecological Ways of Life. \nWe will conduct these LIVE forums on Zoom from 7:00 – 8:15 p.m. ET on  \nMarch 28 \nAugust 28 \n October 6 \n November 5  \n  \n  \n  \nPlease contact us for questions and inquiries at events@garrisoninstitute.org. \n\n  \n\n\n\n\n \n\n  \nIf you are experiencing issues with our check-out cart loading\, please click here to complete your transaction. We apologize for the inconvenience.
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/spiritual-cultivation-pathways-speaker-series-3/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Forum,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Spiritual-Cultivation-Inner-Practices-for-Outer-Change.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251018T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251018T170000
DTSTAMP:20260405T093835
CREATED:20250814T203210Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251016T223954Z
UID:45355-1760792400-1760806800@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:The Deep Wisdom of Ubuntu: Exploring the 7 Domains of Interconnectedness for Healing and Wellness with Dr. Shelly Harrell
DESCRIPTION:  \nAn Online Course with Dr. Shelly Harrell\n  \nJoin Psychologist and Mindfulness teacher Dr. Shelly Harrell\, who will help us connect to ourselves and the world around us. \nThis half-day workshop is rooted in the African philosophy and ethos of ubuntu\, our interconnected humanity. We will ground in the value of African wisdom for contemplative practice more broadly\, and then specifically as a foundation for a deep dive into Dr. Shelly Harrell’s 7 Domains of Interconnectedness. \nThese include: \n\nTemporal/Time-oriented (past/ancestors-present/living-future/descendants)\nExperiential (body-mind-heart-soul)\nRelational (“soul-to-soul”)\nCommunal (community identity\, belonging\, and interdependence)\nPanhuman-Global (our shared humanness)\nCosmo-Ecological (human-nature-cosmos)\nInterdimensional (material-spiritual)\n\nEach domain is a pathway into experiencing the ultimate synergistic interconnectedness among all domains that is central to multiple Indigenous belief systems. \nThe workshop will include didactic\, interactive\, and experiential processes to facilitate multilevel connection to interconnectedness. Attention will be given to implications for psychotherapy and mental health practice. \nJoin us for this virtual retreat. No prior meditation experience is necessary to attend. \n\nRETREAT SCHEDULE \n  \nThis virtual retreat will be conducted through Zoom on Saturday October 18 from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET/10:00 AM – 2:00 PM PT \nThe virtual retreat link will be emailed to participants within twenty-four hours of your registration. Please email us at events@garrisoninstitute.org with questions. \n\n  \n  \nTEACHER\n  \n \nBorn and raised in Detroit\, Dr. Shelly Harrell\, is an award-winning\, Harvard-educated\, and UCLA-trained psychologist\, as well as a certified meditation teacher. As an experienced psychotherapist\, group facilitator\, mentor\, and professor she has been helping\, healing\, teaching\, and training for over 30 years. She is a researcher and published author in the areas of culture and psychological interventions (psychotherapy\, mindfulness-based\, community healing\, etc.)\, sociocultural and sociopolitical aspects of stress and trauma (racism-related\, historical\, etc.)\, and psychological well-being among Black\, Indigenous\, and People of Color (BIPOC). Her work is informed by cultural\, African-centered\, community\, humanistic\, decolonial\, and liberation psychologies\, contemplative practice and pedagogy\, and stress science.. Please click here to learn more about her work. \n\n  \n  \nSCHOLARSHIPS\n  \nA limited number of scholarships are available for this retreat. Please Click here to apply Please do not sign up for the event if you have submitted an application\, but rather wait to hear from us. For questions\, please contact us at: scholarships@garrisoninstitute.org \n  \n  \n\n\n\n\n\n \n\nIf you are experiencing issues with our check-out cart loading\, please click here to complete your transaction. We apologize for the inconvenience.
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/exploring-the-7-domains-of-interconnectedness/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Forum,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/The-Deep-Wisdom-of-Ubuntu-Dr.-Shelly-Harrell-.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251020T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251121T000000
DTSTAMP:20260405T093835
CREATED:20250912T005520Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251022T214321Z
UID:46120-1760918400-1763683200@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:Inner Transformation for Social Changemakers: Clarity\, Resilience & Purpose\, Cohort IV
DESCRIPTION:GARRISON INSTITUTE & TIANREN CULTURE\nVIRTUAL COURSE\nOctober 20 – November 21\, 2025 \n  \nIn a time of profound global change\, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. This 5-week online course series offers a space to pause\, reflect\, and reconnect with what truly matters—so you can lead with clarity\, resilience\, and purpose. \n\nWHAT YOU WILL LEARN\n  \n\nClarity in Vision: Strengthen your planning and decision-making through contemplative practices \nResilience for Changemakers: Develop inner stability to navigate challenges with confidence \nPurpose-driven Social Action: Align your work with deeper purpose for lasting impact \nToolkit for Inner Strength: Gain research-backed contemplative practices to build and sustain adaptability in your daily work \n\n \nJoin a global community of social impact leaders\, nonprofit professionals\, and changemakers as we engage in live conversations with expert speakers\, explore practical\, effective tools\, and cultivate sustainable leadership practices. The contemplative practices that will be offered are suitable for those who are new to contemplative work and experienced practitioners. \n\n\nCOURSE FORMAT \n\nThe course series will be offered LIVE online via Zoom over a five-week period from October 20 to November 21. The livestream format will include experiential activities and a supportive online chat community. A tech team member will be available to provide support throughout the program. Recordings of the course sessions will also be available for enrollees. \n\n  \n\nCOURSE PARTICIPANT TESTIMONIALS\n  \n“This course helped me contemplate how healing it can be when we allow ourselves to step back from our daily routine and create space to just be with nature and with our own nature.” – Marwa Elgezery\, M.Ed.\, EdD.\, Head of School\, Sakura International School  \n“Becoming more aware of my body has significantly changed how I perceive my emotions and manage self-regulation during challenging times. Embodied presence during the days\, meetings\, etc. also helps me to better connect with people around me\, as I am more aware of how my body is responding to what is happening in the present moment.” – Geissy Araujo\, Neuroscientist and Psychologist  \n“When I heard the teacher’s words\, thoughts\, and reflections\, I felt like I was being understood by someone\, someone who doesn’t know me personally\, but they could tell how I was feeling.” – Junli Zhai  \n\nLIVE COURSE SESSIONS\n  \nSession 1: Foundations of Contemplation and Inner Transformation – Ancient Wisdom and New Science on the Practice of Meditation — Cortland Dahl\nThursday October 23 @ 9:00 -10:30 pm HKT / 9:00 -10:30 am EDT \nMeditation is often much easier than we think. With just a few minutes each day\, we can shift from a state of obsessive doing to one of effortless being\, tapping into a deep reservoir of awareness\, compassion\, and wisdom. Drawing on both timeless contemplative traditions and the latest scientific research\, this session will explore the foundations of contemplation and inner transformation. \nParticipants will be introduced to simple micro-practices that can be used anytime\, anywhere—even in stressful moments—as opportunities for inner exploration and self-discovery. Through guided practices and reflection\, we will examine how meditative awareness helps us transform challenges into opportunities for growth\, and how intentional inner work strengthens integrity\, well-being\, and impact in the wider world. \nSession 2: Contemplating Nature\, the Divine Feminine\, and the Universe as Sound – Connecting to Ourselves and Our World as an Interdependent Web — Chandra Easton\nThursday October 30 @ 9:00 -10:30 pm HKT/ 9:00 – 10:30 am EDT \nAcross contemplative traditions\, the feminine is seen as a generative force—embodying compassion\, creativity\, and the deep wisdom of interconnection. In this session\, we will explore practices rooted in Tibetan Buddhist teachings on Tara\, the goddess of compassion\, and the principle of sound as a doorway into presence and belonging. \nThrough chanting\, sound practices\, and seated meditation\, participants will discover how these timeless methods can open the heart\, deepen resilience\, and expand perspective. By attuning to the interdependent web of life\, we cultivate compassion\, insight\, and a felt sense of connection with one another and the world around us. \nSession 3: The Power of the Heart and the Breath – Restoring Balance\, Coherence\, and Emotional Resilience — Motoko Kimura\nThursday November 6 @ 9:00 – 10:30pm HKT/ 8:00 – 9:30am EST \nModern research shows that the heart is more than a physical organ—it plays a vital role in emotional regulation\, resilience\, and our sense of inner balance. In this session\, we explore the practice of heart-focused breathing and meditation\, drawing on insights from the HeartMath system\, which combines heart–brain science with practical tools for well-being. \nParticipants will learn simple breathwork and meditation techniques that help restore balance in moments of stress\, activate positive emotions\, and cultivate a state of heart coherence—an alignment of body\, mind\, and emotions that supports both clarity and compassion. By attuning to the heart and breath\, we open a pathway to greater resilience\, emotional stability\, and a renewed sense of purpose. \nSession 4: Exploring the Wisdom of the Body: Contemplation in Motion — Arawana Hayashi\nThursday November 13 @ 9:00 – 10:30pm HKT/ Thursday November 13 @ 8:00 – 9:30 am EST \nThe body holds an innate wisdom that can guide us toward greater resilience\, clarity\, and responsive leadership. In this session\, we explore how mindful movement and embodied practices can deepen self-understanding and strengthen our capacity to lead with presence. \nDrawing from traditions such as Tai Chi\, Qi Gong\, yoga\, breathwork\, and somatics\, participants will engage in practices that cultivate awareness of the body in motion. These contemplative methods offer a way to shift from reactivity to responsiveness\, helping us embody resilience\, expand perspective\, and lead with greater integrity and balance. \nSession 5: Becoming an Integrated Leader: From Personal Practice to Social Impact — Yuki Imoto\nThursday November 20 @ 9:00 – 10:30 pm HKT/  8:00-9:30am EST \nThis closing session weaves together the insights and practices of the course\, focusing on how contemplative methods can be integrated into daily life and leadership. By grounding leadership in inner practice\, we strengthen the foundation for resilience\, collaboration\, and meaningful change. \nThrough group practice\, reflection\, and action commitments\, participants will identify the tools and approaches that best support their clarity and well-being. We will also explore practical strategies for weaving breathwork\, nature connection\, and somatic practices into the work of social impact—highlighting how inner transformation fuels collective wisdom and leadership for the greater good. \n  \n*** \nTEACHERS\n\n Cortland Dahl\, Ph.D. is a scientist\, translator\, and meditation teacher. His eclectic background includes eight years spent living in Tibetan refugee settlements in India and Nepal and cutting-edge research at the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is the author of A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism\, the Dharma Lab Substack and the forthcoming Born to Flourish\, both with Dr. Richard Davidson. He is also the creator of the award-winning Healthy Minds Program\, a free mobile app. He has published numerous scientific articles\, released twelve books of translations of ancient Tibetan meditation manuals\, and is the cofounder of Tergar International\, which oversees a global network of meditation groups and centers. Learn more at https://cortlanddahl.com/. \n Dorje Lopön Chandra Easton is a Dharma teacher\, author\, and translator of Tibetan Buddhist texts\, empowered as Dorje Lopön (Vajra Teacher) of Tara Mandala by Lama Tsultrim Allione and Tulku Sang‑ngag Rinpoche. Rooted in Vajrayana\, Dzogchen\, and the feminine wisdom traditions\, she offers retreats\, courses\, and music that make ancient teachings accessible and alive for today’s world. She is the author of Embodying Tara: Twenty‑One Manifestations to Awaken Your Innate Wisdom (Shambhala\, 2023). Learn more at www.chandraeaston.com. \n Motoko Kimura is a space holder devoted to awakening harmony within people’s hearts. She founded WaNavi Japan and Healing Connections LLC to nurture personal and collective transformation through cultural wisdom and healing practices. As a teacher of Japanese culture\, she offers The Way of Tea and traditional practices as doorways into presence and connection. As a healing guide\, she weaves HeartMath®\, Cranial-Sacral Bio-Dynamics\, and The Connection Practice to support people experience a state of inner harmony and invite gentle transformation. Through these two pillars\, Motoko invites others into a field of compassion and coherence\, in deep resonance with the rhythms of nature. Learn more at https://www.wanavi.org/motoko-kimura. \n  \n \n  \n  \nArawana Hayashi heads the creation of Social Presencing Theater (SPT) for the Presencing Institute\, where she serves as a core faculty. Working with Otto Scharmer\, Peter Senge\, and colleagues\, she brings her background in the arts\, meditation\, and social justice to creating “social presencing” that makes visible both current reality and emerging future possibilities for individuals and groups. Arawana is both an improvisational dancer and a lineage holder of the Japanese traditional dance of Bugaku. She is also a longtime practitioner and senior teacher in the Shambhala tradition of meditation. Arawana delivers workshops on SPT throughout the world. Learn more at www.arawanahayashi.com.   \n  \n \n  \n  \nYuki Imoto is an anthropologist\, educator\, and an associate professor of liberal arts at Keio University\, Japan. She gained her doctorate in anthropology from the University of Oxford\, and her research interests lie in embodied and transformative learning\, and the anthropology of Japanese education and healing practices. Yuki has been leading communities in Japan to bring holistic ways of being into education and research. She is a Mind & Life Fellow\, director of the Centre for Contemplative Studies at Keio University\, as well as director of SEE Learning Japan. https://ccs.keio.ac.jp/home/en  \n  \nFor inquiries please contact us at:  nicholchase@garrisoninstitute.org. \n\nPRICING\n  \n\n$49 USD: 9/12 – 9/22\n$99 USD: 9/23 – 10/3\n$199 USD: 10/4 – 10/20\nRegistration Extended to November 2!\nGroup Discount: To inquire about special group rates for your organization\, please contact Nichol Chase at nicholchase@garrisoninstitute.org.\n\n  \nGENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY COLLABORATING PARTNER TIANREN CULTURE \n \n\n\n\n\n\n \n\nIf you are experiencing issues with our check-out cart loading\, please click here to complete your transaction. We apologize for the inconvenience.
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/inner-transformation-for-social-changemakers-clarity-resilience-purpose-iv/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Inner-Transformation_Fall-2025_no-text-.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251105T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251105T201500
DTSTAMP:20260405T093835
CREATED:20250924T213836Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251105T190602Z
UID:45465-1762369200-1762373700@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:Intergenerational Learning: Youth\, Elders\, and the Continuity of Wisdom. A Pathways Global Speaker Forum Series
DESCRIPTION:Co-sponsored by the Pathways to Planetary Health initiative at the Garrison Institute and the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology \nIntergenerational Learning: Youth\, Elders\, and the Continuity of Wisdom\n  \nWe will explore the value of mentorship and model intergenerational dialogue that spans timeframes and contexts. We will warmly invite perspectives from across various life stages to inform ecological identity and moral literacy\, sustain cultural regeneration\, and consider the longer-range past and future in order to understand our place in the present.  \n  \nKey questions: \n\nHow can intergenerational learning foster a deeper commitment to planetary health? \nHow can younger generations be supported in cultivating ecological awareness and ethical responsibility?\nHow can we reimagine education to integrate relational worldviews\, contemplative practices\, and compassionate learning systems?\nHow can we integrate what we’ve been learning into practical possibilities? What does cultivation for personal\, social\, and institutional change look like?\n\n\n  \nTIMING\nWe will conduct this live Forum on Zoom at 7:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday November 5\, 2025. After registering\, you will receive a Zoom link to join the session. \n  \n  \nSPEAKERS\n \nMary Evelyn Tucker\, PhD\, co-directs the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology\, which examines cultural and religious values for broadened environmental ethics. This arose from a series of 10 conferences at Harvard on world religions and ecology that she organized with John Grim. She has published several books on Confucianism including The Philosophy of Qi. She co-edited Confucianism and Ecology (Harvard) and two volumes with Tu Weiming on Confucian Spirituality. She is the co-author of Journey of the Universe with Brian Thomas Swimme and the executive producer of the Emmy Award winning Journey film. This was inspired by Thomas Berry whose books she edited and whose biography she wrote with John Grim.They have been traveling in China since 1985 studying Ecological Civilization. \n  \n \nPeter Senge\, PhD\, is Co-Founder of the Center for Systems Awareness and Senior Lecturer in Leadership & Sustainability at MIT. Peter has been at the forefront of organizational learning since publishing his classic text\, The Fifth Discipline\, which provided theories and methods to foster aspiration\, develop reflective conversation\, and understand complexity in service of shaping learning-oriented organization cultures. Throughout his career\, Peter asks “how do we create the conditions for people to work together at their best\, cultivating the innate systems intelligence that is our birthright but is all but lost in modern culture?”  \n  \n \nStephen Posner\, PhD\, is Director of the Pathways to Planetary Health initiative at the Garrison Institute. He has published over 50 technical and non-technical articles on sustainability science\, leverage points for change\, and methods for assessment of social and ecological systems. Stephen applies science integrated with contemplative practices to help align human systems with nature. He builds understanding across cultures and sectors and serves as a trusted advisor. Stephen was given a copy of the I Ching in his mid 20s and has practiced Qigong and Tai Chi for only 5 years.  \n  \n \nBinbin Wang\, PhD\, is Research Professor and Founder of Climate Future Global Innovation Lab (C Force Lab) at the Institute of Carbon Neutrality\, Peking University. She has tracked the UNFCCC process since 2009 and was selected as Yale World Fellow in 2023. She is the author of China’s Green Transition on Climate Change Communication and Governance\, nominated by Springer Nature as the 2022 New China Development Awards. She is now accelerating bottom-up action and joint efforts from China to the world for the global net-zero transition. \n  \n \nZongxu (Hazim) Xie is the first and only Miao (Hmong) representative from China selected as a UN Indigenous Fellow. He co-initiated Vision 2061\, promoting Chinese ecological civilization and Miao traditional wisdom on global platforms – including dialogues with UN Secretary-General António Guterres at COP 29. The Miao brand he founded serves as a local implementation model for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  \n  \n  \n  \nCultivating Ecological Civilization: Wisdom\, Practice\, and Systems Change\nA Global Speaker Series\n  \nJoin us for our global speaker series that seeks to explore and activate the concept of Ecological Civilization – a guiding philosophy and policy framework for how a nation can balance human development\, social development\, and environmental stewardship. \nThese online dialogues with thought leaders in the field will focus on China’s model as a case study of integrating cultural\, spiritual\, political\, economic\, and ecological dimensions when technological solutions alone are proving insufficient for addressing the deeper roots of our planetary predicaments. \nWe will reflect on how insights from China’s aspirations\, experiments\, and serious efforts to address their own internal challenges might inspire grounded and integrative approaches to Ecological Civilization in Western contexts. \nHosted by Stephen Posner\, PhD\, Director of our Pathways to Planetary Health initiative; Mary Evelyn Tucker\, Co-Director of the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology; Peter Senge\, Co-Founder of the Center for Systems Awareness and Senior Lecturer in Leadership & Sustainability at MIT; and esteemed guests Zhu Yan\, Yao Xinhong\, Binbin Wang\, and Hazim Xie. \nThis series builds from an initial conversation among Mary Evelyn\, Peter\, and Stephen in spring 2025 focused on The Ecological Turn: Bridging Wisdom from Contemplative Traditions with Ecological Ways of Life. \nWe will conduct these LIVE forums on Zoom from 7:00 – 8:15pm ET on \nMarch 28 \nAugust 28 \n October 6 \n November 5  \n  \n  \n  \nPlease contact us for questions and inquiries at events@garrisoninstitute.org. \n\n\n\n\n\n \n\nIf you are experiencing issues with our check-out cart loading\, please click here to complete your transaction. We apologize for the inconvenience.
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/intergenerational-learning-pathways-speaker-series-4/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Forum,Virtual
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251107
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251110
DTSTAMP:20260405T093835
CREATED:20250909T165449Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251107T163419Z
UID:46016-1762473600-1762732799@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:Contemplative Wisdom\, Transformative Action Conference
DESCRIPTION:Harnessing Wisdom Traditions and Science for Social Change \n  \nHosted by the Garrison Institute Fellowship Program\, Contemplative Wisdom\, Transformative Action is a three-day virtual gathering that brings together contemplative practitioners\, social change leaders\, scholars\, and visionaries. Together\, we will explore how awareness-based practices can catalyze personal resilience\, systemic healing\, and collective regeneration. \nAnchored in the Fellowship’s four core pillars—contemplative wisdom\, the science of interconnection\, generative action\, and collective healing—this convening is a space to deepen understanding\, share field-leading innovations\, and cultivate new possibilities for social transformation. \nDrawing inspiration from the Garrison Institute’s Spirituality & Social Change Initiative\, the conference will highlight an evolving map of organizations integrating contemplative practice into their social impact work. This initiative illuminates a growing ecosystem of changemakers who lead from depth\, relationship\, and reciprocity. \nParticipants will hear from renowned guest experts\, engage in guided contemplative practices\, and connect with Fellows and peers through storytelling\, field-mapping\, and experiential sessions. Together\, we will explore how contemplative values—such as stillness\, compassion\, and interdependence—can guide regenerative leadership and support lasting social transformation. \nCore Question: How can contemplative wisdom nourish bold\, transformative action in times of planetary urgency? \nThis gathering is a field-building moment for those cultivating justice\, compassion\, and planetary well-being from the inside out.  \n  \nWHO SHOULD ATTEND\nThis conference is designed for: \n\nContemplative practitioners seeking to deepen their engagement with social change.\nEducators\, nonprofit leaders\, and organizational changemakers integrating contemplative practices into their work.\nScholars and researchers exploring the intersections of spirituality\, neuroscience\, and social transformation. \nActivists\, artists\, and visionaries committed to regenerative leadership and collective healing.\n\n  \nEVENT DETAILS\nThis conference will be hosted virtually through Zoom\, allowing participants from around the world to gather in real time. Registered participants will receive a secure Zoom link\, as well as access to session recordings for continued learning after the event.  \n\nDates: Friday\, November 7 – Sunday\, November 9\, 2025\nTimes: Daily sessions (see agenda below)\nLocation: Online via Zoom \n\n\n\n\n\n\n	AGENDA\n\n\n\n\n	Day 1Friday\, November 7\n\n\n	Theme:Entering the Field: Attunement\, Imagination\, and the Sublime\n\n\n	Time:3:00 PM - 7:00 PM ET\n\n\n	\n\n\n	3:00 - 3:20 PMWelcome & Grounding Practice\n\n\n	Led by Garrison Institute leadership\, with music/poetic opening\n\n\n	3:20 - 4:50 PMSession 1:Awareness as Bridge – From Self to Systems\, from Wounds to Wholeness\n\n\n	Guest Experts: Jon Kabat-Zinn\, Dan Siegel & Rev. angel Kyodo williams\n\n\n	5:00 - 6:30 PMSession 2:The Art of Awakening – Music\, Poetry & Embodied Creativity\n\n\n	Guest Experts: Laura Inserra\, Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz & Arawana Hayashi\n\n\n	6:30 - 7:00 PMRelational Sensemaking\n\n\n	Fellows lead an integrative practice weaving art\, neuroscience\, and embodiment.\n\n\n	\n\n\n	Day 2Saturday\, November 8\n\n\n	Theme:Embodying Change: From Justice to Leadership\n\n\n	Time:11:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET\n\n\n	\n\n\n	11:00 - 11:30 AM Morning Practice\n\n\n	11:30 AM - 1:00 PMSession 3: Somatics\, Dharma & the Work of Collective Liberation \n\n\n	Guest Experts: Resmaa Menakem & Kaira Jewel Lingo\n\n\n	1:10 – 2:40 PMSession 4:Ethical Leadership – Transforming Leadership at Scale\n\n\n	Guest Experts: Max Klau & Douglas Rushkoff\n\n\n	2:50 – 4:20 PMSession 5: The Mind's Eye — Cultivating Attention\, Inner Development & Collective Resilience\n\n\n	Guest Experts: Cliff Saron & Robert Roser\n\n\n	4:20 – 5:00 PMRelational Sensemaking\n\n\n	Fellows facilitate embodied reflection on justice and leadership.\n\n\n	\n\n\n	Day 3Sunday\, November 9\n\n\n	Theme:Earth\, Spirit\, and the Future We’re Making\n\n\n	Time:11:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET\n\n\n	\n\n\n	11:00 - 11:30 AM Morning Practice\n\n\n	11:30 AM - 1:00 PMSession 6:Living Earth – Ecology\, Resilience & Social Transformation\n\n\n	Guest Experts: Mary Evelyn Tucker & Elissa Epel\n\n\n	1:10 – 2:40 PMSession 7:Transforming Justice from the Inside Out\n\n\n	Guest Experts: Gretchen Ki Steidle & guests \n\n\n	2:50 – 4:20 PMCulminating Plenary:Weaving the Future – Insight\, Action & Our Shared Field\n\n\n	\n\n\n	4:20 – 5:00 PMRelational Sensemaking\n\n\n	Fellows guide participants in weaving across ecology\, spirit\, and justice\, moving from insight into commitments.\n\n\n\n\n  \n  \nHOSTS\nDr. Angel Acosta – Healing-Centered Leader & Founder\, Acosta Institute has worked to bridge the fields of leadership\, social justice\, and mindfulness for over a decade. He holds a doctorate degree in curriculum and teaching at Teachers College\, Columbia University. Acosta has supported more than educational leaders and their students by facilitating leadership trainings\, creating pathways to higher education\, and designing dynamic learning experiences. His dissertation explored healing-centered education as a promising framework for educational leadership development. After participating in the Mind and Life Institute’s Academy for Contemplative Leadership\, Acosta began consulting and developing learning experiences that weave leadership development with conversations about inequality and healing\, to support educational leaders through contemplative and restorative practices. As a former trustee for the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society\, he participated as a speaker and discussant at the Asia Pacific Forum on Holistic Education in Kyoto\, Japan. He continues to consult for organizations like the NYC Department of Education\, UNICEF\, Columbia University and others. Over the last couple of years\, he has designed the Contemplating 400 Years of Inequality Experience–a contemplative journey to understand structural inequality. He’s a proud member of the 400 Years of Inequality Project\, based at the New School. He is currently the Director of the Garrison Institute Fellowship Program and the Chief Curator at the Acosta Institute. \n  \nNichol Chase\, ERYT-500\, TSM\, is an educator\, program leader\, and contemplative teacher specializing in resilience science\, trauma-informed care\, and embodied wisdom practices. A Fellow of the Garrison Institute\, she designs and leads programs integrating mindfulness\, movement\, and music to help individuals and communities navigate stress\, heal from trauma\, and cultivate well-being. Nichol has presented and led practices at UCSF\, Spirit Rock\, Kripalu\, Esalen\, the Climate CAP Summit for MBA students\, and BrainMind. She is the co-author of a forthcoming chapter on trauma-informed yoga for the Palgrave Handbook of Third-Wave Psychotherapy with researchers from the Chinese Academy of Science\, James Cook University\, Bangor University\, and Santa Clara University. A classically trained ballerina and opera singer\, Nichol brings creativity and depth to her teaching. She is the founder of the Wisdom Building Method School\, creator of a 300-hour advanced trauma-informed yoga teacher training\, and faculty in anatomy and physiology for multiple yoga teacher training schools. Trained in diverse lineages—including Iyengar\, Ashtanga\, Anusara yoga\, Tibetan Buddhism\, Advaita Vedanta\, and iRest Yoga Nidra—she has studied with Jack Kornfield\, Tara Brach\, Richard Miller\, David Treleaven\, Noah Mazé\, Douglas Brooks\, Annie Carpenter\, and Richard Rosen. Nichol’s work integrates embodied practice\, science\, and contemplative wisdom to advance resilience\, trauma-informed care\, and holistic well-being. Learn more at https://www.nicholjoychase.com/. \n\n\nSPEAKERS\n  \nJon Kabat-Zinn\, Ph.D.\, did his doctoral work in molecular biology at MIT in the laboratory of the Nobel Laureate\, Salvador Luria. He is Professor of Medicine emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School\, where he founded the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine\, Health Care\, and Society (in 1995)\, and (in 1979) its world-renown Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Clinic. He is the author of 15 books\, the most recent of which are Mindfulness Meditation for Pain Relief (2023)\, and a Thirtieth Anniversary Edition of Wherever You Go\, There You Are 2024). Others include Full Catastrophe Living\, Wherever You Go\, There You Are\, and Mindfulness for Beginners. In 2018/2019\, he published a series of four volumes updating and expanding the 2005 edition of Coming to Our Senses: Meditation is Not What You Think; Falling Awake; The Healing Power of Mindfulness; and Mindfulness for All. His books are published in over 45 languages. His work has contributed to a growing movement of mindfulness into mainstream institutions such as medicine\, psychology\, health care\, neuroscience\, schools\, higher education\, business\, social justice\, criminal justice\, prisons\, the law\, technology\, government\, and professional sports. Over 700 hospitals and medical centers around the world now offer MBSR. Jon lectures and leads mindfulness workshops and retreats around the world and online. In the Spring of 2020\, at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic\, he offered 66 consecutive weekdays of 90 minute online guided meditations\, talks\, and dialogue\, the so-called mitigation retreat. Learn more at jonkabat-zinn.com. \n  \nDaniel J. Siegel\, M.D.\, is the Founder and Director of Education of the Mindsight Institute and Founding Co-Director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA\, where he was also Co-Principal Investigator of the Center for Culture\, Brain and Development and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the School of Medicine. An award-winning educator\, Dan is the author of five New York Times bestsellers and over fifteen other books which have been translated into over forty languages. As the founding editor of the Norton Professional Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology (“IPNB”)\, Dan has overseen the publication of over one hundred books in the transdisciplinary IPNB framework which focuses on the mind and mental health. A graduate of Harvard Medical School\, Dan completed his postgraduate training at UCLA specializing in pediatrics\, and adult\, adolescent\, and child psychiatry. He was trained in attachment research and narrative analysis through a National Institute of Mental Health research training fellowship focusing on how relationships shape our autobiographical ways of making sense of our lives and influence our development across the lifespan. Learn more about Dr. Siegel at: drdansiegel.com. \n  \nLaura Inserra is a sound alchemist\, multi-instrumentalist\, and internationally recognized pioneer in the field of sound and transformation. Born in Sicily and classically trained as well as self-taught\, she blends ancient wisdom traditions\, psychology\, mythology\, and modern science with immersive sound experiences. A world-renowned Hang musician\, Laura performs on a vast array of rare instruments\, creating music and environments that foster healing\, connection\, and transformation. She developed MetaMusic Healing\, a modality combining sound\, ancient practices\, and psychology\, and her work has been featured in the New York Times bestseller Your Brain on Art and selected by Johns Hopkins for research on music’s therapeutic benefits. Through retreats\, corporate programs\, global conferences\, and her Chambers of AWE project\, she designs meta-sensory experiences to cultivate leadership\, creativity\, and well-being. Her recent planetarium film Qualia bridges music\, science\, and ancient wisdom to open audiences to wonder and transformation. \n  \nYolanda Sealey-Ruiz\, Ph.D. is a Professor of English Education at Teachers College\, Columbia University\, and a leading voice on racial literacy in education. She is the co-editor of five books\, including the forthcoming All About Black Girl Love: bell hooks and Pedagogies of Love (2024)\, and co-author of the award-winning Advancing Racial Literacies in Teacher Education (2021)\, where she introduces her Archeology of Self™ framework. A poet as well as a scholar\, she has published two poetry collections: Love from the Vortex & Other Poems (2020) and The Peace Chronicles (2021). Yolanda has been named one of EdWeek’s EduScholar Influencers for three consecutive years\, placing her among the top 1% of educational scholars in the U.S.\, and in 2024 she received NYU’s Dorothy Height Distinguished Alumni Award. She is the founder of the Racial Literacy Project @TC and the long-running Racial Literacy Roundtables Series\, and she delivered the opening talk at the 2022 TEDxUPenn conference. Her work has been featured in Spike Lee’s 2 Fists Up: We Gon’ Be Alright (2016) and in the documentary Defining Us: Children at the Crossroads of Change. Connect with her on Twitter at @RuizSealey and Instagram at @yolie_sealeyruiz. \n  \nArawana Hayashi heads the creation of Social Presencing Theater (SPT) for the Presencing Institute\, where she serves as a core faculty. Working with Otto Scharmer\, Peter Senge\, and colleagues\, she brings her background in the arts\, meditation\, and social justice to creating “social presencing” that makes visible both current reality and emerging future possibilities for individuals and groups. Arawana is both an improvisational dancer and a lineage holder of the Japanese traditional dance of Bugaku. She is also a longtime practitioner and senior teacher in the Shambhala tradition of meditation. Arawana delivers workshops on SPT throughout the world. Learn more at arawanahayashi.com.  \n  \n Resmaa Menakem\, MSW\, LICSW\, SEP is a therapist\, author\, and cultural architect based in Minneapolis\, internationally recognized for his work on racialized trauma\, communal healing\, and embodied antiracist practice. He is the originator of Somatic Abolitionism\, a transformative approach to healing and culture building\, and the founder of Justice Leadership Solutions and the Cultural Somatics Institute. A senior fellow at The Meadows Behavioral Healthcare\, Resmaa is the author of the New York Times bestseller My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies (2017)\, as well as The Quaking of America (2022)\, Monsters in Love (2022)\, and The Stories from My Grandmother’s Hands (2023). His career spans decades of work as a counselor\, mediator\, and community organizer\, including serving as a military family consultant in Afghanistan\, directing counseling services for Tubman Family Alliance\, and leading behavioral health at African American Family Services in Minneapolis. In 2022 he launched The Addieun Foundation to support healing in marginalized communities\, and in 2023 released the online course Healing Racialized Trauma: Somatic Abolitionism for Every Body with Sounds True. Resmaa is a sought-after voice in national conversations on race and healing\, with appearances on On Being\, 10% Happier\, The Breakfast Club\, Tha God’s Honest Truth\, and Oprah’s Sundays with Vernā. Learn more at resmaa.com. (Photo by Nancy Wong) \n  \nKaira Jewel Lingo is a Dharma teacher with a lifelong interest in spirituality and social justice. Her work continues the Engaged Buddhism developed by Thich Nhat Hanh\, and she draws inspiration from her parents’ lives of service and her dad’s work with Martin Luther King\, Jr. After living as an ordained nun for 15 years in Thich Nhat Hanh’s monastic community\, Kaira Jewel now teaches internationally in the Zen lineage and the Vipassana tradition\, as well as in secular mindfulness\, at the intersection of racial\, climate and social justice with a focus on Black\, Indigenous\, and People of Color\, and activists\, as well as artists\, educators\, families\, and youth. Based in New York\, she offers spiritual mentoring to groups and is author of We Were Made for These Times: Ten Lessons in Moving through Change\, Loss and Disruption and co-author of Healing Our Way Home: Black Buddhist Teachings on Ancestors\, Joy and Liberation. Learn more at kairajewel.com. \n  \nDr. Max Klau is the Founder of the Center for Courageous Wholeness\, an organization dedicated to helping individuals and organizations integrate shadow\, serve others\, and scale their impact. He recently served as the Chief Program Officer at the New Politics Leadership Academy (NPLA)\, an organization focused on bringing more servant leaders–military vets and alumni of national service programs like AmeriCorps and Peace Corps–into politics. Prior to that\, he was the Vice President of Leadership Development at City Year\, the education-focused AmeriCorps program. He received his doctorate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2005 with a focus on human development and leadership. His second book\, Developing Servant Leaders at Scale: How to Do It and Why It Matters\, was published in August 2025. He is a husband\, father\, consultant\, speaker\, Integral Master Coach\, and musician. Learn more about him at centerforcourageouswholeness.org. \n  \nDouglas Rushkoff\, Ph.D. is an author\, documentarian\, and professor whose work explores human autonomy in a digital age. Named one of the “world’s ten most influential intellectuals” by MIT\, he is the author of over twenty books\, including Survival of the Richest: Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires (2022)\, Team Human (2019)\, and bestsellers such as Present Shock\, Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus\, Program or Be Programmed\, Life Inc\, and Media Virus. He is also the creator of the award-winning PBS Frontline documentaries Generation Like\, The Persuaders\, and Merchants of Cool. Rushkoff coined concepts like “viral media\,” “screenagers\,” and “social currency\,” and has been a leading voice in applying digital media toward economic and social justice. He is Professor of Media Theory and Digital Economics at CUNY/Queens\, where he founded the Laboratory for Digital Humanism\, and serves as a research fellow at the Institute for the Future. A frequent commentator in major media and host of the Team Human podcast\, his work bridges media\, technology\, culture\, and economics to help reorient digital society toward human values. Learn more at rushkoff.com. \n\nClifford Saron\, PhD is a Research Scientist Emeritus at the Center for Mind and Brain and MIND Institute at the University of California at Davis. He received his Ph.D. in neuroscience from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York in 1999. In the early 1990s he conducted field research investigating Tibetan Buddhist mind training under the auspices of the Office of H.H. the Dalai Lama. A faculty member at Mind and Life Summer Research Institutes in the US and Europe\, he received the inaugural Mind and Life Service Award in 2018. Dr. Saron directs the Shamatha Project\, a multidisciplinary longitudinal investigation of the effects of intensive meditation on physiological and psychological processes central to well-being. In 2012\, Dr. Saron and his research team were awarded the inaugural Templeton Prize Research Grant in honor of H.H. the Dalai Lama. Currently his research team is investigating the consequences of compassion vs. mindfulness training on engagement with suffering\, as well as how meditation experience may have affected stress coping and cellular aging during the pandemic. His other research area focuses on sensory processing and integration in children with autism spectrum development to better understand how these children experience everyday environments. \n  \nRobert W. Roeser is the Alice Valli Professor of Compassion and Ethics and Professor of Behavioral Social and Health Education Sciences at Emory University. He also serves as the Director of Research for the Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-based Ethics in the College of Arts and Sciences. His training is in education\, developmental science\, clinical social work and religion; and he is a thought leader in the emerging fields of Contemplative Education and Developmental Contemplative Science. Dr. Roeser’s research interests include adolescence and early adulthood\, schooling from Pre-K to College/University as a central cultural context of students’ academic\, social-emotional and identity development; and the role of mindfulness and compassion training for teachers and students.  His recent work has focused on introducing mindfulness and compassion practices in for-credit\, college courses for students to help them to (a) manage mental health challenges and (b) pursue their own vision of a life of flourishing. \n  \nMary Evelyn Tucker is co-director with John Grim of the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology. They are affiliated faculty with the Yale Center for Environmental Justice at the Yale School of the Environment. They organized 10 conferences on World Religions and Ecology at Harvard and were series editors for the 10 resulting volumes from Harvard. Her research area is Asian religions and she co-edited Confucianism and Ecology\, Buddhism and Ecology\, and Hinduism and Ecology. She has authored with Grim\, Ecology and Religion (Island Press\, 2014). They co-edited the Routledge Handbook of Religion and Ecology (2017) with Willis Jenkins. They are editors for the series on Ecology and Justice from Orbis Books. They have created six online courses in Religions and Ecology: Restoring the Earth Community\, which include Indigenous religions\, Western religions\, and Asian religions. They also edited the books of cultural historian\, Thomas Berry\, including Selected Writings (Orbis 2014). They published Thomas Berry: A Biography (Columbia University Press\, 2019) with Andrew Angyal. With Brian Thomas Swimme\, they created a multi-media project Journey of the Universe that includes a book (Yale\, 2011)\, an Emmy Award winning film on PBS\, a series of podcast Conversations\, and free online courses from Yale/Coursera.  Tucker was a member of the Earth Charter Drafting committee and the International Earth Charter Council. She won the Inspiring Yale Teaching Award in 2015 and has been awarded 7 honorary degrees. With Grim\, she has received numerous awards\, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society for the Study of Religion\, Nature\, and Culture. \n  \nElissa Epel\, Ph.D\, (pronunciation) is an international expert on stress\, well-being\, and optimal aging and a best-selling author.  She is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences\, at the University of California\, San Francisco\, where she is Vice Chair of Psychology and directs the Aging Metabolism Emotions Center.  She studies the environmental\, psychological\, behavioral\, and social factors that impact cellular aging (such as telomeres\, inflammation\, and mitochondria)\, and is also focusing on climate wellness. She studies how self-care practices such as meditation and positive stress can promote psychological and physiological thriving and is interested in large-scale interventions for communal well-being and health equity. She co-wrote the New York Times best-seller “The Telomere Effect: A revolutionary approach to living younger\, longer” with Nobel Laureate Elizabeth Blackburn (translated into 30 languages) and the new “Stress Prescription\,” an independent bookstore best seller and being translated into 15 languages. She enjoys leading science-based meditation retreats. Epel is a member of the National Academy of Medicine\, past President of the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research\, and past co-chair of the Mind & Life Institute Steering Council.  She has served as a consultant to NIH\, CDC\, Facebook\, Apple\, United Health\, and UC campus-wide initiatives on stress and health.  Epel’s research has been featured in venues such as TEDMED\, Wisdom 2.0\, NBC’s Today Show\, CBS’s Morning Show\, 60 minutes\, National Public Radio\, New York Times\, Wall Street Journal\, and science documentaries. In 2022\, she was named as a highly cited researcher\, among the  top .1% of researchers globally (for publication impact). Learn more at elissaepel.com. \n  \nGretchen Ki Steidle is the Director of Garrison Institute’s Spirituality & Social Change Program.  She is also the Founder and President of Circles for Conscious Change\, a transformative education firm working with social entrepreneurs\, nonprofits\, and corporations on the use of mindfulness as a design tool for social innovation. Previously\, she founded Global Grassroots\, an international organization that operated a social venture incubator and mindful-leadership program for women and girls in East Africa. She has an MBA from the Tuck School at Dartmouth and a BA in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia. Gretchen is author of Leading from Within: Conscious Social Change and Mindfulness for Social Innovation (MIT Press\, 2017) and lectures and teaches on mindfulness and social change worldwide. A certified Integrative Breathworker\, Gretchen has been delivering breath-based therapeutic practices\, resilience training\, and trauma healing since 2002 to a range of individuals globally\, including survivors of and first responders to war and mass disaster. Her workshops have been offered at institutions including the Skoll World Forum\, Omega Institute\, Kripalu Institute\, Wellbeing Project\, AshokaU Exchange\, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and University of Virginia\, among others. In 2007\, Gretchen was honored by World Business Magazine and Shell as one of the top International 35 Women Under 35. She was recognized in 2010 as a CNN Hero volunteering in Haiti after the earthquake. She was chosen in 2011 as one of seven Remarkable Women of the World by New Hampshire Magazine. In 2018\, Gretchen was named one of Inc.’s Top 100 Leadership Speakers. \n  \nRhonda V. Magee\, M.A.\, Sociology; J.D.\, is a Professor of Law at the University of San Francisco and an internationally recognized leader in integrating mindfulness into education\, law\, and social change. Born in North Carolina in 1967 and shaped by a childhood of trauma and challenge\, she discovered early that healing\, service\, and contemplative practice could provide a way forward. For more than two decades\, she has pioneered courses on civil law\, race and inequality\, and mindfulness and lawyering\, while training extensively in Buddhist traditions\, mindfulness-based interventions\, and interpersonal dialogue. A former president of the board of the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society and a Fellow of the Mind and Life Institute\, Rhonda has served on its steering council and sits on the boards of the UMass Center for Mindfulness and the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute. She has also taught in leading mindfulness teacher training programs and led retreats at Spirit Rock\, the Garrison Institute\, Omega\, Esalen\, and other centers nationwide. Her teaching and writing focus on compassionate conflict engagement\, presence-based leadership\, and embodied mindfulness as keys to personal and collective transformation. She is the author of The Inner Work of Racial Justice: Healing Ourselves and Transforming Our Communities Through Mindfulness (2019). \n  \nAqeela Sherrills\, Founder of the Community-Based Public Safety Collective\, is a spirit-centered organizer and activist who has worked for three decades to promote community ownership of public safety and facilitate healing from violence in marginalized communities. A nationally recognized expert in victim service and community-based public safety\, Aqeela has created and led multi-million-dollar nonprofit organizations focused on reducing violence and fostering safety in urban communities and advised hundreds of organizations. Currently\, Aqeela is the Founder and leader of the Community-Based Public Safety Collective. Aqeela’s dedication to ending violence and promoting community-based public safety began in Watts\, Los Angeles\, where he joined the Grape Street Crips before fleeing the violence in his community to attend college. At age 19\, Aqeela and Hall of Fame NFL star Jim Brown co-founded the Amer-I-Can Program\, Inc. to heal gang violence in cities across the country by empowering individuals to overcome behavior that negatively influenced their lives. During that time\, Aqeela was a chief architect of a historic truce between the Crips and Bloods in Watts. Aqeela and his brothers created the Community Self-Determination Institute in 1999 to heal communities’ post (and present) traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Aqeela launched The Reverence Project in 2007 to make meaning from his own son’s death. TRP brings together activists\, healers\, and artists in urban “war zones” to shift the culture from violence\, shame\, guilt\, and fear into one rooted in forgiveness\, compassion\, reverence\, and truth.  Aqeela serves as the Senior Advisor to the Alliance for Safety and Justice’s Shared Safety Initiative\, and is a member of the Board of Directors of The Alliance for Safety and Justice\, and Chairman of the Board of the Newark Community Street Team. \n  \nTracy Ferron is Founder and Board President of Life On Art\, a California-based non-profit which brings people together in therapeutic community art-making processes\, healing trauma while building hope. Life On Art combines community artmaking\, creative arts therapies\, social action\, and large-scale public art exhibitions. The customized programs further social and environmental justice movements and transform the world through love\, creativity\, and community building. Tracy’s passion for mental health and arts equity emerged from her experiences with her two severely mentally ill brothers\, and her personal journey of transforming childhood trauma into purpose and social action through art. Through the symbology of winged hearts and cages\, Ferron’s work compels audiences toward compassion. Tracy has innovated groundbreaking art programs at the margins\, serving patients and staff in a forensic state psychiatric facility and men and women in California state prisons.  These programs are developed in partnership with therapists\, artists\, educators\, non-profit leaders and community volunteers.  Tracy created Unbound (2021-22)\, an 80-foot sculpture of hundreds of winged hearts\, in an innovative partnership at one of California’s largest psychiatric facilities. This project involved 1500 people: 500 psychiatric patients\, 200 staff and 800 community participants. \n  \nSusan Olesek\, Founder of the Enneagram Prison Project\, is an unapologetic idealist and a Human Potentialist in passionate pursuit of what is possible for people. Born near Boston and raised in Hong Kong and Japan\, she earned a BA in Sociology from Occidental College\, where she received the Alumna of the Year award in 2025. As a consultant\, Susan has facilitated Fortune 500 clients in the work of self-development for over a decade\, but it was an opportune visit to a Texas prison that changed the trajectory of her life forever. In 2012 she founded the Enneagram Prison Project (EPP)\, a burgeoning California Bay Area nonprofit offering self-awareness education and self-regulation training to those incarcerated. With a vision to see her favorite transformational tool in every corner of society\, EPP is now programming from San Quentin State prison\, to Australia\, the UK\, Belgium and beyond. In 2021\, she launched The Human Potentialists\, a Benefit Corporation focused on doing business for good\, with a vision to democratize the Enneagram. Ultimately Susan has a dream of changing our collective vision of Social Justice in the long term through teaching the incarcerated about the prison of our own personality. Susan believes wholeheartedly in everyone and anyone willing to take an honest look at themselves to make deep and lasting changes from the inside out. \n \n  \nRev. angel Kyodo williams is a two-time author\, visionary\, master trainer and social strategist. She founded Transformative Change and is the architect of Healing Race Portal\, a global intervention designed to return people to inherent belonging. Called “one of our wisest voices on social evolution” by On Being’s Krista Tippett\, Rev. angel is the second Black woman to hold the most senior title in Zen Buddhism. Her 30 years of multidimensional work and practice sit at the vanguard of embodiment toward liberation\, changing the way change is done in activist communities at every intersection.Rev. angel’s first book\, Being Black: Zen and the Art of Living With Fearlessness and Grace\, bridged personal transformation and social justice with the principle: “Without inner change\, there can be no outer change. Without collective change\, no change matters.” Her second co-authored book\, Radical Dharma: Talking Race\, Love and Liberation\, offered a Framework for Liberation that confronts the roots of our individual and collective disbelonging. The book ignited community conversations and connections across lines of difference that became a laboratory for Healing Race Portal. Rigorous in discipline and rooted in love\, Rev. angel casts aside the limited imagination of cultures of domination to co-envision more expansive\, possible futures\, leveraging advanced technology and ancient wisdom practices to instigate the most potent change for all species and the planet. \n  \nAlex Senegal is an Ambassador for Enneagram Prison Project (EPP) and The Human Potentialists (THP) where he is someone else’s hope. Alex is a father\, grandfather\, ordained minister\, certified drug and alcohol counselor\, court liaison and mental health specialist with a passion for helping people overcome many of the same challenges in life he has endured. As a sought after public speaker\, and board member of nonprofits including Destination:Home\, and Lived Experience Advisory Board (LEAB) of Silicon Valley\, he advocates for those who are unhoused\, and brings the wisdom of his 26 years of lived experience of incarceration to everything he puts his heart into. Alex is the recipient of the Bibleway Christian Center’s Legacy Award for demonstrably making lives better through love and acceptance.\nRaised in “the projects” of southern California\, Alex was running the streets before he was seven\, and later found himself in the revolving door of the correctional system. In 2014\, while serving his final term\, Alex learned the Enneagram which introduced Alex to Alex\, and he found a personal freedom\, unlike anything he’d ever known.\nToday Alex lives by the truth that: “The river of life flows from the inside out\,” and has committed himself and his voice to foster the creation of a more socially just and equitable world. \n  \n  \n\n \n  \nIf you are experiencing issues with our check-out cart loading\, please click here to complete your transaction. We apologize for the inconvenience.
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/contemplative-wisdom-transformative-action-conference/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Forum,Virtual
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251118T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251118T150000
DTSTAMP:20260405T093835
CREATED:20250930T191439Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251117T150559Z
UID:46499-1763474400-1763478000@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:Virtual Forum:  Living the Hero’s Journey: Discovering Who We Truly Are
DESCRIPTION:A conversation with Hollywood FilmMaker Angus Wall\, Zen teacher Matthias Birk and Law Firm Leader Greg Starner\n  \n\nThis webinar will explore how Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey can serve not just as a storytelling structure but as a practical guide for living a more authentic and purpose-driven life. Through dialogue with filmmaker Angus Wall\, Zen teacher Matthias Birk\, and Law Firm Leader Greg Starner (facilitated by the Garrison Institute’s Managing Director Steve Varley). \n  \nThrough dialogue we’ll examine how the stages of the Hero’s Journey help us: \n\nRecognize the call to adventure in our own lives.\nNavigate challenges and confront the ego.\nFind deeper alignment with who we truly are.\nReturn with insights that can serve our communities and the wider world.\n\n  \nThe Hero’s Journey is not only a narrative structure for movies\, but also a living framework for personal growth. By embracing it\, we can uncover purpose\, overcome the traps of the ego\, and live with greater clarity and meaning. Join us for this compelling and imaginative conversation. \n  \nZoom links will be emailed within 24 hours of registration. \nPlease contact us at events@garrisoninstitute.org with questions. \n  \n  \nSPEAKERS\n  \nAngus Wall is an Oscar and Emmy-winning filmmaker and founder of MakeMake\, an interdisciplinary studio dedicated to re-enchantment. He has three grown children and lives in Southern California with his wife and three mutts. \n  \n  \nMatthias Birk teaches Zen meditation at Still Mind Zendo in New York and leadership at NYU and Columbia Business School. He’s the founder of Self-Transcendent Leadership and the Director of Partner Development at White & Case. He lives with his wife\, two kids and dog in Brooklyn\, New York. \n  \n  \n  \nGregory Starner is a litigation partner at White & Case and manages the firm’s New York office. He lives with his wife\, three kids and a new puppy in Garrison\, New York. \n  \n  \n  \nSteve Varley serves as the Managing Director at the Garrison Institute. In this role\, Steve is responsible for the comprehensive strategy and support of the Garrison Institute’s efforts to apply the wisdom developed from contemplative practice to modern problems\, with a special interest on the translation of individual practice to community\, organizational\, and systems-level problems. \n  \n\n\n\n\n\n \n\nIf you are experiencing issues with our check-out cart loading\, please click here to complete your transaction. We apologize for the inconvenience.
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/living-the-heros-journey-discovering-who-we-truly-are/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Forum,Virtual
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260121T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260121T130000
DTSTAMP:20260405T093835
CREATED:20251209T124622Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251231T201827Z
UID:47586-1768996800-1769000400@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:Team Intelligence: How Brilliant Leaders Unlock Collective Genius
DESCRIPTION:A Conversation with Jon Levy \nJanuary 21\, 2026 • 12:00 PM ET • Live on Zoom \n  \nWhat makes certain teams thrive while others\, equally talented\, struggle? \nWhy do some groups produce breakthrough ideas\, deep trust\, and extraordinary results — while others collapse under the pressure of ego\, disconnection\, or unclear purpose? \nIn his groundbreaking new book\, Team Intelligence: How Brilliant Leaders Unlock Collective Genius\, behavioral scientist Jon Levy reveals a transformative truth: success is not driven by individual brilliance alone. It emerges from the capacity of a group to work together with clarity\, trust\, benevolence\, and shared purpose. \nJoin us for a special Garrison Institute webinar with Jon Levy and Dr. Angel Acosta as they explore the science\, stories\, and wisdom behind Team Intelligence — and what it takes to unlock the collective genius within organizations\, movements\, and communities today. \nThrough a blend of research\, storytelling\, and reflection\, this conversation will illuminate how brilliant leaders create conditions where teams can flourish. Together\, we will explore: \n\nWhy team performance depends more on trust and cohesion than on superstar talent\nThe vital role of “glue players\,” the often-overlooked individuals who hold groups together\nHow psychological safety\, belonging\, and vulnerability fuel creativity and innovation\nWays leaders can design environments where collective wisdom emerges organically\nWhat Jon Levy has learned from decades of studying astronauts\, Olympic captains\, artists\, entrepreneurs\, and community builders\n\nWhether you lead an organization\, support a community initiative\, guide a school\, or are simply curious about more human ways of working together\, this webinar will offer practical tools and inspiring perspectives for building teams grounded in clarity\, trust\, and shared humanity \n  \n***The Zoom link will be emailed within 24 hours of signing up***** \n\n  \nSPEAKERS\n  \nJon Levy is a behavioral scientist best known for applying research to human connection\, trust\, and influence. He is the founder of The Influencers Dinner\, a secret gathering where leaders from all fields — Nobel laureates\, Olympians\, artists\, executives\, and change-makers — meet and connect in meaningful ways. Over the past decade\, Levy has become a sought-after voice on collaboration\, belonging\, and the social behaviors that shape human performance.\nHis latest book\, Team Intelligence: How Brilliant Leaders Unlock Collective Genius\, dismantles the myth of the heroic individual and demonstrates how extraordinary outcomes emerge when teams cultivate trust\, psychological safety\, purpose\, and relational depth. Levy’s work has been featured across major platforms and has influenced leaders in business\, technology\, education\, and culture. \n  \nDr. Angel Acosta is a visionary educator\, scholar\, and facilitator\, leading efforts at the intersection of healing-centered education\, contemplative practice\, and leadership development. As the director of the Garrison Institute Fellowship\, Dr. Acosta is dedicated to nurturing a global community of change-makers. \n  \n  \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/team-intelligence/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Virtual
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260210T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260210T150000
DTSTAMP:20260405T093835
CREATED:20251213T172141Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260122T164801Z
UID:47644-1770732000-1770735600@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:Virtual Forum: A Conversation Exploring the “Living Earth Community”
DESCRIPTION:  \nWith Jonathan F.P. Rose & Dr. Mary Evelyn Tucker\n  \nWe dwell within an intricate and evolving community of planetary life. The world speaks—to itself and to us—in a multitude of voices\, each representing a unique way of being and knowing. Many of these voices are organic\, such as birds\, mushrooms\, and trees. Others are elemental bodies like rivers and mountains. Yet each is an integral member of the whole. Since our species emerged in evolutionary history\, we have practiced diverse traditions—spiritual\, philosophical\, and scientific—to understand the intricate dimensions of Earth’s interdependence. \nThis conversation will explore the varied spiritual responses to the intelligences of nature and the implications for our current ecological challenges. It will highlight the new Living Earth Community website as a source reference for this discussion. \nAdditional background information is available here\, in a recent editorial from Environment magazine. \n“At every level—from the entire universe to this planet\, to all living beings now and through time\, to your mind and body\, and the world’s collective thinking and beliefs—existence is networks of relationships. I know of no other place on the internet that is a better first-stop and launching point for delving deeply into what all kinds of people have learned and thought about that most basic fact of existence and its radiating ramifications.” – Carl Safina\, PhD\, Ecologist; Professor for Nature and Humanity\, State University of New York; author of many books\, including Beyond Words; What Animals Think and Feel \nWe will conduct this LIVE Forum on Zoom at 2:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday February 10\, 2026. After registering\, you will receive a link to join the session. Please email us at events@garrisoninstitute.org with questions. \n  \nSPEAKERS\n  \n  \n \nMary Evelyn Tucker\, PhD\, taught at Yale in a joint program between the Divinity School and the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. She directs the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology with her husband\, John Grim. A pioneer in the field of religion and ecology and an expert in world religions\, she has published hundreds of articles\, co-authored and edited over 20 books\, and co-executive produced the Emmy award-winning film\, Journey of the Universe. Mary Evelyn and John have been building bridges between East and West and sharing the ideas and aspirations of Ecological Civilization for decades. \n  \n  \n \nJonathan F.P. Rose is a noted global expert in sustainable development and regenerative communities. He is Co-Founder and Board Chair for The Garrison Institute\, and Founder and President of Jonathan Rose Companies\, a mission-driven company focused on enhancing the health and wellness of its residents with green\, energy-efficient property improvements and through its Communities of Opportunities programming. In 2024\, he was awarded Bhutan’s prestigious Druk Thuksey Medal (“Order of the Beloved of the Thunder Dragon”) for helping create and implement the Thimphu Structure Plan\, a framework for sustainable development in Bhutan’s rapidly urbanizing capital city. Jonathan founded the Pathways to Planetary Health initiative at the Garrison Institute. \n  \n  \nPlease contact us for questions and inquiries at events@garrisoninstitute.org \n 
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/a-conversation-exploring-the-living-earth-community/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Virtual-Forum-A-Conversation-Exploring-the-Living-Earth-Community.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260218T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260218T201500
DTSTAMP:20260405T093835
CREATED:20260121T213319Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260130T210309Z
UID:47957-1771441200-1771445700@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:Conservation in China for Ecological Civilization: A Webinar Series on Ecological Civilization
DESCRIPTION:Co-sponsored by the Pathways to Planetary Health initiative at the Garrison Institute and the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology \nConservation in China for Ecological Civilization\n  \nChina’s emerging framework of Ecological Civilization is reshaping what conservation can mean—expanding the public discourse beyond protected areas and species recovery to include culture\, livelihoods\, and the ethical foundations of human–nature relationship. This Forum explores conservation practice in China as a “nexus” challenge: where ecological science meets social realities and cultural meaning\, and where the success of conservation depends on trust\, governance\, and long-term stewardship. \nFeaturing conservation scientist and environmental anthropologist Gao Yufang\, we’ll examine how on-the-ground efforts—from protected landscapes to human–wildlife coexistence—are navigating the tensions and possibilities of rapid modernization. What kinds of ethical conservation approaches become possible when ecological values are treated as civilizational priorities? Where do the hardest tradeoffs show up? And what lessons might China’s experiments offer (or not offer) to leaders and communities elsewhere? \n\nTIMING\n  \nWe will conduct this live Forum on Zoom at 7:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday\, February 18\, 2026. After registering\, you will receive a Zoom link to join the session. \n  \n  \nSPEAKERS\n  \nGao Yufang\, PhD\, is a conservation scientist and environmental anthropologist focused on human–wildlife coexistence and the natural–social–cultural nexus in China\, especially in the Himalayan region and Tibetan Plateau. He is the Founder and Director of Conservation Edgewalkers\, an Explorer with the National Geographic Society\, Co-Chair of the IUCN China Species Specialist Group\, and a Research Associate with Yale’s InterAsia Initiative. \n  \n  \nMary Evelyn Tucker\, PhD\, co-directs the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology\, which examines cultural and religious values for broadened environmental ethics. This arose from a series of 10 conferences at Harvard on world religions and ecology that she organized with John Grim. She has published several books on Confucianism including The Philosophy of Qi. She co-edited Confucianism and Ecology (Harvard) and two volumes with Tu Weiming on Confucian Spirituality. She is the co-author of Journey of the Universe with Brian Thomas Swimme and the executive producer of the Emmy Award winning Journey film. This was inspired by Thomas Berry whose books she edited and whose biography she wrote with John Grim.They have been traveling in China since 1985 studying Ecological Civilization. \n  \nStephen Posner\, PhD\, is Senior Fellow for Planetary Health at the Garrison Institute and Global Affiliate with the Gund Institute for Environment at the University of Vermont. Stephen integrates science with contemplative practices to build understanding across cultures\, align human systems with nature\, and promote cross-sector collaboration. He has published over 50 technical and non-technical articles on sustainability science and leverage points for systems change. He currently leads initiatives related to nature assessment and ecological stewardship \n  \nRoots of Renewal: \nEcological Civilization in China and the Confluence of  Tradition and Modernity\nA Garrison Institute Webinar Series on Ecological Civilization\n  \nThe Garrison Institute’s Pathways to Planetary Health initiative is partnering with the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology to host a five-part online Forum series exploring Ecological Civilization in China—an evolving cultural\, ethical\, ecological\, and policy vision that asks what it would take to align human development with the flourishing of Earth’s living systems. \nRather than treating ecological civilization as primarily technical\, this series examines how social change is shaped by the relationship between tradition and modernity: where inherited worldviews and cultural traditions meet rapid development\, and where inner cultivation and public institutions must be reimagined together. Each Forum features a guest speaker in dialogue with Mary Evelyn Tucker and moderator Stephen Posner\, and invites participants into conversations that connect ideas to practice\, and values to systems change. \nAcross the series\, we move from on-the-ground conservation and thirty years of Ecological Civilization work in China\, to Daoism and classical reading as pathways for self-transformation and social reform—culminating in the launch of a new Yale Forum Ecological Civilization website designed as a living resource for learning\, teaching\, and transformation. \nModerator: Stephen Posner\, The Garrison Institute\nDiscussants: Mary Evelyn Tucker\, Yale University\, along with esteemed speakers \nWe will conduct these LIVE forums on Zoom. After registering for each forum\, you will receive a link to join the session. Please email us at events@garrisoninstitute.org with questions. \nFeatured speakers and topics: \n\nGao Yufang — Conservation in China for Ecological Civilization\nZhihe Wang & Meijun Fan — Ecological Civilization: Thirty Years of Work in China\nDaniel K. Gardner — Reading the Chinese Classics for Self-Transformation and Social Reform\nChen Xia — Daoism and Ecological Civilization\n\nSimeiqi He & Andrew MacIver — A New Ecological Civilization Hub for Learning\, Teaching\, and Action \nWe will conduct these LIVE forums on Zoom from 7:00 – 8:15pm ET on  \nFebruary 18 \nMarch 4 \n March 18 \nApril 14 \nApril 29 \n  \n  \n  \nPlease contact us for questions and inquiries at events@garrisoninstitute.org.
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/roots-of-renewal-pathways-speaker-series-1/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Forum,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Conservation-in-China-for-Ecological-Civilization.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260221T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260221T180000
DTSTAMP:20260405T093835
CREATED:20251203T003238Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260204T184145Z
UID:47518-1771677000-1771696800@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:LOVE is the Most Powerful Force in the Universe: A Virtual Retreat
DESCRIPTION:LOVE IS THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE\nIN THE UNIVERSE\n  \nMindfulness teacher Sharon Salzberg joins with Atman Smith\, Ali Smith\, and Andres Gonzalez of the Holistic Life Foundation (HLF) to offer a program exploring the depths\, capacity\, and meaning of love. Love is the most powerful force in the universe. \nLearn to get in touch with and share the infinite love inside of you with meditation\, yoga\, and additional contemplative practices. \nIn a world where division and polarization prevail\, can love be known not as giving in\, but as transformative? How do we love in a way where we feel that we are not being taken advantage of\, and know when tough love is needed? How do we unconditionally love ourselves and find balance in love amidst all our relationships? \nIf conventionally love is seen as weakness\, can we come to understand it as the powerful force it truly is? \nHow do we find balance in love amidst all of our relationships? How do we love in a way where we feel that we are not being taken advantage of? How do we know when to be compassionate and when tough love is needed? How do we love from our higher selves? How do we unconditionally love ourselves? \nWe will explore a myriad of practical tools to promote greater love in life. \n• Connect with the reservoir of love within you \n• Learn greater self-love and self-acceptance \n• Learning to love with appropriate boundaries \n• Cultivating greater love for others through loving kindness meditation practice \n• Yoga and breathwork to ground ourselves and reduce stress\, to better receive love from others \nJoin us for this virtual retreat to develop the skills needed to better love ourselves\, the people in our lives\, and the world. No prior meditation experience is necessary to attend. \n  \nRETREAT SCHEDULE\nThis virtual retreat will be conducted through Zoom on Saturday February 21\, from 12:30 PM – 6:00 PM EST. The virtual retreat link will be emailed to participants within twenty-four hours of your registration. Please email us at events@garrisoninstitute.org with questions. \nSCHOLARSHIPS\nWe are no longer accepting applications at this time. We thank you for your interest and overwhelming response. We regret that we are not able to assist as we had more applicants than our funding can underwrite. For more information on our scholarship funds\, please visit this page. \nTEACHERS\n  \n Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer\, world-renowned teacher\, and New York Times bestselling author. She is one of the first to bring mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation to mainstream American culture over 45 years ago\, inspiring generations of meditation teachers and wellness influencers. Sharon is co-founder of The Insight Meditation Society in Barre\, MA\, and the author of twelve books\, including the New York Times bestseller\, Real Happiness\, now in its second edition\, and her seminal work\, Lovingkindness. Her latest release is a children’s book\, Kind Karl\, is from Shambhala Publications. Her podcast\, The Metta Hour\, has amassed seven million downloads and features interviews with thought leaders from the mindfulness movement and beyond www.sharonsalzberg.com \n  \n Ali Smith was born and raised in Baltimore\, Maryland. He is a graduate of the Friends School of Baltimore and the University of Maryland\, College Park. Ali started his journey with contemplative practices as a small child\, learning meditation from his father and attending the Divine Life Church of Absolute Oneness\, run by Swami Shankarananda. He deepened his practice and learned the art of teaching as a young adult\, studying many forms of yoga\, meditation\, mindfulness\, and breathwork from his teacher and godfather Will Joyner. Ali has almost 20 years’ experience teaching these practices to a broad demographic spectrum\, internationally. He is a published author\, and is a pioneer in the fields of yoga and mindfulness in education\, as well as trauma informed yoga and mindfulness\, developing best practices that are used around the world. He co-founded the Holistic Life Foundation in 2001 and The Involution Group in 2019. Ali is also a co-host of the Look Again Podcast which you can find at www.theinvolutiongroup.com \n  \n Atman Smith is a Co-founder of the Holistic Life Foundation\, where he served as Director of Youth Programming for ten years Director of Fundraising for five years and currently serves as the Director of Development. Since 2001\, he has been teaching yoga and mindfulness to a diverse population including underserved and high-risk youth in Baltimore City Public Schools\, drug treatment centers\, wellness centers\, and colleges. A native of Baltimore\, Atman attended the University of Maryland\, College Park where he was a letter award winner for the University’s men’s basketball team. He graduated with a B.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice. His work with the Holistic Life Foundation has been featured on Making a Difference on the NBC Nightly News\, CNN\, and CBS\, as well as O the Oprah Magazine\, The Washington Post\, Upworthy\, Mindful Magazine\, Yoga Journal\, Shambala Sun\, and many other publications. https://www.theinvolutiongroup.com/ \n. \n Andres Gonzalez is one of the Co-Founders of the Holistic Life Foundation. For eighteen years\, Andres has taught yoga to diverse populations throughout the world\, including Baltimore City Public School students\, drug treatment centers\, mental crisis facilities\, homeless shelters\, wellness centers\, colleges\, private schools and other various venues throughout the nation and throughout the world. He has partnered with John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health and the Penn State’s Prevention Research Center on a Stress and Relaxation Study and is a published author in the Journal of Children’s Services. His work with the Holistic Life Foundation has been featured on Making a Difference on the NBC Nightly News\, CNN\, and CBS\, as well as O the Oprah Magazine\, The Washington Post\, Upworthy\, Mindful Magazine\, Yoga Journal\, Shambala Sun\, and many other publications. He is a certified Health Coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition\, maintains a B.S. in Marketing from University of Maryland\, College Park and an MBA from the University of Maryland\, University College. https://holisticlifefoundation.org/ \n  \n\n  \n 
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/love-is-the-most-powerful-force-in-the-universe-2026/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Forum,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/People-Who-Care-for-People-–-A-Retreat-for-Caregivers.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260304T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260304T201500
DTSTAMP:20260405T093835
CREATED:20260121T214551Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260130T210031Z
UID:47958-1772650800-1772655300@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:Ecological Civilization: Thirty Years of Work in China: A Webinar Series on Ecological Civilization
DESCRIPTION:Co-sponsored by the Pathways to Planetary Health initiative at the Garrison Institute and the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology \nEcological Civilization: Thirty Years of Work in China\n  \nOver the past three decades\, the idea of Ecological Civilization has moved from philosophical and cultural discourse into public policy\, education\, and civic imagination across China. This Forum traces that longer arc—how a “civilizational” framing of ecology took root\, what currents of thought and practice helped it spread\, and what we can learn from its evolution in a rapidly modernizing society. \nFeaturing Zhihe Wang and Meijun Fan—co-leaders of the Institute for Postmodern Development of China and long-time contributors to the Center for Process Studies’ China Project—the conversation offers an inside view of the relationships\, experiments\, and ideas that have shaped Ecological Civilization in China over time.  \nIn dialogue with Stephen Posner and Mary Evelyn Tucker\, we’ll explore questions such as: \n\nWhat were the early intellectual and moral foundations of Ecological Civilization—and how have they changed?\nWhere have policy\, culture\, and grassroots practice genuinely reinforced one another\, and where have they conflicted?\n How has “tradition” been mobilized (wisely or simplistically) in the context of modernization?\nWhat aspects of China’s Ecological Civilization journey might be transferable elsewhere\, and what is deeply place-specific?\n\nThis Forum is well-suited for participants interested in the long view: the deeper story behind the headlines\, and the ongoing work of shaping ecological futures through culture\, ethics\, and systems change. \n\nTIMING\n  \nWe will conduct this live Forum on Zoom at 7:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday\, March 4\, 2026. After registering\, you will receive a Zoom link to join the session. \n  \n  \nSPEAKERS\n  \nZhihe Wang\, PhD\, is Director of the Institute for Postmodern Development of China and Co-Director of the China Project at the Center for Process Studies in Claremont\, California. A former senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences\, he is a leading figure in constructive postmodern thought in China and has published widely on process thought\, pluralism\, and ecological futures. \n  \n  \n  \nMeijun Fan\, PhD\, is Program Director of the Institute for Postmodern Development of China and Co-Director of the China Project at the Center for Process Studies. Formerly a professor at Beijing Normal University\, her work bridges Chinese traditional aesthetics\, process philosophy\, and education\, with a focus on cultural resources for ecological transition. \n  \n  \n  \nMary Evelyn Tucker\, PhD\, co-directs the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology\, which examines cultural and religious values for broadened environmental ethics. This arose from a series of 10 conferences at Harvard on world religions and ecology that she organized with John Grim. She has published several books on Confucianism including The Philosophy of Qi. She co-edited Confucianism and Ecology (Harvard) and two volumes with Tu Weiming on Confucian Spirituality. She is the co-author of Journey of the Universe with Brian Thomas Swimme and the executive producer of the Emmy Award winning Journey film. This was inspired by Thomas Berry whose books she edited and whose biography she wrote with John Grim.They have been traveling in China since 1985 studying Ecological Civilization. \n  \nStephen Posner\, PhD\, Senior Fellow for Planetary Health at the Garrison Institute and Global Affiliate with the Gund Institute for Environment at the University of Vermont. Stephen integrates science with contemplative practices to build understanding across cultures\, align human systems with nature\, and promote cross-sector collaboration. He has published over 50 technical and non-technical articles on sustainability science and leverage points for systems change. He currently leads initiatives related to nature assessment and ecological stewardship.” \n  \nRoots of Renewal: \nEcological Civilization in China and the Confluence of Tradition and Modernity\nGarrison Institute Webinar 2026 on Ecological Civilization\n  \nThe Garrison Institute’s Pathways to Planetary Health initiative is partnering with the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology to host a five-part online Forum series exploring Ecological Civilization in China—an evolving cultural\, ethical\, ecological\, and policy vision that asks what it would take to align human development with the flourishing of Earth’s living systems. \nRather than treating ecological civilization as primarily technical\, this series examines how social change is shaped by the relationship between tradition and modernity: where inherited worldviews and cultural traditions meet rapid development\, and where inner cultivation and public institutions must be reimagined together. Each Forum features a guest speaker in dialogue with Mary Evelyn Tucker and moderator Stephen Posner\, and invites participants into conversations that connect ideas to practice\, and values to systems change. \nAcross the series\, we move from on-the-ground conservation and thirty years of Ecological Civilization work in China\, to Daoism and classical reading as pathways for self-transformation and social reform—culminating in the launch of a new Yale Forum Ecological Civilization website designed as a living resource for learning\, teaching\, and transformation. \nModerator: Stephen Posner\, The Garrison Institute\nDiscussants: Mary Evelyn Tucker\, Yale University\, along with esteemed speakers \nWe will conduct these LIVE forums on Zoom. After registering for each forum\, you will receive a link to join the session. Please email us at events@garrisoninstitute.org with questions. \nFeatured speakers and topics: \n\nGao Yufang — Conservation in China for Ecological Civilization\nZhihe Wang & Meijun Fan — Ecological Civilization: Thirty Years of Work in China\nDaniel K. Gardner — Reading the Chinese Classics for Self-Transformation and Social Reform\nChen Xia — Daoism and Ecological Civilization\n\nSimeiqi He & Andrew MacIver — A New Ecological Civilization Hub for Learning\, Teaching\, and Action \nWe will conduct these LIVE forums on Zoom from 7:00 – 8:15pm ET on  \nFebruary 18 \nMarch 4 \n March 18 \nApril 14 \nApril 29 \n  \n  \nPlease contact us for questions and inquiries at events@garrisoninstitute.org.
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/roots-of-renewal-pathways-speaker-series-2/
CATEGORIES:Forum,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Ecological-Civilization-Thirty-Years-of-Work-in-China.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260318T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260318T201500
DTSTAMP:20260405T093835
CREATED:20260122T193900Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T213137Z
UID:47974-1773860400-1773864900@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:Reading the Chinese Classics for Self-Transformation and Social Reform: A Webinar Series on Ecological Civilization
DESCRIPTION:Co-sponsored by the Pathways to Planetary Health initiative at the Garrison Institute and the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology \nReading the Chinese Classics for Self-Transformation and Social Reform\n  \nAcross China’s long intellectual history\, the classics have not only been texts to study\, but practices to live—resources for cultivating character\, clarifying responsibility\, and shaping public life. In a moment of rapid modernization and ecological strain\, renewed attention to classical traditions raises a timely question: how might practices of self-cultivation support social reform—and what are the limits of that hope? \nIn this Forum\, Daniel K. Gardner (Dwight W. Morrow Professor Emeritus of History and Environment\, Smith College) draws on decades of scholarship on Confucian and Neo-Confucian traditions—especially the interpretive legacy of Zhu Xi—to explore how “reading” can function as a formative discipline: training attention\, moral discernment\, and a sense of obligation to the common good.  \nIn conversation with Stephen Posner and Mary Evelyn Tucker\, we’ll explore: \n\nWhat does it mean\, in the Confucian tradition\, to read for self-transformation rather than information?\nHow did thinkers like Zhu Xi connect inner cultivation to education\, institutions\, and reform? \nHow might classical practices illuminate (or complicate) contemporary aspirations such as Ecological Civilization—especially where “tradition” is invoked in modern public discourse?\nWhat can modern leaders\, educators\, and communities responsibly take from the classics without romanticizing or instrumentalizing them?\n\nThis Forum is designed for participants interested in the deeper cultural foundations of civilizational change—where ethics\, learning\, and governance intersect\, and where transformation begins with how we form persons and publics. \n  \nTIMING\n  \nWe will conduct this live Forum on Zoom at 7:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday\, March 18\, 2026. After registering\, you will receive a Zoom link to join the session. \n  \n  \nSPEAKERS\n  \nDaniel K. Gardner\, PhD\, is the Dwight W. Morrow Professor Emeritus of History and Environment at Smith College. He has written extensively on Confucian and Neo-Confucian traditions\, including Confucianism: A Very Short Introduction and major works on Zhu Xi and classical interpretation. His work also engages contemporary environmental questions in China\, including through his book Environmental Pollution in China: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford\, 2018). \n  \nMary Evelyn Tucker\, PhD\, co-directs the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology\, which examines cultural and religious values for broadened environmental ethics. This arose from a series of 10 conferences at Harvard on world religions and ecology that she organized with John Grim. She has published several books on Confucianism including The Philosophy of Qi. She co-edited Confucianism and Ecology (Harvard) and two volumes with Tu Weiming on Confucian Spirituality. She is the co-author of Journey of the Universe with Brian Thomas Swimme and the executive producer of the Emmy Award winning Journey film. This was inspired by Thomas Berry whose books she edited and whose biography she wrote with John Grim.They have been traveling in China since 1985 studying Ecological Civilization. \n  \nStephen Posner\, PhD\, is Senior Fellow for Planetary Health at the Garrison Institute and Global Affiliate with the Gund Institute for Environment at the University of Vermont. Stephen integrates science with contemplative practices to build understanding across cultures\, align human systems with nature\, and promote cross-sector collaboration. He has published over 50 technical and non-technical articles on sustainability science and leverage points for systems change. He currently leads initiatives related to nature assessment and ecological stewardship \n  \nRoots of Renewal: \nEcological Civilization in China and the Confluence of Tradition and Modernity\nA Garrison Institute Webinar Series on Ecological Civilization\n  \nThe Garrison Institute’s Pathways to Planetary Health initiative is partnering with the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology to host a five-part online Forum series exploring Ecological Civilization in China—an evolving cultural\, ethical\, ecological\, and policy vision that asks what it would take to align human development with the flourishing of Earth’s living systems. \nRather than treating ecological civilization as primarily technical\, this series examines how social change is shaped by the relationship between tradition and modernity: where inherited worldviews and cultural traditions meet rapid development\, and where inner cultivation and public institutions must be reimagined together. Each Forum features a guest speaker in dialogue with Mary Evelyn Tucker and moderator Stephen Posner\, and invites participants into conversations that connect ideas to practice\, and values to systems change. \nAcross the series\, we move from on-the-ground conservation and thirty years of Ecological Civilization work in China\, to Daoism and classical reading as pathways for self-transformation and social reform—culminating in the launch of a new Yale Forum Ecological Civilization website designed as a living resource for learning\, teaching\, and transformation. \nModerator: Stephen Posner\, The Garrison Institute\nDiscussants: Mary Evelyn Tucker\, Yale University\, along with esteemed speakers \nWe will conduct these LIVE forums on Zoom. After registering for each forum\, you will receive a link to join the session. Please email us at events@garrisoninstitute.org with questions. \nFeatured speakers and topics: \n\nGao Yufang — Conservation in China for Ecological Civilization\nZhihe Wang & Meijun Fan — Ecological Civilization: Thirty Years of Work in China\nDaniel K. Gardner — Reading the Chinese Classics for Self-Transformation and Social Reform\nChen Xia — Daoism and Ecological Civilization\n\nSimeiqi He & Andrew MacIver — A New Ecological Civilization Hub for Learning\, Teaching\, and Action \nWe will conduct these LIVE forums on Zoom from 7:00 – 8:15pm ET on  \nFebruary 18 \nMarch 4 \n March 18 \nApril 14 \nApril 29 \n  \n  \nPlease contact us for questions and inquiries at events@garrisoninstitute.org.
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/roots-of-renewal-pathways-speaker-series-3/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Forum,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Reading-the-Chinese-Classics-for-Self-Transformation-and-Social-Reform.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260414T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260414T201500
DTSTAMP:20260405T093835
CREATED:20260122T204713Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260223T194549Z
UID:47985-1776193200-1776197700@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:Daoism and Ecological Civilization: A Webinar Series on Ecological Civilization
DESCRIPTION:Co-sponsored by the Pathways to Planetary Health initiative at the Garrison Institute and the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology \n\nDaoism and Ecological Civilization\n  \nEcological Civilization in China often draws on traditional philosophical lineages to articulate what “living well” might mean within ecological limits. Among these\, Daoism offers a distinctive orientation: attention to harmony\, restraint\, interdependence\, and the cultivation of a way of life aligned with the patterns of the natural world. \nIn this Forum\, Chen Xia (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences) explores how Daoist thought can inform—support\, complicate\, and deepen—the project of Ecological Civilization today. Moving beyond slogans\, we’ll examine Daoism as a living intellectual and ethical tradition with relevance for contemporary challenges: environmental governance\, cultural renewal\, and the formation of ecological values in public life.  \nIn conversation with Stephen Posner and Mary Evelyn Tucker\, we’ll consider questions such as: \n\nWhat elements of Daoist philosophy are most relevant to today’s ecological realities—and what gets misunderstood when Daoism is translated into modern policy language?\nHow do Daoist ideas of cultivation (of self\, society\, and relationship with the more-than-human world) connect to the “inner–outer” demands of systems change?\nCan Daoist concepts such as gongsheng (symbiosis / co-flourishing) help reframe modern narratives of progress and development? \nWhat might Daoism contribute to global conversations on ecological ethics—without flattening cultural specificity?\n\n  \nTIMING\n  \nWe will conduct this live Forum on Zoom at 7:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday\, April 14\, 2026. After registering\, you will receive a Zoom link to join the session. \n  \nSPEAKERS\n  \nChen Xia\, PhD\, is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Philosophy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing and a former Berggruen China Center Fellow. Her research focuses on Chinese philosophy and religions\, with particular expertise in Daoism\, including Daoist ethics and ecological perspectives within Daoist thought and culture. \n  \nPeter Senge\, PhD\, is Co-Founder of the Center for Systems Awareness and Senior Lecturer in Leadership & Sustainability at MIT. Peter has been at the forefront of organizational learning since publishing his classic text\, The Fifth Discipline\, which provided theories and methods to foster aspiration\, develop reflective conversation\, and understand complexity in service of shaping learning-oriented organization cultures. He is a pioneer in systems thinking. \n  \n \nMary Evelyn Tucker\, PhD\, co-directs the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology\, which examines cultural and religious values for broadened environmental ethics. This arose from a series of 10 conferences at Harvard on world religions and ecology that she organized with John Grim. She has published several books on Confucianism including The Philosophy of Qi. She co-edited Confucianism and Ecology (Harvard) and two volumes with Tu Weiming on Confucian Spirituality. She is the co-author of Journey of the Universe with Brian Thomas Swimme and the executive producer of the Emmy Award winning Journey film. This was inspired by Thomas Berry whose books she edited and whose biography she wrote with John Grim.They have been traveling in China since 1985 studying Ecological Civilization. \n  \n \nStephen Posner\, PhD\, is Senior Fellow for Planetary Health at the Garrison Institute and Global Affiliate with the Gund Institute for Environment at the University of Vermont. Stephen integrates science with contemplative practices to build understanding across cultures\, align human systems with nature\, and promote cross-sector collaboration. He has published over 50 technical and non-technical articles on sustainability science and leverage points for systems change. He currently leads initiatives related to nature assessment and ecological stewardship \n  \nRoots of Renewal: \nEcological Civilization in China and the Confluence of Tradition and Modernity\nGarrison Institute Webinar 2026 on Ecological Civilization\n  \nThe Garrison Institute’s Pathways to Planetary Health initiative is partnering with the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology to host a five-part online Forum series exploring Ecological Civilization in China—an evolving cultural\, ethical\, ecological\, and policy vision that asks what it would take to align human development with the flourishing of Earth’s living systems. \nRather than treating ecological civilization as primarily technical\, this series examines how social change is shaped by the relationship between tradition and modernity: where inherited worldviews and cultural traditions meet rapid development\, and where inner cultivation and public institutions must be reimagined together. Each Forum features a guest speaker in dialogue with Mary Evelyn Tucker and moderator Stephen Posner\, and invites participants into conversations that connect ideas to practice\, and values to systems change. \nAcross the series\, we move from on-the-ground conservation and thirty years of Ecological Civilization work in China\, to Daoism and classical reading as pathways for self-transformation and social reform—culminating in the launch of a new Yale Forum Ecological Civilization website designed as a living resource for learning\, teaching\, and transformation. \nModerator: Stephen Posner\, The Garrison Institute\nDiscussants: Mary Evelyn Tucker\, Yale University\, along with esteemed speakers \nWe will conduct these LIVE forums on Zoom. After registering for each forum\, you will receive a link to join the session. Please email us at events@garrisoninstitute.org with questions. \nFeatured speakers and topics: \n\nGao Yufang — Conservation in China for Ecological Civilization\nZhihe Wang & Meijun Fan — Ecological Civilization: Thirty Years of Work in China\nDaniel K. Gardner — Reading the Chinese Classics for Self-Transformation and Social Reform\nChen Xia — Daoism and Ecological Civilization\n\nSimeiqi He & Andrew MacIver — A New Ecological Civilization Hub for Learning\, Teaching\, and Action \nWe will conduct these LIVE forums on Zoom from 7:00 – 8:15pm ET on  \nFebruary 18 \nMarch 4 \n March 18 \nApril 14 \nApril 29 \n  \n  \nPlease contact us for questions and inquiries at events@garrisoninstitute.org.
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/roots-of-renewal-pathways-speaker-series-4/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Forum,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Daoism-and-Ecological-Civilization.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260429T201500
DTSTAMP:20260405T093835
CREATED:20260122T214511Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260223T194542Z
UID:47991-1777489200-1777493700@www.garrisoninstitute.org
SUMMARY:A New Ecological Civilization Hub for Learning\, Teaching\, and Action: A Webinar Series on Ecological Civilization
DESCRIPTION:Co-sponsored by the Pathways to Planetary Health initiative at the Garrison Institute and the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology \n  \nA New Ecological Civilization Hub for Learning\, Teaching\, and Action\n  \nThis Forum marks the launch (and guided tour) of the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology’s new Ecological Civilization online website—a curated platform designed to make a complex field more accessible for educators\, students\, researchers\, funders\, and practitioners working at the intersection of culture\, ethics\, and ecological change.  \nFeaturing Yale Forum research scholars Simeiqi He and Andrew MacIver\, the session will introduce the site’s purpose and architecture\, highlight key resource pathways (articles\, books\, journals\, multimedia\, reports/statements\, and related links)\, and offer a “how to use this” walkthrough tailored to different audiences—whether you’re looking for a rigorous entry point\, a teaching-ready reading list\, or a way to track the evolution of EcoCiv ideas across China and the West.  \nIn conversation with Mary Evelyn Tucker\, we’ll also explore what it means to build a living knowledge commons: how resources get curated\, how the team is thinking about interpretive balance (policy\, philosophy\, religion\, and practice)\, and how participants can help strengthen the platform over time—by sharing materials\, suggesting gaps\, and bringing forward new questions at the tradition–modernity interface. \n\n\nTIMING\n  \nWe will conduct this live Forum on Zoom at 7:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday April 29\, 2026. After registering\, you will receive a Zoom link to join the session. \n  \nSPEAKERS\n  \nSimeiqi He\, PhD is a Research Scholar with the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology specializing in China and Ecological Civilization. Her work bridges ecological ethics\, technology\, and religious/social thought\, with a focus on cross-cultural exchange for mutual flourishing and the common good. \n  \n  \nAndrew MacIver\, PhD is a Research Scholar with the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology specializing in China and Ecological Civilization. An anthropological archaeologist\, he collaborates with partners in the U.S. and China to explore how historical and cultural knowledge can inspire ecological civilization and the common good. \n  \n  \nMary Evelyn Tucker\, PhD\, co-directs the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology\, which examines cultural and religious values for broadened environmental ethics. This arose from a series of 10 conferences at Harvard on world religions and ecology that she organized with John Grim. She has published several books on Confucianism including The Philosophy of Qi. She co-edited Confucianism and Ecology (Harvard) and two volumes with Tu Weiming on Confucian Spirituality. She is the co-author of Journey of the Universe with Brian Thomas Swimme and the executive producer of the Emmy Award winning Journey film. This was inspired by Thomas Berry whose books she edited and whose biography she wrote with John Grim.They have been traveling in China since 1985 studying Ecological Civilization. \n  \nStephen Posner\, PhD\, is Senior Fellow for Planetary Health at the Garrison Institute and Global Affiliate with the Gund Institute for Environment at the University of Vermont. Stephen integrates science with contemplative practices to build understanding across cultures\, align human systems with nature\, and promote cross-sector collaboration. He has published over 50 technical and non-technical articles on sustainability science and leverage points for systems change. He currently leads initiatives related to nature assessment and ecological stewardship. \n  \n  \nRoots of Renewal:\n Ecological Civilization in China and the Confluence of Tradition and Modernity\nA Garrison Institute Webinar Series on Ecological Civilization\n  \nThe Garrison Institute’s Pathways to Planetary Health initiative is partnering with the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology to host a five-part online Forum series exploring Ecological Civilization in China—an evolving cultural\, ethical\, ecological\, and policy vision that asks what it would take to align human development with the flourishing of Earth’s living systems. \nRather than treating ecological civilization as primarily technical\, this series examines how social change is shaped by the relationship between tradition and modernity: where inherited worldviews and cultural traditions meet rapid development\, and where inner cultivation and public institutions must be reimagined together. Each Forum features a guest speaker in dialogue with Mary Evelyn Tucker and moderator Stephen Posner\, and invites participants into conversations that connect ideas to practice\, and values to systems change. \nAcross the series\, we move from on-the-ground conservation and thirty years of Ecological Civilization work in China\, to Daoism and classical reading as pathways for self-transformation and social reform—culminating in the launch of a new Yale Forum Ecological Civilization website designed as a living resource for learning\, teaching\, and transformation. \nModerator: Stephen Posner\, The Garrison Institute\nDiscussants: Mary Evelyn Tucker\, Yale University\, along with esteemed speakers \nWe will conduct these LIVE forums on Zoom. After registering for each forum\, you will receive a link to join the session. Please email us at events@garrisoninstitute.org with questions. \nFeatured speakers and topics: \n\nGao Yufang — Conservation in China for Ecological Civilization\nZhihe Wang & Meijun Fan — Ecological Civilization: Thirty Years of Work in China\nDaniel K. Gardner — Reading the Chinese Classics for Self-Transformation and Social Reform\nChen Xia — Daoism and Ecological Civilization\n\nSimeiqi He & Andrew MacIver — A New Ecological Civilization Hub for Learning\, Teaching\, and Action \nWe will conduct these LIVE forums on Zoom from 7:00 – 8:15pm ET on  \nFebruary 18 \nMarch 4 \n March 18 \nApril 14 \nApril 29 \n  \n  \nPlease contact us for questions and inquiries at events@garrisoninstitute.org.
URL:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/roots-of-renewal-pathways-speaker-series-5/
CATEGORIES:Forum,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/A-New-Ecological-Civilization-Hub-for-Learning-Teaching-and-Action.png
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END:VCALENDAR