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Islands of Coherence
"“When a complex system is far from equilibrium, small islands of coherence in a sea of chaos have the capacity to shift the entire system to a higher order.” Quote by Ilya Prigogine, Nobel Prize-winning chemist. From March 15 to 17, 2023, a group of about 80 leaders gathered at the Garrison Institute for a Pathways to Planetary Health Symposium focused on the commons. Systems change was a recurrent theme at this meeting. One participant mentioned Ilya Prigogine’s quote above about “islands of coherence” as a way to think about shifting social systems.
Dr. Bayo Akomolafe on “Postactivism”
In this talk with Garrison Institute Fellowship Director Dr. Angel Acosta, "Contemplating Postactivism: Reframing Our Approach to Social Change," Bayo Akomolafe began by asking the provocative question: “What if the way we respond to the crisis is part of the crisis?” Dr. Akomolafe is a celebrated philosopher, writer, activist, professor, and international speaker. His work produced the concept of “postactivism,” which refuses the “us vs. them” thinking of traditional activism.
Zen, Contemplative Practice, and the Emergence of Black Queer Joy
This narrative essay offers an exploration of the ways in which contemplative practice can be part of a strategy for nurturing health, well-being, meaning and joy in our everyday lives as Black contemplatives. Drawing on my experience as a Black queer scholar and college professor, attention is given to the notion of contemplative practice as a way of cultivating our internal emotional, intellectual and spiritual resources.
CARE: An Educator SEL Program with Proof
CARE is a unique evidence-based program designed to help educators (teachers and administrators) reduce stress and enliven their teaching and leadership by promoting awareness, presence, compassion, reflection, and inspiration – the inner resources they need to help themselves and their students flourish, socially, emotionally, and academically.
The Contemplative Artist’s Way
From ancient wisdom traditions to secular and science-based approaches to mindfulness, people have always found ways to engage contemplative practices to foster wellbeing and channel attention. In this Fellowship Forum from April 13, Kenji Summers, Sickamore, Quiana Parks, and Dr. Angel Acosta discussed the creative ways that people are cultivating groundedness amidst this tumultuous historical moment.
Igniting Action at the Intersection of Art, Ecology, and Contemplation
The Garrison Institute was honored to welcome the work of Paz Perlman and artists from the Think About Water collective into the ensemble of contributors at our recent Pathways to Planetary Health Symposium in March. These critically acclaimed artists are known for their powerful bodies of work that grapple with today’s most profound societal and environmental challenges.
Leah Penniman on Black Earth Wisdom
On March 31, Leah Penniman joined Garrison Institute co-founder Jonathan P. Rose for a conversation about how farming and living in deep connection with land can heal and fortify the planet and ourselves.
Intraconnected: Embracing Oneness and Human Differences
Drawing on spiritual, scientific, and sociological expertise, this March 23 forum explored insights from Dr. Dan Siegel's new book, Intraconnected. Dr. Siegel, Mirabai Bush, Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz, and Garrison Institute Fellowship Director Dr. Angel Acosta explored how to overcome the limiting belief of an isolated and disconnected self, in favor of a self that is “a part of a synergy of systems much bigger than the individual.”
Possibilities for Everyday Resilience: A Conversation with Sharon Salzberg
Renowned meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg joined Christa Tinari, The Garrison Institute’s Director of Contemplative-Based Resilience Project on March 30th for the inaugural CBR Project forum to discuss the possibilities that exist for everyday resilience.
Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire with Rebecca Henderson
According to Harvard University professor Rebecca Henderson, capitalism is the most successful economic system in history, yet it's in danger of destroying itself - and our world. While some may be paralyzed by the enormity of the task facing humanity, Henderson's 2020 book Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire offers hope: if you, as an individual, can make even a single company a better place to work, you can change lives and be part of a driving the larger social and political changes that are needed.
Deliver Bad News with Compassion: A GUIDE
As the economy shifts gears, companies reorganize, and mass layoffs proliferate, leaders are
increasingly responsible for conveying hard messages to their firms. Thoughtful leaders are asking: how can bad news be delivered in a way that is honest, respectful, and compassionate?
Knowing that tough news is almost always perceived as negative, leaders must develop the skill of
reframing difficult change as not necessarily negative, while also acknowledging the stressful moment.
Creating a Wise Work-Life Balance: Relational Sensemaking in Leadership
Many organizations, businesses, and institutions are struggling right now to survive economic downturns while also maintaining human wellbeing—and the balancing act can be tumultuous. Tensions and rifts emerge when core values are challenged by workplace demands—causing moral, social, and economic dilemmas.