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Theme: Practicing Change

This event occurred on
October 15, 2016
New York, New York
United States

We are exploring the innovative ways change is taking place on both the personal and societal levels. Looking at micro-level change within the tiniest neurotransmitters, among the behavior of bees, and the inner lives of prison inmates to systemic shifts taking place within the legal profession, health care, technology, politics and fashion industry, we are drawing from a broad range of thinkers, doers and researchers across multiple disciplines, coming from New York and beyond.

NYU Law School Tishman Auditorium
40 Washington Square South
New York, New York, 10012
United States
Event type:
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Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check event website for more information.

Nastassja Schmiedt and Lea Roth

NASTASSJA SCHMIEDT AND LEA ROTH were the organizers and lead complainants on a 2013 federal complaint against Dartmouth College to the Department of Education regarding the institution’s handling of sexual violence and hate crimes on campus. In 2013, Lea and Nastassja created Spring Up (timetospringup.org), a multimedia activist collective making a space for conflict transformation through intentional mythmaking. The two appeared on stage with 50 other survivors and Lady Gaga at the 2016 Oscars in a breakthrough statement for the sexual assault movement and contributed to the moving anthology “We Believe You: Survivors of Campus Sexual Assault Speak Out.” Their student activism is featured in the award-winning 2015 documentary “The Hunting Ground” and the forthcoming “Silent College.” Nastassja and Lea co-authored Millennial Sex, a collection of short stories exploring themes of desire, consent, and millennial sexuality, and they co-host the Phoenix Moment Podcast. They enjoy making bowties for their cats Audre and Wilhelm. Nastassja and Lea are engaged and planning their union ceremony in Colorado!

angel Kyodo williams

ANGEL KYODO WILLIAMS is an author, activist, founder of the Center for Transformative Change, and one of three black women Zen "Senseis" or teachers. She has been bridging the worlds of transformation and justice since her critically acclaimed book, Being Black: Zen and the Art of Living With Fearlessness and Grace. She applies wisdom teachings and embodied practice to intractable social issues at the intersections of climate change, and racial and economic justice. Her 27 Days of Change online program and 3rd Way Leadership supports changemakers in inner meets outer change worldwide. Her work has been widely covered, including in The New York Times, Boston Globe, Ms., and Essence. Her newest book collaboration, Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love, and Liberation has just been released. angelkyodowilliams.com

Aqeela Sherrills

AQEELA SHERRILLS is a Strategist for Californian for Safety and Justice (CSJ), and Chapter Lead for the Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice (CSSJ) initiative, a nonprofit working to replace justice and prison system waste with common sense solutions that create safe neighborhoods and save taxpayer dollars. Sherrills is the Principal of the Reverence Project, a social profit agency he launched after the murder of his son to develop comprehensive wellness centers in urban war zone introducing those who suffer from high levels of trauma to alternative healing technologies. He consults with violence intervention/prevention agencies locally, nationally and internationally.

Carla Goldstein

CARLA GOLDSTEIN is a pioneer in the emerging field of Spiritual Activism, a holistic framework for social change founded on the principles of interdependence, and fueled by an aspiration for a more unified, peaceful, and loving world. As an advocate with 25 years of public policy experience on issues related to women’s rights, poverty, sustainability, and social justice, Carla is Omega Institute’s Chief External Affairs Officer and cofounder of the Omega Women's Leadership Center, a hub for convening, inspiring, and training women to #DoPowerDifferently. Carla also writes, teaches and speaks about applying holistic principles in our everyday lives. She is a guest commentator for WAMC’s “51%” roundtable show, a columnist forFeminist.com, and blogs on Huffington Post and MomsRising.org.

Chuck Lief

CHUCK LIEF is the President of Naropa University, where he previously served as chairman of the board and was a student of Naropa’s founder, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Prior to his current role at Naropa, Chuck led some of the country’s most innovative and successful organizations providing integrated social enterprises and social services, including the Greyston Foundation and Amida Care, which together provided essential housing, health care, and employment to thousands of low-income people in the Northeast. Chuck has served in leadership capacities on the boards of Shambhala International, the Social Enterprise Alliance, the Intervale Center, the Vermont Community Loan Fund, Vermont Works for Women, the Westchester County Housing Commission, the New York State Governor’s AIDS housing task force, and many others. He earned a BA from Brandeis University and a JD from the University of Colorado School of Law.

Claudia Horwitz

CLAUDIA HORWITZ has 25 years of experience in building team capacity in nonprofit, for profit, and philanthropic settings, and she is an expert facilitator and group leader. She has also been a leader in national efforts to integrate the power of spiritual practice and the work of social justice. In 1995 she founded stone circles, an organization that piloted the work to sustain activists and the work for justice through spiritual practice. In 2007, the organization created a retreat and training center on 70 acres of land in North Carolina that welcomed leaders, practitioners and activists of all traditions. Her book The Spiritual Activist: Practices to Transform Your Life, Your Work, and Your World (Penguin Compass 2002) is a practical guide to individual and social transformation through spirit and faith. Claudia has a master’s degree in Public Policy from Duke University. Trained as a yoga teacher in the Kripalu tradition, she follows a yogic path on and off the mat. Claudia is mostly based on an island off the North Carolina coast and serves as a writer, facilitator and trainer supporting work for individual and collection liberation. She is working on a book of essays about that very topic.

Eileen Fisher

EILEEN FISHER is the Founder and Chairwoman of EILEEN FISHER, INC., the clothing company known for its simple shapes and beautiful fabrics. Eileen ventured into clothing design in 1984. With 65 EILEEN FISHER stores, over 300 department and specialty stores across the US, UK and Canada as well as 2 Green Eileen stores, in February 2016, EILEEN FISHER, Inc. became the largest women’s fashion company to be certified a B Corporation by B Lab. Eileen is passionate about business as a movement. In spring 2015, the company announced VISION2020, a bold five-year plan that addresses sustainability and human rights. In keeping with Eileen’s belief in collaboration, VISION2020 calls for partnering with other brands to shift the fashion industry. “We don’t want sustainability to be our edge,” says Eileen. “We want it to be universal.” In 2015, Eileen also launched the Eileen Fisher Learning Lab where employees and the public are invited to embark on journeys of inquiry to explore purpose, mindfulness and embodiment through a variety of workshops and events. In October 2015, the Fashion Group International honored Eileen with the prestigious Sustainability Award. Eileen was the recipient of the 2015 Riverkeeper Award as well as BF+DA’s Corporate Leadership in Advancing Sustainability Award. Eileen’s additional honors include the 2012 Leaders of Change award from the Global Conference for Social Change and the Board of Directors Award from the Metropolitan New York Chapter of the US National Committee for UN Women. She is a 2012 inductee into the Social Venture

Erica Ford

ERICA FORD is the CEO and Founder of LIFE Camp, dedicated to reducing violence among young NewYorkers and creating a culture of peace. LIFE Camp incorporates best practices in youth violence prevention/intervention, as well as providing programs such as I Love My Life Campaign to reinforce self-esteem and respect for life among teens and young adults. Urban Yogis, and other holistic approaches, connect and mobilize youth to prevent and heal from violence in NYC’s most underserved communities.

J. Kim Wright

J. KIM WRIGHT is a trailblazer in the area of integrative law – an emerging worldwide movement to create a legal system that grants dignity and voice to everyone in the legal system – crafting values-based, sustainable, and holistic solutions that build and strengthen relationships. She is the editor and publisher of CuttingEdgeLaw.com – a resource library about integrative law. Kim is the author of the flagship ABA best-selling book, Lawyers as Peacemakers, Practicing Holistic, Problem-Solving Law and a new book, Lawyers as Changemakers, The Emerging International Integrative Law Movement. Kim leads CLE programs and offers coaching and consulting around the world to courts, law firms, CLE providers, legal organizations, law schools, workshop leaders, authors and the media. Kim Wright has a JD from the University of Florida, Levin College of Law.

Jeffrey C. Walker

JEFFREY C. WALKER is Vice Chair in the United Nations Envoy’s Office for Health Finance and Malaria. He also currently serves on the Boards of the University of Virginia, New Profit, Berklee College of Music and the Morgan Library. He is a partner in Bridge Builders investment fund. Jeff is Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of The Quincy Jones Musiq Consortium, serves on the Harvard Business School Dean’s Board of Advisors and is Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Center for Contemplative Sciences at UVA. Jeff Co-Founded and was Chairman of Npower, an organization that provides shared technology services to nonprofits. Jeff recently co-authored a new book, The Generosity Network, about new approaches to gather resources to address causes each of us are passionate about. For twenty five years Jeff was CEO and Co-Founder of CCMP Capital, the $12 billion successor to JPMorgan Partners. He has an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.S. from the University of Virginia.

Kerri Kelly

KERRI KELLY is pioneering a movement to mobilize the wellbeing community into a powerful force for change. Her work was sparked on 9-11, when she lost her fireman step-dad in the towers. She quickly discovered the power of mindfulness, not just as a tool for personal healing but as a catalyst for collective change. Since then, Kerri has worked passionately across communities to fight for justice and wellbeing. Kerri has been instrumental in translating the tools of wellbeing into practical application and social action in the public sector, working in collaboration with community organizers, spiritual leaders and policy makers. Her leadership has inspired a movement to democratize wellbeing that is actively organizing around issues of economic justice (Fight for 15), food system reform (Plate of the Union), civic engagement (voteWELL) and more. For more information about her work go to ctznwell.org and thecatalystcollective.com.

Lt. Richard Goerling

LT. RICHARD GOERLING has served in civilian law enforcement for twenty years, including 27 years in the United States Coast Guard before retiring at the rank of Commander in 2015. He’s held both federal and municipal level positions and has served as a criminal investigator, patrol officer, detective, patrol sergeant, detective sergeant, detective lieutenant, and currently serves as a patrol lieutenant in Hillsboro, Oregon. Over the last decade, Richard has spearheaded the introduction of mindfulness training into policing in the United States as part of a larger cultural transformation toward a compassionate, skillful and resilient warrior ethos. He also serves as an affiliate assistant professor at Pacific University, where he participates in mindfulness training and research, and holds an adjunct faculty position at Portland Community College teaching in the Criminal Justice program, where he developed a groundbreaking curriculum titled Leading Resilience.

Marisela Gomez

MARISELA GOMEZ, MD, PhD, is a community activist, author, public health professional, and physician. She received a BS and MS from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, a PhD, MD, and MPh from The Johns Hopkins University. Of Afro-Latina ancestry, she has spent more than 20 years in Baltimore involved in social justice activism and community building/health research and practice. She is the author of Race, Class, Power, and Organizing in East Baltimore. She is involved in building intentional coop communities-Beloved Communities- of justice and spirituality in Baltimore based in solidarity economics. A mindfulness practitioner in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh she facilitates mindfulness retreats for activists and people of color.

Matt Stinchcomb

MATT STINCHCOMB is the Executive Director of Good Work Institute (formerly, etsy.org). Previously, he was the VP, Values, and Impact at etsy.com. In that role he oversaw the stewardship of the company's mission, and worked to give all employees the means and the desire to maximize the benefit their work has on people and the planet. In 2013, he was named a GOOD Magazine 'Figure of Progress'. The next year he was named as one of the Purpose Economy 100. In 2016, Matt was selected as a BALLE Local Economy Fellow. Matt also serves on the Board of Directors for the Schumacher Center for New Economics, the Center for a New American Dream, and Naropa University. He is a graduate of Oberlin College and lives in Brooklyn, NY with his wife, Benedikta, and their sons, Francis and Lewie.

Rev. Dr. Katharine Henderson

THE REV. DR. KATHARINE RHODES HENDERSON is president of Auburn Seminary, a 200-year-old institution that equips bold and resilient leaders of faith and moral courage to build communities, bridge divides, pursue justice, and heal the world. Author of God’s Troublemakers: How Women of Faith are Changing the World, Henderson is an internationally known speaker and has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, MSNBC, NPR, and more. Henderson was named co-recipient of the Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize for her lifelong passion to create spaces for authentic interfaith engagement, including spearheading the creation of “MountainTop,” a national gathering of 80 faith leaders to catalyze a multi-faith movement for justice. Past recipients include His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet. She earned her Masters of Divinity degree at Union Theological Seminary and her doctorate at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Sam Droege

SAM DROEGE is an author and biologist at the U.S. Geological Survey. He's an international expert on both birds and pollinator species. Sam has produced many grassroots programs: Bioblitz, Frogwatch USA, Cricket Crawl that enlist volunteers to inventory local flora and fauna. Currently he is developing an inventory and monitoring program for native bees, online identification guides for North American bees at discoverlife.org, and with Jessica Zelt reviving the North American Bird Phenology Program.

Sandy Wiggins

SANDY WIGGINS is Principal of Consilience, LLC, a national consultancy with a mission to foster environmentally, socially and economically sustainable communities. Consilience literally means “leaping together” and Sandy's skillful facilitation has helped birth sustainable public policy initiatives, regional, municipal and corporate sustainability plans, institutional impact investing strategies and sustainable master plans across the country. Sandy has been responsible for scores of sustainable development projects, which include some of the nation’s first net zero energy buildings, one of the world’s first Living Building Challenge projects, and a neighborhood development aspiring to meet the Living Community Challenge. Sandy is a Sr. Advisor to RSF Social Finance, whose mission is to transform the way the world works with money. As part of RSF’s Field-building Collaborative he works to foster direct, transparent, relationship-centric alternatives to the current financial system. Sandy currently serves as Chair of BALLE (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies), whose mission is to create local economies that work for all, and on the Green Building Advisory Council for Washington, DC. He is a Past Chair of the U.S. Green Building Council and was Founding Chair of the Green Building Certification Institute. He was also Founding Chair of the Philadelphia based Delaware Valley Green Building Council, a co-author of LEED for Neighborhood Development and Chair of e3bank, a triple bottom line bank focused on redirecting the flow of capital toward a sustainable world.

Sara Overton

SARA OVERTON is an artist based in New York City. Her visual art is often meditative and influenced by the natural world. Sara conceived of the Awake in the Wild Experience (AWE), a mindfulness-in-nature art project currently in development for New York City and Los Angeles. AWE is inspired by the mindfulness practices of meditation teacher Mark Coleman, who is the author of the book Awake in the Wild and collaborating on the project. Sara's work is frequently influenced by her interest in Buddhism, and she has had a Buddhist meditation practice for more than a decade. She received a master's degree from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and previously worked in media, including as a producer for public broadcasting at San Francisco's KQED Radio, where she worked on many live events and discussions.

Sarah Hemminger

SARAH HEMMINGER, PhD, co-founded Thread with her husband Ryan Hemminger in 2004. She has eleven years of experience in nonprofit management and expertise in the development, expansion, and replication of innovative, paradigm-shifting models of community building. Sarah was awarded fellowships from Ashoka, Echoing Green Foundation, Open Society Institute, and the Albert Schweitzer Fellows Program, which support social entrepreneurs with innovative ideas. In 2010, Sarah received her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University for her work on the role of the cerebellum and the primary motor cortex on the time scales of consolidation of motor memory. She received the prestigious Siebel Scholars Award for outstanding work in the field of technology and engineering. Her research was published in the Journal of Neuroscience, Journal of Neurophysiology, and Cerebral Cortex and she has lectured internationally on her work.

Shauna Shapiro

SHAUNA SHAPIRO, PhD, is a professor at Santa Clara University, a clinical psychologist, and an internationally recognized expert in mindfulness. Dr. Shapiro is the recipient of the American Council of Learned Societies teaching award, acknowledging her outstanding contributions to education; and is a fellow of the Mind and Life Institute co-founded by the Dalai Lama. Dr. Shapiro lectures and leads mindfulness programs internationally, serves on the Advisory Board of Axialent a leader on Conscious Business, and has brought mindfulness to pioneering companies including Cisco Systems and Google. She has published over 150 articles and book chapters and is co-author of The Art and Science of Mindfulness and Mindful Discipline: A loving approach to raising an emotionally intelligent child. drshaunashapiro.com

Susan Olesek

SUSAN OLESEK is the founder of the Enneagram Prison Project (EPP) – a burgeoning, paradigm-shifting model of self-awareness education for the incarcerated that is spreading rapidly across the globe. A “Human Potentialist” and social entrepreneur in pursuit of what’s possible for people, Susan was born outside of Boston and schooled in Hong Kong, Tokyo, and England. She obtained a sociology degree from Occidental College and is certified by two Enneagram training schools: Palmer-Daniels and Riso-Hudson. Susan lives in the Santa Cruz mountains with her three children and husband, and teaches to the incarcerated in both jails and prisons.

Tish Jennings

PATRICIA (TISH) JENNINGS, M.Ed., Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Education at the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia. She is an internationally recognized leader in the fields of social and emotional learning and mindfulness in education with a specific emphasis on teacher stress and how it impacts the social and emotional context of the classroom and student well-being and learning. Dr. Jennings led the team that developed CARE for Teachers, a mindfulness-based professional development program shown to significantly improve teacher well-being, classroom climate and student productivity. Dr. Jennings is leading the development of the Compassionate Schools Project integrated health curriculum, which is being evaluated in Louisville, Kentucky. Earlier in her career, Dr. Jennings spent over 22 years as a classroom teacher. She is the author of Mindfulness for Teachers: Simple Skills for Peace and Productivity in the Classroom.

Organizing team

Matt
Goldman

New York, NY, United States
Organizer

Gretchen
Steidle

Portsmouth, NH, United States
Co-organizer
  • Alice Wells
    Production