International Lecturer, Benetvision Founder Executive Director, Author
Sister Joan doesn't mince words when it comes to: the naked truth of a spirituality that changes
hearts; the gospel imperative to love one's neighbor—all one's neighbors; the Benedictine ideal of human community that sees Christ in the stranger. (More about Chittister)
James O’Dea
Washington DC Amnesty International Past Director, Seva Foundation Past Executive Director.
As director of the Washington DC office of Amnesty International, he testified before Congress, met with two U.S. presidents and many foreign heads of state, and represented Amnesty International to the State Department, the White House, and the World Conference on Human Rights. He created and currently co-leads a series of dialogues on social healing. (More about O'Dea)
Brian Swimme
Mathematical Cosmologist, California Institute of Integral Studies.
His research focuses on the evolutionary dynamics of the universe, the relationship between scientific cosmology and more traditional religious visions and the role of humanity in the unfolding story of Earth and cosmos. He is the founder of the international Epic of Evolution Society forum for artists, scientists, ecofeminists, ecologists, religious thinkers and educators interested in the new story.
Author of Hidden Heart of the Cosmos, Universe Story (with Thomas Berry), The Universe is a Green Dragon and the video series The Canticle of the Cosmos and Earth’s Imagination. (More about Swimme)
David Korten
Positive Futures Network, YES! Magazine, co-founder/chair, People-Centered Development Forum Founde/President
Author of When Corporations Rule the World and The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community, which places corporate globalization within the context of 5,000 years of "Empire," used as a generic term for organizing human relationships by dominator hierarchy (More about Korten)
Belvie Rooks
Carrie On Productions Vice-president, Film Producer, Writer and Educator.
Host of ConverZations that Matter: Frontiers of Race, Cosmology, and Consciousness brings consciousness studies down to earth, making them real and relevant for everyday life, looking especially at questions of race, cosmology and consciousness. Rooks explores the full spectrum, from street realities to cosmic visions of human potential, with guests committed to harnessing frontier science and philosophy in the service of healing. (More about Rook)
Jim Conlon — "A Planetary Human"
Holy Names University/Sophia Center in Culture & Spirituality Director, Presenter
Jim has been engaged in community organization and development, depth psychology, journalism, popular education and graduate programs in theology and spirituality in Canada and the United States for many years. For more than two decades he has explored the cosmological vision of Thomas Berry and its implications for the Great Work to which each of us is called. He is the author of several books, including From the Stars to the Street: Engaged Wisdom for a Brokenhearted World; At the Edge of Our Longing: The Sacred Impulse; Ponderings from the Precipice; Sacred Story and Geo-justice.
Author (More about Conlon)
Alexandra Kovats
Spiritual Director, Retreat Facilitator, School of Theology and Ministry, Seattle University
Through her teaching and journeying with people of different ages, life-styles and culture/ethnic backgrounds she is committed to facilitate them toward a fuller and freer life of interconnectedness. She is the author of Prayer, A Discovery of Life. (More about Kovats)
Masankho Banda
International Performing Artist, World-renowned Storyteller, Recipient of the Unsung Hero of Compassion Award from the Dalai Lama
Masankho comes from a long line of social change activists. His father, Aleke K. Banda has helped lead two non-violent revolutions in Malawi, has spent more than a decade imprisoned by a dictatorship, and is one of the continent's most visible leaders of democracy. Masankho is a dancer, storyteller/singer, masseuse, peace facilitator, and founder of Ucandanc African Healing Arts. As Vice-President of Pathways To Peace, he has worked extensively bringing peace and joy through movement and storytelling into refugee camps in the Balkans. (More about Banda)
Carmel Bracken
Singer, Guitarist, Poet, Ritual Leader
Carmel facilitates creative and reflective processes in Nigeria and Ireland (and US) and is trained in Sacred Circle Dance and Multicultural Wellness Education. Author of The Gift of a Friend and composer of the song There Is A Dream. (More about Braken)
Jennifer Berezan
Internationally acclaimed singer, song-writer, recording artist and teacher.
Jennifer's work includes many collaborations and features guest artists such as Academy Award winning actress Olympia Dukakis and Pulitzer Prize winner author Alice Walker.
(More about Berezan)
P O S T - I N S T I T U T E - R E T R E A T
July 19-21, 2009
Creating a Mutually Enhancing World
Alexandra Kovats & Carmel Bracken