June 6-8, 2008
Pema Chödrön: Practicing Peace in Times of War
Columbia University
New York City

A note from Meg: In early June, my dear friend and teacher, Pema Chodron, will be offering a week-end program in New York City that might interest you if you are finding it difficult to maintain peace of mind and avoid aggressive responses at work, at home, in your life generally. I have found Pema's teachings essential to keep my heart open and feel peaceful as the world continues to bombard us with greed, aggression and fear. I will play a role in this Program as a mentor for those who commit to working with Pema's practices for the next year. Please download an event flyer for a full program description. I hope you will join us.

Beloved Buddhist teacher, Pema Chödrön, will teach a three-day program at Columbia University on strategies to support individuals and organizations  working to create a peaceful and just world. Pema Chödrön has focused her teachings on how the inner practices of mindfulness-awareness from the Tibetan Buddhist path can be used by people of any faith in all walks of life to deal with extreme stress and suffering. Pema will be joined by a remarkable and diverse group of activists experienced in peace keeping and human rights worldwide.

The weekend will include teachings by Pema Chödrön, training in mindfulness practice and small group discussions. The practices for finding peace in oneself can be used as the means for transforming larger conflicts and for dealing with the personal chaos and hopelessness that many people experience in the face of increasing aggression in the world.  For more information, visit http://www.cicrtraining.com or download more information about this event.




June 12-15, 2008
How Communities Respond to Change and Catastrophe
A Learning Journey to New Orleans
Led by Margaret (Meg) Wheatley with Nancy Margulies
New Orleans, Louisiana

Margaret (Meg) Wheatley will lead a very special learning inquiry into the neighborhoods of New Orleans most affected by Hurricane Katrina.  She will facilitate conversations with leaders of a number of community-based organizations and efforts that have brought about real change through creative approaches, high levels of community engagement and sheer perseverance since the storm.
 
Nancy Margulies will join Meg Wheatley in leading the journey.  She has worked with non-profits and universities in New Orleans to assist with recovery efforts and has partnered with Meg for many years as both a co-facilitator and a visual recorder. Nancy's unique visual work will document the journey.

If you are a community leader, developer or planner, the manager of a non-profit or for-profit organization, a disaster planner, or someone looking for better ways to develop leadership in today's world, don't miss this unique opportunity.

Many grass-roots efforts have succeeded despite the many governmental and bureaucratic failures in New Orleans' recovery efforts.  These self-organized community efforts are bringing neighborhoods back to life and making life meaningful again for New Orleans citizens.  During this learning inquiry, we will spend time in several different communities within New Orleans and learn how they worked together, how they generated local leadership to reclaim and rebuild their neighborhoods, and how they sustained themselves and their work over many years of hardship and frustration.
 
From working in some of the most desperate areas on the planet, Meg has learned that "Whatever the problem, community is the answer." Meg's major interest is how people, organizations and communities can maintain their integrity, focus and effectiveness as they respond to continuous change and occasional catastrophes.  
 
Since Katrina, Meg and Nancy have been learning from the remarkable community efforts in post-Katrina New Orleans, and they are leading this Learning Journey so that people can harvest the learnings of these extraordinary communities and people.  The structure of the journey will also give participants ample time to reflect together on lessons learned that need to be carried back to their own organizations.  In this way, the experiences and wisdom gained from the catastrophe of Katrina will be able to disseminate and support many other communities and leaders.

Participation in the Learning Inquiry will be limited in order to keep the group small to facilitate learning.  

If you want to find out more, go to www.NOLALearningInquiry.com or contact Jackie Newman at Concordia, LLC, 504-569-1818, jnewman@concordia.com.

June 22-28, 2008
Practicing Fearlessness in Times of Fear
The Shambhala Institute's Authentic Leadership Summer Institute Program
Module with Jerry Granelli, Chris Grant, & Margaret Wheatley
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Ancient teachings define fearlessness as a noble act of generosity, one of the true gifts we can offer to others.

How can we lead fearlessly in this age of increasing uncertainty and turbulence?
How can we create harmonious work environments even as fear and anxiety pervade our communities and organizations?
How can we ourselves open to the world and act courageously even as those around us close down and withdraw?

Click here for more information: http://www.shambhalainstitute.org/alia/2008summer/module05.html

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