Practicing Community is less a 'podcast' and more a series of resources, stories, and conversations coming from the vast array of practitioners and changemakers working within and alongside the Youth Passageways network, forming our community of practice. This month, join Becky and Dallas ChiefEagle, Marisa Taborga Byrne, and Dane Zahorsky as they discuss Whole Person Wellness and how their work is to sustain and reconnect spirit in peoples lives is impacting and transforming their community! Health as a Whole Journey - About This Months Topic: Whole person Wellness is much more than the health of our individual mind, body, heart, and spirit. Yes, it’s all of those things, and also it is interrelated to place and community. There is a continual mutual exchange between our place on this earth and our unique way of being in the world. Expanding our view of Wellness can open a deeper connection with ourselves, with the land we call home, with the communities we are surrounded by. About This Months Guests: Becky and Dallas Chief Eagle are co-founders of the All Nations Gathering Center on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Both do work that’s hard to contain to any short intro, a few of the things we might mention are Dallas’s work as an artist-in-residence in schools across the nation since the mid 1980’s using Hoop Dancing and other techniques to teach the lessons of the Lakota Way or Becky’s work as the compliance officer of the Oglala Sioux Lakota Housing where she helps manage 1500 low rent rental units across the 9 districts of the reservation. Over the more than 10 years they along with a growing team of folks have impacted and transformed many people’s lives. The Center blends modern practices with the beautiful traditions of the Lakota Way in the lush and vibrant Yellow Bear Canyon just outside the Black Hills south of the Badlands in South Dakota. From getting out of unhealthy relationships, stopping suicidal intentions to healing bodies and minds, their healing has been a powerful catalyst for many men and women of all nations to heal and live healthier lives. You can find the full PDF transcript and associated resources on the episode website here: http://youthpassageways.org/blog/2018/07/09/practicing-community-episode-3-the-spirit-of-wellness-a-conversation-with-becky-and-dallas-chief-eagle/

Practicing Community is less a 'podcast' and more a series of resources, stories, and conversations coming from the vast array of practitioners and changemakers working within and alongside the Youth Passageways network, forming our community of practice. In this episode, we embark on a humbling and magic filled dialogue about life, our connection to wild places and the cathartic power of nature-based rites of passage with Larry Hobbs. From the High Arctic to the School of Lost Borders, the newly held 'Wayfaring Fast' as well as the many places in and between, there's something here for anyone and everyone! About This Months Guest: Larry has worked in a variety of both humanitarian and nature-based work throughout his lifetime. From a field biologist studying whales and dolphins to a psychotherapist working with individual and family systems to a teacher and naturalist leading wildlife expeditions worldwide, to years of Rites of Passage training at the School of Lost Borders. Larry has dedicated many years to the 4H Challenge Program embedded within the Washington State University’s extension program with a vision of making traditional Rites of Passage available to all 4H youth. Although still conducting river dolphin research in Southeast Asia and teaching and leading natural history trips around the world, Larry’s passion rests in guiding Rites of Passage and in sharing his knowledge of the ways we interrelate with and understand the natural world that supports us all. You can find the full PDF transcript and associated resources on the episode website here: http://youthpassageways.org/blog/2018/04/16/practicing-community-episode-2-resources-for-work-connecting-with-the-natural-world/

Practicing Community is less a 'podcast' and more a series of resources, stories, and conversations coming from the vast array of practitioners and changemakers working within and alongside the Youth Passageways network, forming our community of practice. This month, join Kruti Parekh, Marisa Taborga Byrne, and Dane Zahorsky as they discuss Transformative Justice and how Kruti’s work is expressed throughout her life and how it shows up in our community! About This Months Guest: Kruti Parekh has been working synergistically with young people and families in the most marginalized communities in both New York and Los Angeles for 18 years. Kruti’s experience includes adult ally at the Youth Justice Coalition, organizing to transform the juvenile and criminal injustice systems; director for youth programs, including YouthBuild, Teen Court, and Workforce Investment Act Programs as well as domestic violence accountability, workforce development, youth empowerment, youth leadership and wellness programs. She would like to use her experience to help create the necessary infrastructure within Los Angeles City and County to prevent harm, death, and incarceration for youth and increase graduation rates, financial independence and positive social contribution. Kruti has a Bachelor’s Degree from Brandeis University, Masters Degree in Social Worker from Hunter College and a self-proclaimed PhD (People’s health Degree) from the Youth Justice Coalition. You can find the full PDF transcript and associated resources on the episode website here: http://youthpassageways.org/blog/2018/02/23/episode-1-the-justice-of-transformation-a-conversation-with-kruti-parekh/