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Lama Rod Owens
Lama Rod Owens
Lama Rod Owens is a Buddhist minister, author, activist, yoga instructor and authorized Lama, or Buddhist teacher, in the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism and is considered one of the leaders of his generation of Buddhist teachers. He holds a Master of Divinity degree in Buddhist Studies from Harvard Divinity School and is a co-author of Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love and Liberation. Owens is the co-founder of Bhumisparsha, a Buddhist tantric practice and study community. Has been published in Buddhadharma, Lion’s Roar, Tricycle and The Harvard Divinity Bulletin and offers talks, retreats and workshops in more than seven countries.
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Michelle Cassandra Johnson
Michelle Cassandra Johnson
Michelle Cassandra Johnson is a social justice warrior, author, dismantling racism trainer, empath, yoga teacher and practitioner and an intuitive healer. With over 20 years of experience leading dismantling racism work and working with clients as a licensed clinical social worker, Johnson has a deep understanding of how trauma impacts the mind, body, spirit and heart. She has led Dismantling Racism Trainings with large corporations, small nonprofits and community groups, including the ACLU-WA, Duke University, Google, This American Life, The Center for Equity and Inclusion, Eno River Unitarian Universalist Church, Lululemon and many others. She published Skill in Action in 2017 and teaches workshops nationwide.
Photo Credit: Jodie Brim
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Valerie Naranjo
Valerie Naranjo
Valerie Naranjo is the professor of West African percussion, song and dance at New York University’s Steinhardt School, and is a member of NYU’s “Global Institute of Advanced Studies” which helps professors to an improved international understanding. She has performed and taught as a guest artist internationally, including nine African countries and in such situations and locations as The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver; The White House and The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.; New York’s Lincoln Center, City Center and Carnegie Hall; London’s Royal Festival Hall; The Johannesburg Civic Theatre; The National Theater of Ghana.
Valerie has been the percussionist for the NBC Saturday Night Live Band for 26 years, performing with such artists as Paul Simon, Lady Gaga and Mick Jagger.
Valerie Dee Naranjo is a true “world musician”, having performed on six continents and having researched and facilitated artistic links between them during the past three and a half decades. Drum! magazine reader’s poll named Valerie “World Music Percussionist of the Year” 2005 and 2008 and “Mallet Player of the Year.” Naranjo received a B.A. in Music Education from the University of Oklahoma and her M.A. in Performance from Ithaca College.
Nicki Cohen
Nicki Cohen
Nicki Cohen, PhD, MT-BC, is a Fellow and Primary Trainer of the Association for Music and Imagery. She is also a Professor of Music Therapy at Texas Woman’s University. She has a private GIM practice that incorporates music therapy techniques and classical, modified and music and imagery forms of the Helen Bonny Method. Nicki is the author of Advanced Methods of Music Therapy Practice.
Matt Levine
Matt Levine
Matt Levine is an accomplished composer and producer of music for games, film, television and other pictured media. His unique ability to compose memorable themes across a wide range of genres, his cutting edge technical skills and his resourceful and collaborative approach have earned him a stellar reputation among producers and directors.
In 2015, Matt joined the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM), where he teaches composition and production for video games and film, including collaborations with Sony Interactive Entertainment, SFFilm and San Francisco Art Institute. In 2019, Matt released Tone Pool, a sound healing app for iOS and Android.
Maggie Wheeler
Maggie Wheeler
Maggie Wheeler is best known in the U.S and internationally for her work as an actress in film, television and voice-over and most notably as the character of Janice on NBC’s hit series Friends. Maggie is a passionate singer, songwriter, choir director and workshop facilitator. Maggie directs the 100-voice Golden Bridge Community Choir in Hollywood, an inter-generational, non-auditioned choir now going in its 16th year.
