I am.  I am an experiment unfolding.

That said, I'vealsoplayed many rolls: Educator, Artist, Author, Kinesiologist, Life-Coach, Photographer, Realtor, Parent and explorer of life. My formal education is in Developmental Psychology and Fine Arts/Art History.

As I've grown, my passion has been ignited by questions of how we perceive reality, and how what we allow ourselves to perceive determines our sense of both our life conditions and our available responses to those perceived conditions. 

I earned an MSc in Organizing Learning for EcoSocial Regeneration from Gaia University so I could assist in the creation of a regional campus of this Action-Learning based university in Ashland, Oregon, USA - one of my current projects.  Almost since its inception, I've offered my skills as a Process Advisor, Output Reviewer, and most recently as an Admissions specialist for Gaia University International.  It is an honor to witness and support the work of the many world changers worldwide who seek advanced degrees while creating hands-on, project-based, whole-systems solutions to many of our most pressing global challenges.

I am also passionate about exploring what it means to "honor all life" within my personal life and the larger systems my choices impact, and that passion led to research culminating in the publication of my book,  Honoring All Life - A Practical Guide to Exploring a New Reality, and the creation of the non-profit Honoring All Life Foundation.

The Thrivability Institute ("Thriv'In") grew out of the educational efforts of the Honoring All Life Foundation, and we offer courses exploring perception, artistic expression, whole systems analysis, permaculture perceptions, sustainable systems development, and education for both children and adults.

I also offer in-depth Deep Perception workshops exploring our perceptual filters - both individual and collective - midwifing awareness of them and freeing our ability to choose appropriate perceptual filters that enhance our ability to be effective as world change artists.  Corporate training versions include Partnership Painting (a potent exploration of group dynamics and efficacy) and Seeing Your Self (a powerful exploration of your personal self-perception and how it serves you.)

After offering awareness-raising gatherings and talks on Transition Towns for over a year, I finally took the Training 4 Transition workshop offered by Sophy Banks and Naresh Giangrande of the UK Transition Network (Totnes) and then became one of 21 people selected to offer the same workshop to communities throughout the USA. 

After initiating Transition Town Ashland, it has now taken off, with active working groups of concerned citizens exploring and experimenting with whole-systems approaches to our community needs.  It has been a joy to watch our citizens step into their power both individually and collectively as they approach the concerns of peak oil, climate change, exponential population growth, and uncertain global finances with pro-active, creative ideas that step in the direction of re-localizing our basic needs while simultaneously creating multiple layers of added community resilience in a context of fun community co-creation.

Most recently, I've been supporting Cheryl Honey of Community Weaving as they launch their pilot project for the state of Illinois. Community Weaving is an innovative approach to foster a community of responsible citizens who create Family Support Networks where they share their time, gifts, talents and resources with others. This community mobilization strategy increases civic engagement and social capital by tapping grass root resources resulting in the creation of healthy thriving communities. Family Support Networks meet the needs of families and children in the old fashioned way, neighbor to neighbor. Through the use of telephones and a web-based technology families can easily and immediately access a myriad of resources to help themselves and others in the community. I can see how Community Weaving can greatly assist the Transition Town movement by offering a well-tested system of asset-based community networking.

In many ways I feel as if I am just beginning to understand how much I don't know, and to look upon the world and life with innocent eyes, eager to celebrate all that is.  I invite you to join me.