Five times per day, throughout this enigmatic city, the calls to prayer, or Ezan, ring out, initiating an exodus from homes, offices and even busy tourists shops and restaurants…this city has much to teach the economic capital of America’s Empire. From this vantage point, it is hard to comprehend the furor generated around the placement of just one mosque, that of the proposed Cordoba Mosque and Community Center in New York City’s lower Manhattan.

Chicano/Native activist Albino Garcia founded grassroots organization La Plazita Institute located in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2004. He grew up in Chicago and is no stranger to the streets; his background closely mirrors that of the populations that La Plazita Institute serves. He has done extensive healing work with youth, veterans, and gang members. His leadership style is grounded in traditional culture, and he is known and respected for approaching challenging situations with creativity, honesty, inclusiveness, and innovation.

First, we have to get rid of our internal clutter–that excess “baggage” we’ve been recycling for decades & even lifetimes! Not only baggage accumulated in our garages, but baggage on our bodies, in our minds, in our hearts–all of which are conditioned responses that are familiar, safe, yet prevent us from living as our Higher Selves.

by Michael A. Bedar, Certified Spiritual Nutrition Instructor, M.A. Candidate Just brushing early autumn, late summer is a most extraordinary of seasons. On the one hand, it is a most bountiful time [...]

La Plazita Institute is a grassroots organization based out of Albuquerque’s South Valley. Their mission is “to strengthen community and enable youth to leave behind a destructive lifestyle by tapping into their own roots to express core traditional values of respect, honor, love, family, and community.”

Karen Muktayani Villanueva shares her reflections on the importance of spending time in Nature, being off the grid, and enjoying being unplugged.

Kapotasana, also known as Pigeon Posture, is one of the backbends and hip openers of the Warrior Series. It is a great posture for finding opening in the thighs, abdomen, shoulders, heart center, and particularly the hips.

When Kelly Cordes moved to Montana in 1992, the mountains carved the shape of his life. He discovered his passion for long alpine routes, soloing and teaming up with climbers who shared his enthusiasm.

“Butoh breaks down barriers between people, opening up uncomfortable feelings that have been repressed for many, many years.” In this reprint of Judith Kajiwara’s piece, “Butoh and My Right to Heal,” she explores the social history of this art form, its effect on the individual, and the impact that it has on society-at-large.

When 25 million Americans have diabetes and another 55 million have pre-diabetes, growing by approximately 5% every three years, that is more than quarter of the country being effected. It is caused by a mainstream system of food and lifestyle that doesn’t work. Fortunately, we know a lifestyle solution.

Seasons Fund for Social Transformation highlights the relationship between Statewide Parent Network of New Jersey and stone circles in North Carolina.  In this reprint of their case study, we see how when leadership boldly supports and encourages new perspectives of the mind and heart, especially in the midst of transition, how ultimately in  service of shifting organizational culture and beyond.