The Importance of Community: Featuring Aarti Tejuja, Joy Gutierrez, Martina Bouey, Dr. Claudelle Glasgow, & Dr. Shanté Paradigm Smalls

This panel of meditation teachers focusing on issues facing Buddhist, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other communities. How does community, meditation, and connection help us face and change harmful circumstance? How do we connect in the age of incredible speed and AI technology? How do we build communities focused on healing, celebration, and wellness?

The cost for this talk is $10 for the General Public and $20 for Patrons who wish to pay-it-forward. We ask that Groups and Meditation Centers to please pay within the $40-$60 range.

Because we are committed to making this talk accessible to all, there is also a 25% discount option. To request this discount or a further scholarship, write to [email protected].

Schedule

7:00pm ET - Welcome & guided meditation

7:25pm ET - Dharma talk

7:55pm ET - Q&A with teacher

8:10pm ET - Announcements

Join live or watch later. When you register for a talk, you’ll receive:

+ A link to view the event live

+ Access to view the archived video after the live event concludes

Aart Tejuja
Aarti Tejuja is the former Director of the Social Engagement for Shambhala International where she worked with Shambhala Centers globally to help shift the community’s current insular culture to a more outward and engaged approach. Aarti currently runs her own organization, Spiritual Activism, which offers new tools to activists who struggle with the weight of emotions they face when fighting for a more balanced world. She also works with spiritual communities and individuals with strong spiritual practices who want help stepping out and engaging the world with conscious awareness. Aarti has served in a variety of roles with a diverse array of groups. She has managed youth programs, served on the boards of non-profits Restored Hope, who advocate for underserved women & children, as well as Arrow Collective, and participated in interfaith dialogues. In 2015, Pope Francis invited her to participate in a Buddhist Catholic dialogue in Rome. She has successfully co-led 2 youth summits and 3 large mindfulness conferences created collaboratively with non-profits and interfaith groups. Aarti lives with her husband Matt and kitties Mochi, Buttercup and Fiona.

Dr. Shanté Paradigm Smalls
Dr. Shanté Paradigm Smalls is a teacher and student in the Shambhala school of Vajrayana (Tibetan) Buddhism. Shanté began studying and practicing Buddhism at age 17 and has practiced in Zen, SGI, and Shambhala communities. Shanté began on the teaching path in 2009 and was authorized in the Shambhala tradition to teach meditation and buddhadharma in 2015. Dr. Smalls teaches dharma and meditation in a variety of locations including dharma centers, conferences, corporations, and colleges and universities. Shanté is focused on the healing impact of contemplation and meditation in Black communities, People of Color communities, LGBTQ+ communities, and prison and recovery communities. Shante is a Teacher on the Liberation App and teaches regularly on Weekly Dharma Gathering Online. Shanté is an Assistant Professor of Black Literature & Culture at St. John’s University in Queens, NY, and they live in Brooklyn, NY with their dog, Drala. They will be living in Atlanta for the 2019-2020 academic year on a research fellowship at Emory University.

Joy Gutierrez
Joy Gutierrez is a member and practitioner of Shambhala NYC. Committed to building collective inclusion of the community’s LGBT and people of color, Joy serves as a co-facilitator for the Race/Racism/Racial Inequality Group, and also co-teaches with Queer Dharma at the LGBT Center. She completed “Teaching Mindfulness 200-Hour” training program in 2018 (taught by Ethan Nichtern, Shante Smalls and David Perrin). In her professional life, Joy is helping to create public spaces in all five boroughs with the NYC Parks Department as an architect and urban designer.

Martina Bouey
Martina has been an active member of the Shambhala community for over 15 years. In her working life, Martina consults with local, national and international nonprofits and philanthropists on board governance, charitable advising, communications, operations, financial management, and program development.

Dr. Claudelle Glasgow
Dr. Claudelle Glasgow has been a student of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche for over 10 years. In the Shambhala community, they serve as a meditation instructor, teacher, leader of service. They are also a Buddhist Minister of Religion. In the community, Dr. G is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Seattle, WA and guest speaker and trainer on the intersection of topics such as Buddhism, trauma, social engagement, and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) & LGBTQ+ identity. In their free time they enjoy writing, nomadic journeys, Nature, and Japanese archery (kyudo). Visit Dr. G's website at http://claudelleglasgow.com.