Jae Anderson has been practicing and studying meditation for over 25 years. They hold a PhD in philosophy from Saint Louis University. Formally, their primary areas of research are in Social/Political Philosophy and Ethics, with additional interests in both African American Philosophy and Eastern Philosophy especially as these overlap with the former two. Anderson is also actively engaged in the philosophy and praxis of pedagogy with a particular focus on contemplative pedagogy. Outside of the academy, they have studied Buddhist philosophy and meditation in India and Nepal. They have trained in Vipassana with Anagarika Munindraji, Godwin Samararate, and Jnanapurnika Mahasthavira; in Zazen with Ekai Korematsu Roshi; and Dzogchen with Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche. Anderson is a certified Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) teacher and 200-hour yoga teacher registered with the Yoga Alliance. Most importantly, they love their family – including a poorly adjusted dog – teaching, writing, and walking in the woods.

Carolina Bautista-Velez is an immigrant, Latinx, activist, Certified Professional Life Coach, Anti-racism consultant and trainer. Her passion is to inspire change that allows individuals, groups and organizations to stand in their humanity, dignity and wholeness. She is the owner of CVelez Consulting and Metamorphosis-Coaching. Carolina uses mindfulness, resilience, neuroscience and compassion as tools to move towards individual and collective liberation Carolina is a trained Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher, and a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction teacher in training with the UCSD. She holds a degree in clinical psychology, with a specialization in psychoanalysis.

Elisa Bennett, M.A and certified Yoga instructor started her journey with mindfulness in 2015. She became a certified yoga instructor and enrolled in Mindfulness courses to further her personal practice and grow in community with others. As a former university adjunct professor and teacher for over a decade, she now works in the field of technology while continuing to grow her own mindfulness practice. She is currently enrolled in the MBSR teacher training program through UCSD. She views all forms of mindfulness as an anchor back to herself and believes it can also help others find healthier rhythms to the flow of life.

Carrington Brown graduated from the Haden Institute Spiritual Direction Program and Dream Program, has a BA in painting, is a Yoga Alliance certifiedinstructor, and holds a certificate from Sacred Plant Traditions Foundations Herbal Program. Retired from a 40-year career as a landscape designer, Carrington paints, showing her work in Hot Springs, Virginia and volunteers as a Restorative Justice facilitator in the court referral program and the women’s prison. She has a regular meditation practice and leads ongoing dream groups and Tarot workshops at the Innerwork Center and elsewhere in the Richmond community.

Anne Carson (they/them) leads the Queer Richmond Sangha and is certified as a Mindfulness Meditation Teacher through Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program. Carson is also pursuing a Master of Divinity with a concentration on Chaplaincy through Chicago Theological Seminary. Carson has had a long career as a professional writer, and is currently the Director of Copy at EAB, a marketing and consulting company that helps colleges and universities thrive. Carson is a lifelong Richmonder and lives with their wife of 20 years in Varina. Together they travel, enjoy the outdoors, and pursue spiritual growth.

Having found her passion early in life, Anne has explored many corners of the field of organization and leadership development. She has been an independent consultant, facilitator and coach for over two decades. During that time, her interest in mindfulness evolved from the cultivation of a personal practice as a young adult to becoming a certified Mindfulness Instructor. Currently she integrates the elements and practices of mindfulness into her work with individuals and groups to increase their natural capacity to be focused, aware, resilient, responsive and compassionate.

Kay Davidson, PhD is a retired clinical psychologist and long time mindfulness coach, mentor, and teacher. Kay completed the 2 year Meditation Teacher Training led by Tara Brach and the Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC in 2013 and now offers many classes, practice groups, workshops and retreats in the RVA area. Currently, she is co-facilitating the The Innerwork Center Mindfulness Teacher Training program and “Practicing Mindfulness” sessions along with her husband Philip. She also serves on The Innerwork Center Faculty and is a past board member.

Philip Davidson, PhD, is a mindfulness teacher and coach. In 2013 he completed the two year Meditation Teacher Training program taught by Tara Brach. Over the past 9 years he has led mindfulness practice groups and introduced mindfulness in several local businesses and health care organizations. In his role as a member of the faculty at the InnerWork Center, he co-facilitated its Spiritual Paths program three times. In 2018 and 2019 he and Kay facilitated the Mindfulness Teacher Training Program. Since April 2020 he had offered the Mindfulness and Meditation Mornings program 2-3 times per week for 30+ participants. His personal experience with mindfulness practice has enabled him to be more present to life just as it is with less reactivity and more kindness.

Aubrey Ford's training in mindfulness represents a substantial change in direction after a 40 year career as a trial lawyer who focused on civil litigation and was inducted into the distinguished American College of Trial Lawyers. Aubrey has maintained a regular meditation practice for over twenty years and attended extended retreats with Thich Nhat Hanh, Omega Institute and Insight Meditation. He is certified as a mindfulness meditation teacher by the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, having completed its two-year program led by Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. Aubrey recently completed a three-year term as President of The Innerwork Center.

Kelley has been practicing sound healing for almost five years now, and recently began working in the behavioral health department for one of the local hospitals here in Richmond as a Clinical Sound Therapist. She grew up in Richmond, VA and just moved back this fall after living and working between Los Angeles, CA and Charleston, SC for the last ten years. Kelley is passionate about integrating holistic healing modalities with modern medicine practices, and is also a certified Bach Flower Remedies Practitioner. Her goal is always to create a safe space for emotional, physical and mental well-being through sound, art, and plant medicines that is accessible to all. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, gardening, studying Ayurvedic and Herbal medicine, cooking and baking, skateboarding and spending time with family and friends. You can follow her on Instagram at @rubyandsaint / @kelleyfarlow.

Hollee Freeman, PhD is the owner and operator of Freeman Educational & Business Consulting, LLC and Hollee Freeman Photography. Through her work, Hollee curates programs for adults and students which leverage community, creativity and critical thinking. Hollee is the author of eighteen children’s books and has had her academic work published in peer-reviewed books and journals. Hollee has also shared her work as a TEDx speaker with a presentation entitled: STEM Education: Giving Space Makes a Lasting Impact. She is a curriculum developer for schools, districts and businesses using a strong equity focus, rigorous content and engaging materials. Through her photography business, Hollee brings people into a close and careful look at the natural world and their relationship with it.

Cheryl is Founder and CEO of Kaleidoscope Collaborative, a Richmond-based consulting firm serving as a proactive champion for racial equity, empowered communities, and inspired citizens. She has worked in educational settings and held positions in nonprofit management, youth programming and development, fund-raising and fund development, academic and social science research, substance abuse and family counseling, and college student development. She is the mother of two outstanding sons and is an avid runner having completed numerous half and full marathon races and currently serves as Head Coach of Sports Backers Half Marathon Training team and also directs a Jeff Galloway Training program in Richmond.

Lisa Halberstadt, M.S., worked as a psychotherapist and in psychiatric genetics research. Retiring early to engage in family elder care, she pursued her long-held interest in contemplative practices. Lisa’s curiosity about the intersection of mindfulness meditation and Judaism led her to complete the Jewish Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training program (Institute for Jewish Spirituality). She also is a trained teacher of Mindful Self-Compassion and Wise Aging. Lisa serves on the boards of the Innerwork Center and Congregation Or Ami. She volunteers with FeedMore, IRC refugee resettlement, VA Medical Reserve Corps, and co-leads the Richmond chapter of the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom.

Jan currently serves as an adjunct faculty in the School of World Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she teaches over 400 students each semester, covering topics of human spirituality, the world’s major religious traditions, and current trends in religion and spirituality, including mindfulness meditation and eco-spirituality. Jan has been a Board member at The InnerWork Center for over 2 years, has served on several committees for over 5 years, and is one of the most loved faculty members. Further, she is an author of The World of Religion and Spirituality textbook published by Tophat Monocle, 2018. Jan is married and has three sons, two stepsons and a pet lab! A quote that inspires Jan: “If mindfulness were taught to every eight-year old child in the world, we would have world peace in one generation.” - His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Shanza A. Isom, MSW, is an Assistant Professor and Director of Field Instruction at James Madison University. She is also a Koru Mindfulness Teacher-in-training. In addition to teaching and focusing on community engagement and partnerships, she facilitates workshops and presents for local and regional organizations and groups on the topic of self-care and mindfulness as it relates to holistic well-being. Her primary areas of interest and research include: holistic health and wellness in college students, faculty, and staff; mindfulness as a self-care strategy; mindful parenting; mindfulness practices for children; stress and well-being in people of color; student motivation, retention, and success (specifically the first generation, minority college student).

Carol Jacobs, MSW, LCSW, is a Jungian-oriented psychotherapist in the Richmond, Virginia area. With more than 30 years of experience Carol’s work is based on the understanding of the human, innate drive toward wholeness and self-actualization. She provides guidance through verbal exploration, dream work, guided imagery, body movement and creative therapeutic expressions to provide opportunities for dissolving and easing trauma and concerns of everyday living. Carol is a graduate of the Marion Woodman Foundation’s “BodySoul Rhythms Leadership Training”.She is a senior faculty member for the Center for MindBody Medicine and a faculty member of The Innerwork Center.

Felisha Jones believes that we are all healers in our own right and our self-care is a revolutionary act, as stated by Audre Lorde. As an imperfect follower of Christ, she is an advocate for adding certain ancient wisdom traditions to modern-day prayer and spiritual practices. Felisha has been guiding underserved inner-city teens in self-care and mindfulness practices for the past six years, which has proven the need to teach all humans the importance of accessing their breath in a meditative manner to break generational cycles of trauma. She has obtained her Meditation Teacher Certification from the Chopra Center. Currently serving as the Marketing & Community Engagement Director for The Innerwork Center, she has been afforded the opportunity to study and practice the following disciplines: Intro to Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Intro to Mind-Body Medicine under Dr. Gordon of The Center for Mind-Body Medicine, Foundations in Somatic Abolitionism (FSA) with Resmaa Menakem and Learning to BREATHE: Teaching Mindfulness to Adolescents, led by Patricia C. Broderick, Ph.D. The Virginia State University, (VSU) alum looks forward to using her leadership, branding, event management, and storytelling skills to help the world heal.

Logan Jones grew up in Salzburg, Austria, and currently lives in Richmond, VA with his beloved wife Silke and their precious cat Zoey. Logan is an Enneagram Coach, Spiritual Director and creative worship artist who loves teaching, guiding and co-creating spaces for all people to connect at ever deeper levels with themselves and the divine. Logan is the creator of the Revolutionary Enneagram, which is the result of combining the Harmony Enneagram with the Enneagram of Personality for a more detailed map towards greater empowerment and transformation. To learn more about Logan visit: www.loganjonescoaching.com

Elaine Kiziah, PhD, teaches, writes, and coaches on soulful approaches to time/life management — and about how to use journaling as a tool for transformation and spiritual deepening. A licensed applied psychologist, Elaine has completed training with the Therapeutic Writing Institute and is the creator of Joybook, an online life learning community. The facilitator of The Innerwork Center’s bi-monthly journaling practice group, she is also a musician and art lover who loves helping people explore the intersection between creativity, spirituality, and well-being. An award-winning trainer, Elaine brings 20+ years of experience in facilitation and coaching to her role at The Innerwork Center.

Erin Lingo is a somatics practitioner and yoga teacher, and is currently training as a Presence Based Coach. Through integrating mind and body, her leadership development and coaching approach helps clients get to the heart of their motivations, systematically working through obstacles to develop purpose, balance, and inner resourcefulness. Erin finds joy in supporting others in their journey toward resilience and clarity, through intentional movement, mindful self-awareness, and visioning. You can catch her teaching yoga at Align RVA or several community pop-ups throughout Richmond, and schedule coaching and private yoga sessions at erinlingosomatics.com. Erin lives in the Church Hill neighborhood of Richmond, VA with her family.

Amanda Lynch, MA, is an expert in mindfulness, classroom management and trauma-informed instruction. She is the author of numerous children’s books on the topic of using mindfulness as a self-regulatory skill. She is passionate about connecting children of color to yoga and mindfulness and building healthy communities by disrupting historical and racial trauma. She provides professional development for educators and administrators throughout the country that address issues related to poverty, mental health, cultural competency, and addiction. She is a licensed classroom teacher, Registered Yoga Teacher (200 hours), MindUp trainer, Koru Mindfulness teacher, ACE Interface Master Trainer, and Stewards of Children facilitator. She currently resides in Northside Richmond with her husband and four children.

Cheryl Pallant is a Reiki and Healing Touch practitioner, somatics coach, writer, dancer, and Adjunct Instructor at University of Richmond. She is the author of several books in nonfiction and poetry, most recently Writing and the Body in Motion: Awakening Voice through Somatic Practice and (forthcoming) Ecosomatics: Embodied Practices for a Planet in Search of Healing. She is a regular contributor to Spirituality & Health Magazine and co-leads Integral Meditation Group at Ekoji Buddhist Sangha. More about her: www.cheryl.pallant.com

Prior to her retirement, Jacquelyn Pogue was a psychotherapist, university teacher, corporate Vice President, organizational consultant and leader of spiritual retreats, meditation classes and activist groups. She has led workshops and dialogue groups worldwide, providing training in numerous dialogue processes for the Innerwork Center, VCU, University of Richmond, Dementia Support Groups et al. Jacquelyn is the creator/consulting producer of the nationwide PBS series on Alzheimer's and Other Dementias. She was inspired to make these documentaries as a result of her husband's long journey with vascular dementia, and he made his transition in 2018.

Nana Korantema Pierce Williams is a certified Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Facilitator, Teacher Trainer, and Consultant. She serves as Board member, Chair of the Mindfulness Advisory Committee, and faculty with the InnerWork Center where she curates creative, culturally sensitive safe spaces via her training and facilitations. A Priest (Spiritualist) for almost 25 years in the Akom Tradition (Ghana, W. Africa), Nana Korantema has degrees from Howard University (BS) and Saybrook University (MS). For decades she has served as a bridge between traditional and modern practice through her Richmond, VA practice, ConjureWorks, where she honors both traditional practice and ancestral facilitation. Nana Korantema is a conduit, wife, sister, mother, daughter, godmother, and life-long learner, ever humbled by the healing powers of compassion, forgiveness, and love.

Christopher Reina, PhD, is the founder of Leading Without Ego, LLC and an associate professor in the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship at Virginia Commonwealth University. He coaches leaders and leads trainings on mindful leadership and how to more effectively manage the emotional space within organizations. His research focuses on the intersection of leadership, mindfulness, and emotions in the workplace and successfully adapting to change. Christopher received a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University and he has corporate experience in leadership training and development as well as sales and marketing. Chris serves on the faculty of the InnerWork Center.

Vicki Saunders has been involved with The Innerwork Center for over 25 years, including 2 terms as President, 5 years on the Executive Committee, and is one of our most loved faculty members. Vicki has over two decades experience working in Human Resources, Coaching and Business Management. She has her PhD in Organizational Systems and Master’s degrees in Human Resources Development and Jungian Psychology. Vicki has been married for 43 years to an amazing man who really “gets” her and has two fabulous sons who are married to two incredible women who are all leading their best lives. Vicki is also the proud grandmother of four grandchildren. She continues to be inspired by all her work at the Innerwork Center. It is a privilege to share this journey we call life with you.

Josie is a former public school teacher, Reiki practitioner, and Peer Support Counselor. She has studied and practiced Nonviolent Communication (NVC) for 10 years and has coached individuals and married couples over the years. In August 2023, Josie attended a nine day immersion training in Los Angeles with international Nonviolent Communication trainers as part of her certification program to become a Nonviolent Communication Trainer. She has found NVC to be very helpful in her relationships, especially with her adult children. Josie is a long-time Innerwork Center community member, having studied mindful meditation with Philip and Kay Davidson for over ten years. She is also one of IWC’s wonderful volunteers.

Alison Shapiro’s passion is bringing mindfulness, meditation and self-compassion skills to people with physical challenges, their caregivers and their care providers. She herself is the survivor of 2 brain stem strokes and has lived and continues to live the power of these practices in shaping a life. Alison has been teaching since 2005 and is trained both as an MBSR teacher and as a Metta Institute End of Life Practitioner. She is the creator of the Mindful Stroke Recovery course, the author of the Mindful Stroke Recovery Workbook, the author of the book Healing into Possibility and the co-producer of the film What Now? Sharing Brain Recovery Lessons.

Peggy Siegel closed her private practice in 2019 after 20 years in energy healing and intuitive mentoring. She has over 25 years of experience teaching and facilitating groups on topics such as living with intention and developing expanded awareness and intuition. Since closing her practice, Peggy has become a Certified Kripalu Mindful Outdoor Guide, Certified Virginia Master Naturalist and a Richmond Tree Steward. Peggy is a published author of 3 books, the most recent Teaching Albert Einstein to Fly. Previously an educational consultant, she worked for the VA Department of Education and served as an adjunct faculty member at VCU and UVA. Peggy has been involved with The Innerwork Center for years, and was the 2019 recipient of the Spirit Award.

Yedda Stancil brings rich tapestry of experience that spans corporate leadership, community health, and transformative engagement. With an established career marked by profound expertise in behavior change, mindfulness, and leadership development, Yedda’s approach integrates these elements to foster environments where growth and well-being thrive. Her vision for the Center encapsulates not only a deep understanding of organizational dynamics but also embraces the sacredness of space—where wisdom and spirituality are as valued as empirical knowledge. This unique blend allows her to craft strategies that honor both the known and the unknown, creating a nurturing atmosphere that encourages exploration and innovation. Yedda’s leadership is set to inspire and uplift, guiding the Innerwork Center towards new horizons of impact and inclusivity, embodying a commitment to both personal and community belonging.

Alexandra Stewart is a dedicated dance/movement therapist with a passion for healing through movement. Alexandra discovered her love for dance at a young age, which later evolved into a profound interest in the therapeutic aspects of movement. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Dance from Frostburg State University and continued her education with a Master's in Dance/Movement Therapy from Sarah Lawrence College. Throughout her career, Alexandra has worked in various healthcare settings, using dance and movement as tools for emotional expression and psychological well-being. Her innovative approach combines holistic therapeutic techniques with creative movement interventions that focuses on bridging the mind, body, and spirit connection. Alexandra also uses humanistic and liberal psychology in her work with clients to center the entire person and address oppressive systems that show up in the body. Alexandra has also conducted workshops in dance/movement therapy and other cultural dance classes around the world. Her commitment to helping individuals explore their emotions and foster self-awareness through movement is her greatest joy. As a teacher and advocate for the integration of dance/ movement therapy in mental health care, Alexandra continues to hope to inspire positive change in the lives of her clients and the broader community.

Sandra Tan, LCSW, works as an oncology supportive counselor in a hospital in Richmond VA. Her clinical interest is in integrating mainstream psychotherapy interventions with complementary therapies such as mindfulness, self-compassion, guided imagery, and expressive arts to enhance the body mind connection for healing and self-care. Sandra has been meditating and exploring multiple body-mind practices since the 1990s and studied with different teachers in Europe, Asia and USA. She is a trained Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher through UCSD and also co-leads the Mindfulness Essentials class for the InnerWork Center.

John is an active member of the Greater Richmond community where a primary focus of his work has been on racial equity and reconciliation initiatives, facilitated community dialogues and board service. He has a decades long meditation practice and currently serves on the Board of the Innerwork Center where he teaches Mindfulness programs as a Certified Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher. He also serves as a Teacher Trainer and Mentor for aspiring MBSR teachers through the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. John lives in North Chesterfield, VA with his three children and two small but mighty dogs.

Kim Vann received her certification as a Dream Work Facilitator and Spiritual Director from The Haden Institute and serves as a mentor in the Dream Work Facilitator program there. After working in the fields of land use and crime prevention planning for county government, Kim was led to seek more of a relationship with her Inner Spirit. After a life changing dream, her journey as a seeker began in earnest. Kim owns her own practice (https://findingthethread.org/), guiding others in dream work and spiritual direction. Kim actively works with her dreams, leads dream groups, works with dreamers one-on-one, and follows where creative and playful energies lead her.

Susan Brock Wilkes, PhD, is a psychologist, award-winning instructor, and Certified Teacher in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Mindful Self Compassion. An adjunct professor at University of Richmond, she owns her own consulting firm and is a frequent facilitator with nonprofit and faith-based organizations. Her community engagement is extensive, including her service on the Board of Health Brigade, on the founding leadership team for Impact 100, and as past-President of the Chrysalis Institute. Currently on the faculty and board for The Innerwork Center, Susan is a past recipient of the Spirit Award.

Dennis Williams II, MA, MEd, is a special-education teacher in Richmond Public Schools and an adjunct professor in the Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Department at Virginia Commonwealth University. As a high-school educator, his pedagogy centers on rigorous compassion and on embedding mindfulness practices into the curriculum. At the college level, he assists students in developing critical, cultural awareness through the analysis of visual culture. A writing hobbyist, he has poems forthcoming in Johns Hopkins Universities’ African American Review and Illinois State University’s Obsidian Literature and Art in the African Diaspora. He is certified in Koru Mindfulness.