• BIPOC
• LGBTQ

• Asian
• Biracial

In 2013 I became involved in a NJ church (Reformed Church of Highland Park) active on many social justice fronts; I attended events particularly around immigration justice/reform as well as affordable housing. That year I participated in a day trip to DC to join a group of hunger-strikers protesting outside of the Capitol Building, particularly as then-House Speaker John Boehner was actively blocking a bill proposing comprehensive immigration reform. I also visited the Elizabeth Detention Center to support people in detention. In 2017-2018 I co-led monthly gatherings outside of Elizabeth Detention Center at 5am to prayerfully protest deportations; we did walking meditation in front of the loading docks where transportation vehicles would leave for the airport (we did not blockade but would effectively delay deportations, also as a measure of bearing witness.) I also organized and performed in a benefit concert in 2013 in which all of the proceeds went to cover the remaining costs of installing a chair-lift in a church-run affordable housing building for formerly homeless veterans. My primary involvement in the church was the extensive music ministry programs which impacted all of the social justice ministry work by holding space for joy, creativity and nourishment during Sunday morning worship. As I have clarified my faith/beliefs as being primarily rooted in Zen Buddhism over the years, my involvement in the church’s ministry has waned however I still maintain connections to some of the leaders of this church’s social justice ministries. This church has been and is still an inspiration for me of how a Buddhist community can truly become a “beloved community” deeply rooted in faith and justice.

Very, very recently I have become involved in Extinction Rebellion NYC (as of April 2020) and am planning a trip in early June to support the Indigenous-led resistance to Line 3 with my two sisters as well as with the group going from Boulder, CO.

Cold Mountain Zen Sangha of NJ: 2006-2014
-Attended weekly meditations and about 13 week-long silent retreats
Rutgers Bhakti Club: 2008
Rutgers University Counseling Services: group therapy 2008 – 2010
Great Mountain Zen Center, 2014-2017
-attended weekly meditation, participated in several weekend and weeklong retreats; was a live-in resident and grounds caretaker January – June 2017
Clinical Pastoral Education, Penn Medicine at Princeton, 2017-2018 (completed one unit of clinical pastoral education training)
-300 hours of clinical practice in chaplain training (clinical site: Princeton House Behavioral Health and Detox) with biweekly supervision
-100 hours of peer group learning and relational training facilitated by the supervisor
-Facilitated spirituality groups on all units of Princeton House including detox, dual-diagnosis and first responders unit) as well as met with patients for one on one meetings.
Green Gulch Farm Zen Center & Tassajara Zen Mountain Center (residential temple/monastic practice): 2018-2020
-Full-time resident from October 2018- August 2020; daily zazen, liturgy/service, temple caretaking and work-practice.
-Co-facilitated People of Color peer-led sangha at Tassajara and at Green Gulch
-Participated in a number of sharing circles/small groups at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center
Boundless in Motion Zen Sangha, 2020-2021
-Participate in daily meditation on Zoom, sharing circles, retreats and other events
-Currently working towards lay ordination

I hope to deepen my understanding of the ecosystem of justice movements, NVDA as well as a fitting role I can play within that. Recently, I’ve received advice from two people to really focus on my strengths, which I think are in filling the role of a chaplain, or midwife of suffering. Whether in this role officially or not, I find myself often filling this role as one who helps people through transitions, sometimes life and death transitions. I’ve been encouraged to develop my skillset and not lose myself in the urgency of NVDA work and lose sight of my unique skills. My goal for this course is to better understand the ecology of these movements, specifically around Indigenous-led resistance to the climate-destroying fossil fuel industry and to identify where my unique strengths can align with the needs of the movements. (I am going through a broader discernment process of how to allow my practice of Buddhist ministry to express itself as my internal and external vocation.)

I hope to work on community building, nonviolent communication and trust-building within my mini-pod, which is made up of two other members of Boundless in Motion Zen Sangha (Touko and Mylene) as well as the partner and daughter of Mylene. We’ve known each other just a few months and came together through a shared passion for social justice and Zen practice. I hope to get to know each other better and support each other in this learning process.

Boundless in Motion Zen Sangha
Extinction Rebellion NYC

Yes. I have no known conflicts during these dates and have ensured to keep these dates open.

Yes. I currently work 30 hours per week; I took a less-than full-time job so I would have time for “extra-curricular” activities like this. I recently deferred admission to an Engaged Buddhism program at Union Theological Seminary so that I could focus more directly on the intersection of frontlines activism and engaged Buddhist practice. It is a priority for me over these next few months and I am arranging most other engagements in my life to prioritize this one.

I know both Touko and Mylene through the Boundless in Motion sangha. We have participated in once/twice weekly group sharings over the past several months where we have held space for one another and gotten to know each other better. Touko and I have been sitting daily with BIM sangha since at least September of 2020 (he was sitting with the group longer; that’s when I joined). We are, however, located in perhaps the farthest geographic regions of perhaps any of the pods: Colorado, New Jersey and Finland, and we have not met each other or shared space in person. I have faith that both Touko and Mylene are very committed to finishing this course. They are both consistently committed to showing up in community support week after week during our Wednesday night sharing sessions and I have strong faith that they reviewed the requirements of the course and are available to make this commitment, to both the course and to our minipod community. Touko is reliably present at almost every sangha event, even with the huge time difference, and I think that commitment will carry over into this course. We have already had conversations about the timing for our minipod meetings and have chosen a time that works for all of us thus far.

I know Flynn only through a Wednesday night share when she came to our group and I have yet to meet Mylene’s partner Ralph. In being so closely connected to Mylene, I trust that they will bring a sense of connectedness and stability to our group, as the three of them form a foundation based in very close primary relationships. Ralph also practices Zen meditation with Eon Zen Sangha and I have faith that our shared interests will form a sense of trust and connection over time. Flynn’s engagement in the resistance in Line 3 and her courageous spirit I think will also bring an engaging yet grounded energy to our group.