Seminar: Place Attunement as a Pathway to Holistic Health for Communities with Anna Castonguay & Kiran Topiwala

Abstract:

Many people can agree that the systemic problems we face today are overwhelming. These interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, racial and socioeconomic inequality, political divisiveness, and widespread chronic mental and physical health issues, otherwise known as a metacrisis, can be seen as symptoms of an underlying issue of how humans interact with themselves, each other, and with their natural world. Likening this issue to a disease helps us to understand that we move forward by diagnosing and understanding the issue, clarifying what a healthy and thriving world may be by envisioning healthy relationships, and forging the pathway we can take towards that vision. Awakening Lands is a network of transdisciplinary facilitators looking to address this disease. They guide participants through interpersonal and ecological connecting experiences that allow them to attune to each other and their place. By drawing upon the science of Prosocial, systems thinking, fundamentals of wisdom traditions, and other practices, Awakening Lands helps groups see their community's potential and higher-order needs and identify motivating pathways that lead to greater collaboration and values-aligned action. In this seminar, Anna and Kiran will share the healing practices for people and place that Awakening Lands implements in communities like Western New York and Central Texas.

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About the Speakers:

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Anna Castonguay, BCBA , is a behavioral scientist and ProSocial World-trained facilitator passionate about inspiring collective action and collaboration. Her background in community engagement, organizational behavior, and individual and family behavioral therapy has led her to seek ways to support community health and well-being. She facilitates coalition building and support for nonprofit organizations and, in 2023, co-founded Awakening Lands with Benji Ross, intending to combine psychology, art, organizing, and ecological education to catalyze community-level regeneration.

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Kiran Topiwala, MDP, is a native Texan, artist, and fishing enthusiast. Before co-founding Kula Applied Research Institute, he worked as a development practitioner with international NGOs and as a community weaver with grassroots organisations in India. Today, most of his time is spent uncovering the initial conditions required for coordination and collaboration at the grassroots level, which will induce regenerative livelihoods aligned with nature and reduce human suffering.

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