WTR Facilitators
Root Teacher
In the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Kaia Svien, M.S., is the root teacher of the Work That Reconnects. Kaia is a meditation instructor, spiritual guide, community activist, cultural change agent, and novelist. She thrives on co-creating responses to climate change that have a base in Buddhism and Earth-based wisdom traditions. Kaia has retired from teaching WTR, though she remains a mentor and proponent of Twin Cities Work That Reconnects facilitators and affiliates. Her legacy is deep here: she has devoted her working life to developing resilience and fortifying compassion and interbeing, for guiding us in tumultuous times. Inspired by 4 decades of work with Joanna Macy, directly and through teachings, Kaia has modelled how to honor the emotions that compose grief and, thereby, renew love for all life.
TC WTR Facilitators
The Facilitators listed below have completed certified training in the teaching practices of the Work That Reconnects:
Jean Hammink is a grandmother, meditator, educator, consultant, and social change activist. Since retiring five years ago, her activism has focused on climate justice and indigenous justice. She has participated in multiple indigenous led protests for treaty rights and the end of fossil fuels. Jean is a facilitator of Joanna Macy’s Active Hope work under the umbrella of the Work That Reconnects. Being a Buddhist Unitarian, she coordinates and leads several climate action activities in these and other contexts. Before her retirement, Jean worked in nonprofit, leadership positions, and training leaders in mindfulness-based emotional intelligence. Jean completed WTR Facilitator Training through the International Facilitator Development Programs of the Work That Reconnects, facilitated by Mutima Imani, Constance Washburn and Molly Brown.
Beth Cleary is a writer, yoga teacher and professor emerita of theater at Macalester College. As a director and theater educator, she emphasized process as an end in itself, performance as a site of urgency and ethical responsibility, and collaboration as an art and a practice. WTR as a group process is kin to Beth’s theater work in many ways. As a yoga teacher, Beth is certified in the viniyoga tradition, which emphasizes breath, gentle repetition of movement, and adaptation of postures for each student. Beth is the co-founder, with labor historian Peter Rachleff, of the East Side Freedom Library in St. Paul. Beth Beth completed WTR Facilitator Training with Margo van Greta, Heartbeat Findhorn: Inner Work for Outer Action, based in the UK.
Roberta Cassidy, PhD, RN, FNTP, CNFTG is a highly experienced Nursing leader who has served in a variety of healthcare capacities. She is also certified as a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, Relational Nature and Forest Therapy Guide and Work That Reconnects facilitator. As the founder of Nufound Wellness, Roberta currently works as a facilitator, guide and consultant using a variety of holistic, relationship- and nature-centered approaches to wellbeing. Her true passion and path in life is in service to the journey of personal and professional healing and its role in community, organizational and planetary health. Roberta seeks to inspire healing within to transform ourselves and our communities in service to the greater good of the whole. Roberta completed WTR Facilitator Training through the International Facilitator Development Programs of the Work That Reconnects, facilitated by Mutima Imani, Constance Washburn and Molly Brown.
TC WTR Affiliate Presenters
Listed below are regular members of the TC WTR Community of Practice, who have co-facilitated workshops with Jean, Beth or Roberta. They also weave WTR practices into their professional work.
Mary Androff
(bio/photo coming soon)
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Lisa Burke
(bio/photo coming soon)
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Dre Lakely
(bio/photo coming soon)
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Nancy Nair
(bio/photo coming soon)