We are delighted to offer this series of monthly conversations with pioneers serving the Common Good and actively sowing seeds of a better world at every opportunity.
We find ourselves in a period of transition between two Ages when old structures and beliefs are dying and new ones are emerging. Sometimes it is difficult to see the hope-filled shoots of new possibilities amid the disarray of a society in upheaval.
The intent behind this new series is more than just naming people and projects around the planet that are giving birth to hope – its deeper purpose is to create a portal through which the presence of Fiery Hope can enter and ignite the heart of our humanity. It is an invitation for us to act as true Gaians and be active agents of Hope wherever and whenever we find ourselves – encouraging us to step up and offer our unique gifts in response to the compelling call of the Soul and the urgent need of the times.
Our guests for the March 20th Signs of Hope broadcast are Dr. Nina Meyerhof, Founder and President of Children of the Earth (https://www.coeworld.org) and Christine Burych, the founder of Starlingbrook Leadership that focuses on creating Mentally Healthy workplaces (https://www.starlingbrook.com). Michael Lindfield hosted the session on behalf of Meditation Mount.
Duration: 56 Minutes
Dr. Nina Meyerhof
Dr. Nina Meyerhof is the founder of Children of the Earth (COE), a worldwide organization that inspires, connects, and empowers youth working for peace both locally and globally. A school administrator with a doctorate in Educational Policy, Research and Administration focused on self-esteem, Nina worked as Vermont’s Special Education District Coordinator for 17 years and wanted to put her philosophies into action. Nina’s innovative work in peace and sustainability through educational methodologies has reached young people in over 90 countries and continues to grow.
Nina co-authored the book, “Conscious Education: The Bridge to Freedom”; developed a one of a kind handbook entitled, “Pioneering Spiritual Activism”, grounded in methodologies that she created – Reflect, Connect, Act, which constitutes a learning process designed to consolidate spiritual growth and societal actions. In addition, she has written several chapters addressing Authentic Education for several anthologies consisting of notable luminaries the latest “Our Moment of Choice”.
Nina has received awards for her work such as The Mother Theresa Award to the Citizens Department of Peace Award to The International Educators Award for Peace as well as the State of Vermont passed a Resolution honoring her for her life’s work in PEACE, the Sage Award, Seeds of Peace Award and second of recipients for the Public Peace Prize.
There has been also established an annual Dr Nina Meyerhof Award by JAGILS and was awarded The Global Leadership and Lifetime Award as well as recently received the Visioneer Lifetime Achievement Award as a Heroine of Humanity.
Presently she is focused as a co-founder with Domen Kocevar on One Humanity Institute-a City of Hope.as a legacy piece for concretizing as a physical “solutionarium” for peace and sustainability. OHI is emerging adjacent to the Auschwitz Museum, a place of renown historical horror with 2 million visitors a year, needing learning we must ‘Never Again’….stressing not one of us should ‘Ever Again’. After meeting Domen Kocevar of Slovenia, and with his inspired to action understanding, we began our many visits, meetings, planning and visioning to bring this into form. We are now actively in the process of designing a complex of a variety of programs as learning opportunities for those interested in resolving conflict and inspiring alternative possibilities for a better future. The One Humanity Institute will offer structured learning opportunities in a variety of forms for young people and adults through formal and non-formal education.
OHI is a campus solutionarium to attract, educate, and inspire people to translate universal values that generates global harmony and sustainability. The Institute will cultivate a vision of one humanity joining together to embrace our deep spiritual connection for social changes.
Christine Burych
Christine Burych, President of StarlingBrook Leadership Consulting is a “workplace therapist” and a top tier global leadership consultant and executive coach who enables leaders to create collaborative, productive and mentally healthy workplaces. She has helped more than 10,000 senior leaders in 50 big name companies get past their blind spots, improve mental resilience and learn how to have difficult conversations with employees living with mental health issues. She has worked in the field of mental health for over thirty years starting from a front line community mental health clinician to Interim Vice President of Human Resources and Organizational Development at Canada’s largest academic mental health facility. Christine has held senior positions in HR and OD, facilitated, taught, coached and led clients and families, community members, volunteers, employees and executives across various non for profit, public and private sectors.
Utilizing her leadership and clinical skills coupled with a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management, Christine has created, designed and implemented mental health trainings and facilitated the implementation of the National Standard on Psychological Health and Safety.
Some of her clients have included Canada Post, PepsiCo, Ontario Shores, Edgewood Health Network, Halton Regional Police, 1-800-GOT-JUNK, Princess Auto, MaRS, Bell Canada, Staples, Johnson and Johnson, Toyota, Wealthsimple, HOOPP and Ingram Micro. She also works with starts up in the tech/media industry to help support leadership development and address mental health issues with Millennials who struggle with the highest rate of anxiety disorder in the workplace.
As a commitment to her leadership passion, Christine runs the Millennial Crusade, a pro bono, year long program to address the leadership gap for Gen Ys moving up faster than any other generation in the workplace. This grassroots movement supports over 200 members, including rising all stars at North America’s largest companies.
She is a Certified Professional Coach from the College of Executive Coaches, is a certified mBIT coach (multiple brain integration techniques), resilience practitioner and is certified in various assessment tools. She is also a certified Canadian Psychological Health and Safety Advisor.
Michael Lindfield
Board President – Meditation Groups Inc.
Michael is a highly regarded consultant and coach helping unleash the creativity of the human spirit to meet the needs of our times and the call of the future. He learned his craft from a range of experiences that include: a 14-year residency as a gardener and as Director of Education at the Findhorn Community in Scotland; small-scale organic farming in western Sweden; conducting seminars and presenting at conferences around the world on the theme of ‘transforming self and society’ and as a senior organization development consultant with The Boeing Company from 1989-2005.