In the world filled with chaos and challenges, how can we embrace humanity and reach out to each other with love? The George Floyd incident in May 2020 made clear the divisions we have in our societies. How can we overcome discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. and create a healing world? How can we practice "inclusive social development?" Our session with Orland Bishop was the most heart warming and inspiring session filled with the messages of light, life and love for humanity. The NAC is grateful for the opportunity we had with Orland. He has been practicing years of humanitarian work in downtown Los Angeles. Through his work, doubt became faith and hate became love. We can create a mor human society by respecting different cultures, diversity and each individual. When we can do that, the world could become a better place in which we all wish to live and belong. Then the earth could shine bright and be like a star someday. Author Christina Chang The Director of Lokelani 'Ohana in Maui, Hawaii We had a wonderful visit with Christopher Schaefer at our Lokelani ‘Ohana Farm in Waihe’e and our Hale Lokelani ‘Ohana home in Kahului, Maui in January 2020. He also offered a free lecture at the Haleakala Waldorf School about the topic of his newly released book, “Re-Imagining America, Finding Hope in Difficult Times” for the community!
"Finding Hope in Difficult Times: Conversation and Community as a Path of Mutual Development"* By Christopher Schaefer, Ph. D was the topic for our 2020 NAC conference, the first to be held by zoom. Our small Maui community gathered around our computers, happy that we could participate with all the other communities in all the time zones across North America and Canada. Chris’s inspirational presentation Friday night stimulated conversations and hope for these challenging times we live with. Our commitment to love, healthy communication, living a balanced life, continuing our stewardship to the land and contributing to our community where we can was re-enforced. On Saturday, with the breakout sessions, we joined Tony’s Artistic Group expressing our hope through our artistic mediums. One of the mediums we choose was to make Chris a lei and present it to him at the end of our conference. His generosity is sharing the entire conference with us was deeply appreciated. The best we could do was to place it on a photo of him with Angelica from his visit. The gesture was sincere, yet we missed placing it around his neck and kissing each cheek with gratitude. Even though we loved seeing everyone’s shining faces, we look forward to our time together in person hopefully next year. Until then, then the love, hope, faith, joy and enthusiasm for each other, our work and service to our communities from this year’s conference will live in our hearts. With Aloha and Malama Pono “Take Care”, Christina Chang from LokeLani 'Ohana *On April 24, 2020, About 150 people logged onto Chris Schaefer's zoom presentation! It was a wonderful occasion for many people from around the continent to connect. The written article of his presentation is published in being Human, Summer-Fall issue of the Anthroposophical Society in America newsletter. Christ Schaefer's article is titled "Sacramental Conversation: Experience Our Humanity" and can be found on pp. 44-47. Please check the link above to read the online version of the article. His presentation was based on the new book published in 2019 Re-Imagining America: Finding Hope in Difficult Times (Hawthorne Press). You can read the review of the book by David Schwartz here. Recently photos from the first NAC Conference that took place in March 2004 at Plowshare Farm and Lukas Community, New Hampshire, were discovered! People gathered from many different places! The keynote speaker was Rudiger Grimm, who was then the leader of the International Council for Anthroposophic Curative Education and Social Therapy at the Goetheanum in Dornach. These are historical photos! Author |