“Activism is the art of taking action to support, nurture, and protect what we hold dear.” ~The Resilient Activist
Save the date: The Visionary Activist half-day Workshop May 22nd.
What’s New?
Get ready for April Events in honor of Earth Day!
From April, 2020 Earth Month Meditations – a reflection on Earth Day in light of the coronavirus
- 4/17 Visionary Activist AY Young and the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals and Watch Party for Earth Festival 2021
- 4/17 Starting Small: Simple Steps to a More Sustainable Lifestyle with Leslie Scott and Re.Use.Full
- 4/19 Mindfulness for a Resilient World with Turning Point
- 4/22 Introduction to Visionary Activism: A Deep Meditation with Central Exchange
- 4/22 Exploring the Naturalist Tradition: A Legacy of Passion, Prose, and Poetry with Dr. Jeffrey Fouquet
- 4/24 Interwoven: An Earth Month Half-Day Retreat with Tracy Ochester and the Midwest Alliance for Mindfulness
- 4/25 Climate of Community: Power of Respect for Climate Resilience and Recovery with Dr. Barbara Gilbert
- 4/29 Climate of Community: Environmental Justice and Racism: What Are They and How They Affect You with Author, Sarah Jaquette Ray, Dr. Barbara Gilbert, Carly McCracken, and Sami Aaron
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Kansas City Conservation Equity Network
The Resilient Activist is honored to be on the Coordinating Committee of the Kansas City Conservation Equity Network (KCCEN).
- KCCEN Purpose Statement: We are a network that offers ways to connect, inspire, share knowledge, and empower the conservation community in the Kansas City region to increase justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in all our work.
- KCCEN Vision: Just as biodiversity strengthens natural systems, the diversity of human experience strengthens our conservation efforts for the benefit of nature and all human beings. The Kansas City regional conservation community represents and reflects that human diversity, embracing it in all communities where we work, and our work to benefit communities and achieve conservation goals.
The Resilient Activist’s full Diversity Policy.
Participate!
We’d love to have you join us at our upcoming events.
Visionary Activist AY Young
Musician | Entrepreneur | United Nations Global Young Leader
Sat. April 17, 2021 10-11 am CDT on Zoom
Watch Party for Earth Festival 2021 Online Earth Day Celebration
where AY will be the Keynote Speaker
- meet AY, UN’s Global Young Leader from the USA, and learn about his upcoming sustainability projects
- learn about the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda and Global Goals for Sustainable Development (17 SDGs)
- explore topics you’re passionate about to nurture a sustainable planet and see how your ideas fit into the SDGs
- experience a preview taste of AY’s uplifting and joyful music as he creates his next album with 17 new songs for the planet
“It’s all about one action every day towards your dreams or goals or towards sustainability. If we all take one action, like outlets, we can change the world.”~Visionary Activist AY Young
Register here:

Starting Small: Simple Steps to a More Sustainable Lifestyle
Saturday, April 17, 2-3 pm CDT
On Zoom
The reality of climate change is scary, and it can feel overwhelming to do your part to slow it down. Join Sami Aaron, founder of The Resilient Activist, in a lively conversation with Leslie Scott, founder of Re.Use.Full, to explore simple ways to a more earth-centered, sustainable lifestyle!
We’ll introduce you to the Five Essentials for a Resilient World and answer your questions about how you can easily implement these ideas into your everyday life.
All participants will receive access to our helpful handout:
“A Home Checklist: What can one family do to make a difference for the climate?“
Register here:
Re.Use.Full is a free site that encourages simple, sustainable living in the KC metro by connecting donors with gently used items to the people, pets, and nonprofits that need them.
Leslie Scott is the founder of Re.Use.Full and Do More Good, a social enterprise that creates capacity-building technology solutions that help people change the world.
Join The Resilient Activist for
Morning Meditation
Sundays 9 – 10 am CDT
On Zoom
These weekly practices are suitable for anyone – from new meditators to those with a deep and long-standing practice.
They will follow the format of daily meditations we offered during the COVID-19 shut-ins. This article will give you an idea of what to expect.
Support The Resilient Activist
Classes are offered at no charge. If you’re financially secure, a suggested donation of $15 per session will help us continue to provide programs like this one!
Register here for Zoom Meeting ID:
“I come every week because it’s the only place I can go to receive a breathing practice, and I come for the community that I really value.” TH
“I like the idea of community also. Especially with the virus and having to stay at home, I realize I’ve felt the need to connect with people. I love the idea of the consciousness, the awareness, and the emphasis on nature. That’s important to me.” DP
“I always wanted to learn more about meditation and I’m grateful for the opportunity to come and learn. I’m getting a lot out of it. I can tell that my ability to deal with circumstances is getting better about certain things.” AM
“There are not many places I can go and have this type of conversation and feel comfortable.” JG
“I come to meditation because it’s like my weekly reset. Even when things get busy and flustered and whatever, if I come here and I do it, it’s like a brand new start to my week and I feel better. It’s my must.” CJ
“I feel like I have friends here even though I’ve never met most of the others in person.” JB
“I’m here because this is such a perfect little sangha that we have going on Sunday mornings. I meditate a couple of times a day, but this is something special because every week it’s something different and very rewarding to do.” DB
Join the Kansas City Kansas Public Library’s Book Club for the reading of
“A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety: How to Keep Your Cool on a Warming Planet”
by Dr. Sarah Jacquette Ray
Mondays 1-2 pm CDT April 5th – 26th, 2021
Climate change affects all life on our planet. It can be overwhelming and discouraging. Dr. Sarah Jaquette Ray has created an “existential tool kit” for the climate generation. Combining insights from psychology, sociology, social movements, mindfulness, and the environmental humanities, Ray explains why and how we need to let go of eco-guilt, resist burnout, and cultivate resilience while advocating for climate justice.
The first 20 registrants will have complimentary copies provided to them. These copies will be available at the West Wyandotte Library located at 1737 N. 82nd Street.
After the reading, we will have a short discussion period.
More and more studies show the powerful benefits – for both physical health and emotional wellbeing – of mindfulness practices and time spent in nature. This event, bringing these two important concepts together, can nurture individual wellbeing while fostering community-wide resilience.
Participants will
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- receive an understanding of the benefits of nature-centered, community-based mindfulness practices to your physical and emotional health.
- learn the simple steps to a nature-based mindfulness practice in an experiential, guided meditation session through the Five Essentials for a Resilient World
- receive small group support and insight through discussions about mindfulness practices and ways you can bring them into your everyday life.
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Registration for this event is through Turning Point and the University of Kansas Health System.
Turning Point is open to anyone who is living with a chronic or serious physical illness, as well as their family and friends. They provide innovative, educational services and tools to inspire people to take charge of their illness and live their life to the fullest.
Introduction to Visionary Activism: A Deep Meditation
Date and Time
Thursday, Apr 22, 2021
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CDT
Location
Webinar via Zoom – access this program remotely from your computer, tablet, or smartphone + dial-in available.
Fees/Admission
$0.00 Central Exchange Members
$25.00 Nonmembers
No refunds.
Interested in Central Exchange membership? More info here.
Description
So many people long to join the movement to nurture the environment, increase social justice, and spread harmony throughout our community. The Visionary Activist Program lets you imagine what you can do, through your innate gifts, to take actions that will make a vital difference. Through a guided meditation and journaling, you will begin to conceptualize your vision and develop the tools to address it in ways you hadn’t imagined before. You will explore methods for your personal resilience and wellbeing, because the more nourished you are, the more you’ll have to offer to your vision. This workshop will guide you through the introductory steps to bring forth whatever is bubbling up from your heart in a way that feels joyous, supported, and uplifting.
Join us to…
- Answer the question, “What is yours to do?”
- Recognize the gifts that you are able to give to others in ways that will support you to remain grounded and stable.
- Visualize future action steps through imaginative storytelling and simple-to-follow guidelines.


“The best way to take care of the environment
is to take care of the environmentalist.”
~ Thich Nhat Hanh, The Sun My Heart