I've lived in New Orleans since 2008. I'm passionate about using the ancient tools of theater to study our situations and make them better (what we sometimes call "applied theater"). I've co-founded and directed two different social justice organizations, started one window cleaning business, and co-founded and directed one theater company. I've been a teacher and a teacher's union organizer. I love reflective people who are always learning from life and other forms of study. I'm dedicated to the practice of seeing the earth and all its creatures as sacred and worthy of respect and compassion.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To connect with people. I'm not able to host right now as my partner and I are sharing a very small apartment. I'm hoping to find some sweet hosts for my visit to Port Townsend in July for Facilitator Training at the Mandala Center for Change.

Interests

I care about the world! I care about people! I care about all the critters! I care about myself! Oh and I want to dance with and be friends with it all - including myself. This is actually radical stuff, you know? What sorts of solidarities are possible? I facilitate workshops on this including "Theater-Integrated Anti-Racism Trainings" and that sort of thing. I also like to use theater for group or individual healing and coaching.

This work is deeply supported by my study and practice of meditation, particularly Buddhist traditions of meditation. I have been a student of Buddhism for over 10 years. I am a part of a Soto Zen sangha in New Orleans called Mid City Zen Meditation Center.

I am also a dedicated student of "Soulmaking Dharma". If you are interested I will happily tell you more.

I love to move and play and be still and silent and climb trees and look at mushrooms, and follow bees...

Music, Movies, and Books

Recently Ursula K. Le Guin! My partner is a huge fan and I've jumped aboard. Currently reading "The Eye of the Heron" and Tehanu.

Also I love Cedric Robinson, Audre Lorde, James Hillman, Octavia Butler, adrienne maree brown...

favorite music: the experimental mishmash we may improvise on your porch sometime

moveeey- Children of Men is a fav

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I think that a lot of "everyday" type things are amazing if you have the capacity to appreciate them.
"There is another world, but it is in this one." W.B. Yeats

I once had a deep and honest and kind and difficult conversation with a friend. And it was so good I did it again another time with another friend, and so on... I think that's pretty amazing.

Relatedly I'm a trained and practiced community mediator and happy to help in resolving conflict as a neutral and warm witness.

Teach, Learn, Share

I facilitate Theatre of the Oppressed and other applied theatre workshops to create spaces for physical and verbal dialogue about how we might heal and enrich our relationships with ourselves, each other, and the world. I love to learn/teach/share about this stuff.

I can teach introductory musical stuff: mandolin, guitar, ukulele, fiddle. I like calisthenics and bodyweight training stuff and love to share ideas. I like to lift big rocks and climb boulders. I love learning from other folks who are passionate about love and respect.

I'm good at making sauerkraut, I could teach ya.

I could show you a thing or two about cleaning windows.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I said some stuff above... Lets talk about it. What are you thinking?

I'm also drug and alcohol free, calm and collected, easy to talk to.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Canada, England, Germany, Mexico

Countries I’ve Lived In

Austria, United States

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