Joanna Macy Center for Resilience & Regeneration
A more resilient world begins now, with each one of us.
Naropa University’s Joanna Macy Center seeks to advance Dr. Joanna Macy’s work and vision by empowering present and future generations to build a more resilient world that works for all.
Dr. Joanna Macy urges individuals to commit to climate action while acknowledging the reality of climate grief. Her approach, as enacted by the Joanna Macy Center, reaches individuals through three main channels.
First, we focus on the root teachings of Dr. Joanna Macy. Known as The Work that Reconnects, this body of knowledge invites individuals to take part in the healing of the world.
Second, we continue Dr. Joanna Macy’s Nuclear Guardianship work, educating the public and future generations about the dangers of radioactive materials and the moral necessity of their containment, promoting education and advocacy around nuclear proliferation.
Finally, we take on the deep work of Liberation Dharma, using Buddhist teachings to draw connections between personal liberation and the transformation of society. We create opportunities for research on her theories of the confluence of Buddhist teachings, general systems theory, and the resulting social impact.
The Transformative Work & Legacy of Joanna Macy
Check out this documentary short from the Joanna Macy Center for Resilience and Regeneration at Naropa—exploring the profound and transformative work and legacy of Joanna Macy.
"Being fully present to fear, to gratitude, to all that is—this is the practice of mutual belonging. As living members of the living body of Earth, we are grounded in that kind of belonging. Even when faced with cataclysmic changes, nothing can ever separate us from Earth. We are already home."
Dr. Joanna Macy’s Work & Teachings
As a scholar of Buddhism, general systems theory, and deep ecology, Dr. Joanna Macy’s work has never been more relevant than it is today. Her work digs deep into the need for environmental activism, offering paths of action rooted in Buddhist spirituality and contemporary science.
In countless ways, Dr. Macy has enriched the Naropa community and empowered the world to turn despair into action. The following roles are only a fraction of Dr. Macy’s contributions to Naropa and the world:
- She is the author of twelve books, including the groundbreaking Despair and Personal Power in the Nuclear Age and, in 2020, A Wild Love for the World. She is also well-known as a translator of Rilke.
- She is an environmental activist who posits that the work of healing the Earth starts with healing the individual. This work is encapsulated in The Work that Reconnects, a transformational body of practice that offers a personal and collaborative framework for facing the crises of our time.
- She is an eco-philosopher with more than five decades of Buddhist scholarship behind her unique approach to widespread systems change.
The Work that Reconnects helps people discover and experience their innate connections with each other and the self-healing powers of the web of life, transforming despair and overwhelm into inspired, collaborative action. Learn more.
Nuclear Guardianship combines art, science, and remembrance to address the seemingly intractable human-caused problem of nuclear contamination with wisdom and creativity. Based on the pioneering work of eco-philosopher Joanna Macy, Rocky Flats: A Call to Guardianship applies the ideas and ideals of Nuclear Guardianship at the site of the now closed Rocky Flats nuclear weapons manufacturing plant near Boulder, Colorado. Learn more.
Check out some interviews, conversations, and trainings with Dr. Macy. Learn more.
Creating Resilient Futures
Deeper Relationships
The Joanna Macy Center exemplifies The Naropa Difference through its unified model of contemplative practice, sustainability efforts, and social justice. This unique alchemy of intentional practices calls students and faculty to unlearn institutional and cultural -isms, listening to disaffected voices and centering our sustainability work so that it is regenerative for all.
Sustainability & Social Justice
The goal of the Joanna Macy Center is to help Naropa students, faculty, and the broader community develop deep and loving relationships with themselves, each other, and nature. These healing connections inspire us to join together in collaborative action. As Dr. Macy reminds us, we are all interconnected, and this interconnectedness is the key to our healing.
The Changemakers
Dr. Joanna Macy’s work is carried on at Naropa by faculty and staff who are deeply dedicated to ecological justice.
Seann Goodman
Director of Mission, Culture, and Inclusive Community
Seann Goodman serves to keep the Joanna Macy Center for Resilience and Regeneration aligned with the purpose, vision, mission, and values of Naropa University.
Interested in the Joanna Macy Center?
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Related Programs
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