2008 Speakers

Michael Datcher is the author of the critically-acclaimed New York Times Bestseller RAISING FENCES -- a TODAY SHOW BOOK CLUB Book of the Month pick.  The film rights were optioned by actor Will Smith’s Overbrook Productions, who hired Datcher to write the screenplay.  He is co-editor of TOUGH LOVE: The Life and Death of Tupac Shakur. 

Datcher’s latest play SILENCE was commissioned by and premiered at the Getty Museum. He has appeared on both news programs’ Nightline and Dateline as an analyst and is a frequent commentator on BBC Radio. 

Michele Avanti is a published certified planetary systems analyst, consulting metaphysician and ordained minister. Since 1972, she has taught and consulted in many areas of metaphysics. Her new book, "GreeHee The Journey of Five" is now available. 

Michele has lectured and given more than 15,000 live consultations on radio, television, and at seminars and workshops across America. Her columns have appeared in newspapers and magazines since 1985. 

Nicki Scully is an internationally acclaimed author and teacher.  During her first tour of Egypt with the Grateful Dead in 1978, Nicki experienced an epiphany on the top of the great pyramid, and realized her gift in this life time to bring forth the hidden shamanic arts of Egypt.  Drawing on the knowledge gained through decades, she enlightens and uplifts all who study and travel with her. In the late '80s, Nicki founded Shamanic Journeys, Ltd., and has been guiding inner journeys and spiritual pilgrimages to Egypt, Peru, Greece, and other sacred sites around the world.  Nicki lives in Eugene, Oregon, where she maintains a comprehensive healing and shamanic consulting practice. She welcomes you to study with her at her beautiful garden center.

Rick Herson is a green hippy entrepreneur, who started his forestry career with tree planting in 1971.  After working with the Hoedads, Rick started his own company, Second Growth in 1978.  Rick has directed much awareness and consideration into the work of forest arts.  He has accomplished many of the various aspects of the forestry business.  He climbed trees to pick cones, build feral animal control fences, did invasive plant control projects, protected seedlings from invasive plants and animals, and fought forest fires.  Rick started Oregon Woods in 1991. Oregon Woods does low impact selective tree logging.  He later traveled to Thailand and China where he used his northwest environmental talents to cultivate low impact forestry practices. 

Sara Rich is a social worker, doula and family therapist in private practice. She is the current Board President of the Trauma Healing Project, a member of Courage to Resist organizing colllective and is a part of the management team for the Oregon Country Fair as a BUM (Back Up Manager), is a member of Military Families Speak Out and CODEPINK.

She is currently traveling around the country speaking out against military sexual violence and demanding that our politicians put an end to this immoral and illegal war and BRING OUR TROOPS HOME!  She is a mother figure to  Iraq Veterans Against the War.

Sara is the proud parent of three children, Suzanne, Sonja, and Jake. She loves living in Eugene with her husband, John, and has been there for 18 years.  She is also a proud Granny to her Grandson, Lucky!

Sean Ahearn currently serves as Program Director for the Harmony Festival in Sonoma County California and is the Development Director for The World Council Of Elders. He has been an independent consultant for a variety of distinguished bay area organizations such as Bread & Roses, Lonely Planet Books, Earthdance, Solfest, and The Green Festival.  He has produced a variety of albums, international concert tours festivals and fundraising events with members of The Rolling Stones, The Police, Cream, Black Sabbath, Supertramp.  He has traveled to over 50 countries playing basketball, writing traveler's tales and meditating on life.

Sharif Abdullah teaches groups and individuals how to understand and practice inclusivity – the connection with all other beings.  His books include The Power of One: Authentic Leadership in Turbulent Times and Creating a World That Works for All.  

Sharif’s quest began in the worst that America has to offer – Camden, New Jersey.  His early life was a study in toxic relationships, including welfare, public housing, grinding poverty, near constant violence and a polluted environment.

Steve Bhaerman is an internationally-known author, humorist, and workshop leader. For the past 18 years, he has written and performed as Swami Beyondananda, the “Cosmic Comic.” Swami’s comedy has been called “irreverently uplifting” and has been described both as “comedy disguised as wisdom” and “wisdom disguised as comedy.”

As the Swami, Steve is the author of three books, Driving Your Own Karma (1989), When You See a Sacred Cow, Milk It For All It’s Worth (1993), and Duck Soup for the Soul (1999). Swami’s nationally-syndicated spoof advice column: Ask the Swami, has been read by millions, and his recent State of the Universe Address was reprinted in publications as diverse as Funny Times and Magical Blend Magazine.

More than a poet, more than a singer, more than an emcee--it's not just what she says; its how she says it.  Emerging from the musical womb that is New Orleans, artist and visionary Sunni Patterson combines the heritage and tradition of her Native town with an enlightened modern world view.  She creates music and poetry that is timeless in its groove.   

Sunni has been a featured performer at the many of Nation's premier spoken word venues, including HBO's Def Poetry Jam.  She has also had the privilege of speaking at the Panafest in Ghana, West Africa. She has worked with several well known artists and performers including Hannibal Lokumbe- singing lead vocals for his score,” King and the Crescent City Moon," Kalamu Ya Salaam, Sonia Sanchez, Wanda Coleman, Amiri Baraka, Laini Kuumba Afrikan Dance Company, and many more.  

Tim Hermach has established an environmental justice movement against the big timber corporations summoning a simple solution he called "Zero Cut": to pass national legislation outlawing all logging of native and old-growth forests on public land.

Like Big Tobacco, the big timber corporations, that strip-mine the nation's forests, have lied to the people. They have used bribery and extortion to influence politicians, and mounted billion dollar public relations campaigns to mislead the public.

Tevya Jones, known to his fans as Wisdom, was born into a family of musicians and poets.  He began writing and performing his first songs at an early age.  Wisdom’s lyrical content has evolved to reflect his hopes of inspiring social change on a global level.  “If we believe, we can achieve anything.  It’s all possible.”

Wisdom performed with Medicine Drum on their 2002 album release “Original Face” and toured the world with them for two years.  Upon his return he produced a new studio album, and assemble a group of musicians, the Wisdom Creations Band and includes bass prodigy and son of Tito Garcia (former lead singer of Santana), Luis Garcia; keyboardist Matt Berkeley; award winning gospel drummer Thomas McCree; Chicago underground lyricist and spoken word artist Seasunz, and the newest edition, DJ Cocheze from KRS-One’s Temple of Hip Hop.

WCOE Co-founder, President and Elder Liaison
   
In his capacity as Elder Liaison for World Council of Elders, a 501(c)(3) educational organization, Woody has traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Central and South America and Australia meeting with traditional indigenous wisdom-carriers of many, many native cultures. 

Wren Davidson has been an herbalist, gardener and earth minister who has practiced in the Pacific Northwest for 35 years. One of the co-founders of the Women’s Herbalist Conference that met in Oregon in the 80’s and 90’s, she continues to teach about the essential plants for food and medicine that are freely available in our region. Her intent is to empower others to take charge of their own nutrition and healing while instilling a deeper respect for the natural world and its preservation. She will discuss Oregon Grape, Stinging Nettle, Yarrow, Fennel, Oats and Dandelion and how the factors of stress, lack of sleep and dehydration affect our health.