The calendar shows events we are part of and events we are sponsoring. Do you have an event we should know about? Send us a message.
Overwhelmed by Climate Change?
You’re Not Alone.
In times of political instability and uncertainty about the future, our Climate Café Gatherings offer the opportunity to express your emotional experience, connect with a community that gets you, and gain resilience insights to support your activist journey. Our community is full of folks experiencing many of the same emotions that the climate crisis has brought out in your heart and mind.
Together, we cultivate strength as a united community of #ResilientActivists, empowered to create the change we wish to see in our world. Our shared mission transforms these simple gatherings into powerful forces for renewal.
Running for about 90 minutes, our Climate Café Gatherings include an introspective meditation, invitation to the topic of the evening (i.e., burnout, isolation, nature connection, etc.), breakout room conversations, and an ending group discussion.
There is nothing for you to commit to except to gather your favorite beverage, a journal, find a comfortable spot with your Zoom window open, and just be you.
Each session includes facilitators from The Resilient Activist as well as a Climate-Aware Therapist to guide the conversations in ways that are supportive and nurturing.
Want to see our Climate Café Gatherings flourish and expand? Your donation, if you’re able, empowers us to grow and reach even more people. Support The Resilient Activist today!
Register here for our May Climate Café Gathering.
Here are some musings from past participants:
“Each time I attend a Climate Café, I feel more connected to others, knowing that our communal love for Mother Earth is so strong and enduring. I come away more grounded, knowing that in the midst of so much chaos, there is compassion, care, and action for all living creatures.”
“Community support is vital for dealing with anxiety around environmental issues. I’m so happy TRA has facilitated discussions like tonight’s Climate Cafe’ and look forward to future conversations.”
“I faced my problem, now I can work on it. This is huge.”
“If you are looking for like minded people who are working in a positive way toward goals for climate advocacy, this is your group!”
Yoga in the Park: A Community Resilience Event
Date: May 31, 7-8 PM
Location: 45th & Gillham, South End of Park
Join us for a special evening of resiliency and connection as Sarah Mayerhofer leads a sunset flow designed for all levels of yoga.
Whether you’re new to yoga or have been practicing for years, this class will offer a supportive space to cultivate resilience, both individually and as a community.
Bring your mat, some water, and a friend — and let’s come together in the beautiful outdoors to nurture our minds, bodies, and spirits.
Why we offer mindfulness events…
We live in a world that promotes chronic busyness, distraction, and negative news. Our mindfulness events offer people new perspectives, renewed energy, and enhanced clarity that empower them to show up better prepared to face life’s demands.
In times of change, yoga helps us build strength, balance, and connection to the world around us. Yoga is not simply a chance to exercise or improve flexibility (though those are helpful additives) — it’s a change to slow down, rely on the power of breath to ground us into presence, and come back into our bodies.
Let’s embrace this moment of collective renewal.
We can’t wait to see you at Gillham Park! 🧘🏽
If you have questions, contact Sarah Mayerhofer at saamayerhofer@theresilientactivist.org.
Seeds of Life Garden Tour 🪻
Revitalizing Urban Land for People and Nature
Date: Sunday June 8th, 3-5 PM
Location: Seeds of Life Garden in Lee’s Summit
(exact address will be provided at the time of registration)
Register here!
Parking: Street parking available 🅿️
Restrooms: Not available on-site 🚻
At Seeds of Life Gardens, Linda Chubbuck and Stan Slaughter have created an inspiring space where nature and community thrive together. Located in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, the garden stands as a living testament to what is possible when we reimagine vacant urban land not just as a space to be filled, but as a canvas for growth, resilience, and sustainability.
The project began with two residential lots that had been damaged by flooding from the nearby creek. Both homes and utilities were removed, leaving the area abandoned. In January 2022, ownership of these lots was transferred from the City of Lee’s Summit to Linda and Stan, marking the start of a transformative journey.
Seeds of Life Gardens was founded with a clear mission: to benefit nature, the Web of Life, and all creatures—including humans. This mission is deeply rooted in the belief that by healing the land, we heal ourselves. The garden has been designed as an educational space to showcase what can be achieved with urban, vacant ground, offering valuable lessons for the neighborhood, the city, and beyond.
Though the project faces unique challenges, including no water service and the prohibition of fencing due to FEMA flood regulations, Linda and Stan have turned these obstacles into opportunities. Situated on a heavily trafficked walking route, the garden is highly visible, allowing for meaningful engagement and learning. Since its inception, Seeds of Life Gardens has flourished, with hundreds of native perennials and grasses planted in the wildflower garden, 15 fruit trees added to establish a food forest, and a sizable vegetable bed created. The strategic use of berming and soil improvement techniques has allowed the garden to manage floodwaters effectively, while revitalizing the local habitat.
This garden is more than just a beautiful space—it’s a testament to the power of resilience. From two vacant patches of land, Linda and Stan have cultivated an ecosystem where both plants and people thrive. As part of The Resilient Activist’s mission to support sustainability and community-building, Seeds of Life Gardens exemplifies how we can take action on urban land to create something restorative and impactful.
We invite you to visit and witness the progress and life that has emerged from these once-vacant lots. Come and experience the buzzing energy of nature in action, and learn how small, thoughtful steps can create lasting change for both our environment and our communities.
Why we offer mindfulness events…
We live in a world that promotes chronic busyness, distraction, and negative news. Our mindfulness events offer people new perspectives, renewed energy, and enhanced clarity that empower them to show up better prepared to face life’s demands.
We can’t wait to see you at The Seeds of Life Garden on June 8th! 🌻
If you have questions, contact Anna Graether at anna@theresilientactivist.org
The Longest Light: Illuminating Inner Radiance 🌞
Retreat Date: Saturday June 21st, 10am – 4pm
Location: Rising Ranch in Oskaloosa, KS
Register here by June 18!
As the sun reaches its peak on the longest day of the year, you are invited to pause—to reconnect to the brilliance of the natural world and your own inner being.
The Longest Light is a day-long silent retreat thoughtfully designed to help you soften, reconnect, and remember who you are beneath the noise of daily life.
Nestled amidst the serene beauty of the land at Rising Ranch, this retreat will include periods of reflection and meditation, mindful movement, nature-based sensory exploration, a sound bath, and guided journaling.
The day will be facilitated by a team of mindfulness professionals committed to creating a safe and supportive environment while fostering a sense of shared community.
🧘🏽♀️ Retreat Facilitators
Facilitators include The Resilient Activist Founder and Climate Reality Leader Sami Aaron, Board Certified Music Therapist and Certified Laughter Yoga Leader Rachel Rilinger, and Mindfulness in the Heartland Founder Amy Zoe Schonhoff.
Whether you are relatively new to mindfulness or an experienced practitioner, this one-day retreat is carefully designed to offer you space and support in navigating the complexities of being human.
Let this solstice be your invitation to slow down, soften, and shine.
🌱 About the Venue
Rising Ranch, located in Oskaloosa, Kansas, just an hour from the Kansas City metro and twenty minutes north of Lawrence, Kansas, is a refuge, love-nest, and creative space for education innovator, Katie Boody Adorno and artist, Jay Norton.
Situated on 25 acres of beautifully maintained farmland, Rising Ranch provides scenic spaces and meandering paths ideal for reflection and contemplative practices.
🎟️ Registration Fee: Suggested $120 | Supporter $150 | Reduced $90
Space is limited to ensure an intimate, well-supported experience.
Registration deadline is June 18th!
Labyrinth Walk at Unity Village 🌼
Date: June 28th, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM CT
Location: Unity Village (1901 NW Blue Parkway, Unity Village, MO 64065)
Join The Resilient Activist community and our Board Member, Amy Schonhoff for a meditative walk through the Unity Village Labyrinth.
Welcome to the Unity Labyrinth, a masterpiece of craftsmanship and design. Spanning 6,358 square feet with a three-quarters-mile path, this 90-foot diameter labyrinth is the largest paver labyrinth in the United States. Designed in an 11-circuit medieval pattern, it features wide, wheelchair-accessible paths leading to three granite benches at its center. Created by a renowned stone artisan and completed in 2022, the labyrinth is a sanctuary for reflection and renewal.
Walking the labyrinth allows for focused contemplation on personal challenges, often leading to deep insights. The path inward and back fosters personal revelations. Beneath the stones lie messages and prayers from past visitors, enriching its contemplative atmosphere. This timeless addition, made possible with support from Unity donors, resonates deeply with the spirit of our times.
Why Nature-Connection is Important 🍄🟫
We *are* nature but our culture and lifestyle can separate from our connection with our environment. Re-establishing our sense of awareness and belonging in nature by breaking down barriers and spending more time outdoors helps each of us in different ways. It can reduce anxiety and depression, improve physical health, inspire creativity, improve clarity of thought, facilitate problem-solving, and help us gain perspective.
In a society where loneliness is an epidemic, rediscovering our sense of belonging within nature can help us feel a little less adrift and provide comfort when relationships with others fall short.
Our Walk Leader: Amy Schonhoff
Amy Zoe Schonhoff is the founder of Mindfulness in the Heartland, a certified teacher of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction through the Mindfulness Center at Brown University, and a certified teacher of Advanced Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness.
Amy has also served as a nonprofit professional for over 20 years working in arts- and community-based organizations within Kansas City. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family, hiking outdoors, and creating a sanctuary for pollinators in her garden.
As a mindfulness practitioner and teacher, I have found the natural world provides meaningful refuge from the “anxiety of our time” and a splendid setting to explore the magic inherent in being a living, breathing consciousness within this dynamic, interconnected web of life. Through The Resilient Activist, it’s my intention to foster and support a community of like-hearted individuals grounded in mindfulness, wisdom, deep care for the natural world, and commitment to compassionate action.
Contact TRA Board Member Amy Schonhoff at azschonhoff@gmail.com with questions.
Photo Credit: Unity Village Website
Overwhelmed by Climate Change?
You’re Not Alone.
As summer arrives, bringing warmth and abundance, we find ourselves in a season of sustained growth. The days are longer, and the energy of the earth invites us to deepen our connections—to each other, to our planet, and to the work we do together. In this vibrant season, we gather to strengthen our collective resilience, nurturing the environment and our communities.
Through shared action and intention, we transform these simple gatherings into powerful opportunities for growth, renewal, and lasting change in our activist practice.
The Resilient Activist Climate Café Gatherings offer a valuable opportunity to connect with a community that gets you, fill your cup, and gain resilience insights. Our community is full of folks who are experiencing many of the emotions that climate change has brought out in your heart and mind.
Running for about 90 minutes, our Climate Café Gatherings include an introspective meditation, invitation to the topic of the evening (i.e., burnout, isolation, nature connection, etc.), breakout room conversations, and an ending group discussion.
There is nothing for you to commit to except to gather your favorite beverage, a journal, find a comfortable spot with your Zoom window open, and just be you.
Each session includes facilitators from The Resilient Activist as well as a Climate-Aware Therapist to guide the conversations in ways that are supportive and nurturing.
We offer these Climate Café Gatherings free of charge. If you’ve enjoyed them and are financially able, your donation to The Resilient Activist would be deeply appreciated and help us continue this work.
Register here for our June Climate Café Gathering.
Here are some musings from past participants:
“Each time I attend a Climate Café, I feel more connected to others, knowing that our communal love for Mother Earth is so strong and enduring. I come away more grounded, knowing that in the midst of so much chaos, there is compassion, care, and action for all living creatures.”
“Community support is vital for dealing with anxiety around environmental issues. I’m so happy TRA has facilitated discussions like tonight’s Climate Cafe’ and look forward to future conversations.”
“I faced my problem, now I can work on it. This is huge.”
“If you are looking for like minded people who are working in a positive way toward goals for climate advocacy, this is your group!”
Roots & Remedies: An Exploration into Plant Medicine 🍄🟫
Date: July 12th, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM CT
Location: Kansas City (full address available after you RSVP)
Join The Resilient Activist community and Luke Welsh for a native garden tour, discussion on local medicinal plants, community connection, and a chance to take some promising seedlings home!
While walking through the garden, Luke will share the physical and emotional benefits of utilizing the medicinal plants we find that are currently in season. Once you leave the event with a seedling or two of your own, you’ll come away with an enhanced understanding and appreciation of what these native plants can offer.
The event location will be available once you RSVP.
Native gardening can be a powerful form of self-care and activism. One of the best ways to support wildlife is to plant natives, because insects and birds have evolved alongside the plants they rely on. Without specific plants, we wouldn’t have specific insects. When we provide a healthy environment for insects to thrive, birds and pollinators get to eat, birds and pollinators pollinate, and humans are able to eat and be nourished!
Along with supporting ecosystem balance, the process of native gardening and connecting with the soil can lower our blood pressure, calm our mind, and nourish us on a deeper level.
Why Nature-Connection is Important 🍄🟫
We *are* nature but our culture and lifestyle can separate from our connection with our environment. Re-establishing our sense of awareness and belonging in nature by breaking down barriers and spending more time outdoors helps each of us in different ways. It can reduce anxiety and depression, improve physical health, inspire creativity, improve clarity of thought, facilitate problem-solving, and help us gain perspective.
In a society where loneliness is an epidemic, rediscovering our sense of belonging within nature can help us feel a little less adrift and provide comfort when relationships with others fall short.
Contact TRA Board Member Anna Graether at anna@theresilientactivist.org with questions.
To learn more about how you can start your own native garden, read Anna’s informative blog post: “From Lawn to Wildlife Habitat: Conservation Starts in Your Own Backyard.”
“Using plants [facilitates] a biochemical conversation which is far beyond our comprehension or our understanding.” – Bevin Clare
Photo Credit: Sarah Mayerhofer
Overwhelmed by Climate Change?
You’re Not Alone.
In the heart of summer, when the earth is at its fullest, we come together to celebrate the strength we’ve cultivated and the resilience that grows from our shared efforts. July is a time to reflect on how far we’ve come and the impact we’ve made, while continuing to nourish our planet and ourselves.
Together, we empower each other to stay connected, rooted, and focused on building a more vibrant, equitable future. This Climate Café Gathering is an opportunity to recharge, renew, and continue our collective mission to nurture both our planet and our communities.
The Resilient Activist Climate Café Gatherings offer a valuable opportunity to connect with a community that gets you, fill your cup, and gain resilience insights. Our community is full of folks who are experiencing many of the emotions that climate change has brought out in your heart and mind.
Running for about 90 minutes, our Climate Café Gatherings include an introspective meditation, invitation to the topic of the evening (i.e., burnout, isolation, nature connection, etc.), breakout room conversations, and an ending group discussion.
There is nothing for you to commit to except to gather your favorite beverage, a journal, find a comfortable spot with your Zoom window open, and just be you.
Each session includes facilitators from The Resilient Activist as well as a Climate-Aware Therapist to guide the conversations in ways that are supportive and nurturing.
To sustain and expand our free Climate Café Gatherings, we rely on the generosity of supporters like you. If you’re in a position to give, please consider donating to The Resilient Activist and help us cultivate a more resilient future.
Register here for our July Climate Café Gathering.
Here are some musings from past participants:
“Each time I attend a Climate Café, I feel more connected to others, knowing that our communal love for Mother Earth is so strong and enduring. I come away more grounded, knowing that in the midst of so much chaos, there is compassion, care, and action for all living creatures.”
“Community support is vital for dealing with anxiety around environmental issues. I’m so happy TRA has facilitated discussions like tonight’s Climate Cafe’ and look forward to future conversations.”
“I faced my problem, now I can work on it. This is huge.”
“If you are looking for like minded people who are working in a positive way toward goals for climate advocacy, this is your group!”
Overwhelmed by Climate Change?
You’re Not Alone.
As we approach the late summer, we find ourselves in a season of transition—reflecting on the progress we’ve made and preparing for the changes ahead. August is a time to honor the growth we’ve experienced and deepen our commitment to resilience, both personally and as a community.
Together, we come to celebrate the strength we’ve built and the shared mission that drives us. This gathering is an opportunity to recharge, reconnect, and reinforce our collective efforts to nurture the planet and each other, ensuring we move forward with intention into the season ahead.
The Resilient Activist Climate Café Gatherings offer a valuable opportunity to connect with a community that gets you, fill your cup, and gain resilience insights. Our community is full of folks who are experiencing many of the emotions that climate change has brought out in your heart and mind.
Running for about 90 minutes, our Climate Café Gatherings include an introspective meditation, invitation to the topic of the evening (i.e., burnout, isolation, nature connection, etc.), breakout room conversations, and an ending group discussion.
There is nothing for you to commit to except to gather your favorite beverage, a journal, find a comfortable spot with your Zoom window open, and just be you.
Each session includes facilitators from The Resilient Activist as well as a Climate-Aware Therapist to guide the conversations in ways that are supportive and nurturing.
Help us nurture a stronger, more connected #ResilientActivist community! Your donation to The Resilient Activist directly supports our free Climate Café Gatherings and their positive impact on activist communities.
Register here for our August Climate Café Gathering.
Here are some musings from past participants:
“Each time I attend a Climate Café, I feel more connected to others, knowing that our communal love for Mother Earth is so strong and enduring. I come away more grounded, knowing that in the midst of so much chaos, there is compassion, care, and action for all living creatures.”
“Community support is vital for dealing with anxiety around environmental issues. I’m so happy TRA has facilitated discussions like tonight’s Climate Cafe’ and look forward to future conversations.”
“I faced my problem, now I can work on it. This is huge.”
“If you are looking for like minded people who are working in a positive way toward goals for climate advocacy, this is your group!”