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The RITA Summit

RESILIENCE IN THE ANTHROPOCENE

AUGUST 8-10, 2023

Resilience In The Anthropocene

3 Days | 3 Keynotes | 9 panels | 3 Contemplative Practices

The RITA Summit was a 3-day online summit in August 2023, organized by Loka, that brought together researchers, academics, experts from communities most impacted by environmental devastation and climate change, clinical psychology practitioners, and contemplative leaders to discuss eco-anxiety and climate distress within a framework of inner, community, and planetary resilience. The event had close to 1700 registered participants and the rich dialogue amongst presenters and with participants inspired the creation of the Psychology of Deep Resilience course. We continue to partner with many of the researchers and experts today.

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What Do We Mean By Resilience?

Resilience is the capacity and the condition whereupon individuals, societies, and ecosystems are able to adapt to, withstand and recover from adversity and trauma caused by a variety of threats and stressors. Resilience does not imply that we go back to the way we were in the past but that we can still thrive in the conditions that make up the now.

What Do We Mean By Anthropocene?

The Anthropocene is an unofficial unit of geologic time used to describe the most recent period in Earth’s history during which human activity has had serious and negative impacts on the planet’s climate and ecosystems. It is often described in fatalistic terms but there is no reason why the Anthropocene cannot refer to a time where humanity reverses its actions to protect all life on earth.

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The three-day event focused on:

  • Understanding the psychological and emotional impacts of the environmental and climate crises through an intersectional and justice lens.

  • Learning from contemplative practices, clinical and counseling psychology, nature based and Indigenous wisdom traditions to cope and even thrive in uncertain times.

  • Collaboratively designing a new framework of inner, community, and planetary resilience that sustains us all.

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Daily Contemplative Exercise

Mindful of how the issues addressed in this convening could be emotionally taxing and triggering, Loka offered contemplative exercises each afternoon between the second and third panel as rest, respite, and reset for our participants.

Gratitude

We are able to offer free registration for this convening due to the financial support of our donors, and would like to thank them and our other supporters for their invaluable generosity.

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Speakers & Moderators

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Helen Adams

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Yuria Celidwen

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Elissa Epel

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Kailea Frederick

A smiling woman with dark skin, natural curly hair, wearing a yellow and white patterned top, earrings, and a nose piercing, against a grey background.

Adrienne Hampton

A middle-aged man with short gray hair, wearing a dark coat and green sweater, sitting outdoors in front of a wooden fence and trees.

Rev. Fletcher Harper

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Melissa Ho

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Tisha Holmes

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Michelle Johnson-Jennings

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Sará King

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LaUra Schmidt

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Britt Wray

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Dekila Chungyalpa

Susan Clayton

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Leslie Davenport

Richard Davidson

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Prentis Hemphill

Kyle X Hill

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Diana Liverman

Dominique Malebranche

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Brian McInnes

Damaris Miller

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Jyoti Mishra

Musonda Mumba

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Kayly Ober

Tamara Toles O’Laughlin

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Lama Rod Owens

Rev. Bobbi Patterson

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Jacqui Patterson

Panu Pihkala

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Mingyur Rinpoche

Paul Robbins

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Carmen Alonso

Manuela Ruiz Reyes

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Beth Sawin

Juan Santoyo

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Farhana Sultana

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Mary Evelyn Tucker

Black and white portrait of a woman with styled dreadlocks, wearing earrings and a lacy top, looking at the camera with a neutral expression.
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Christy Wilson-Mendenhall

Jennifer Uchendu

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Schedule

AUGUST 8-10, 2023

Conference schedule for August 8, 2023, with sessions on building connections for planetary resilience, psychological resilience, social sustainability, contemplative practice, and ecological resilience.
Conference schedule outlining sessions on emotional and psychological impacts of environmental and climate crises, including keynote, panels, and exercise sessions, with times and speakers listed.
Conference schedule titled 'Embodying Resilience in Uncertain Times' with sessions on resilience, reflection, and spiritual practices, including times, speakers, and topics.

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