Lench Archuleta, Shaman

Lench_Bio.jpg A Yaqui Indian from Southern Arizona who has worked with individuals and small groups in the Sonoran Desert for more than twenty years. He collaborates with numerous health professionals and traditional native healers as a counselor, consultant, advisor and spiritual guide. He is featured in the book Coyote Medicine by Lewis Mehl Madrona, M.D. and is a frequent lecturer at the Southwest School of Naturopathic Medicine in Phoenix, AZ. Lench’s background includes work with numerous Native American Nations, as well as fifteen years as an advisor for Department of Defense on Ethnic and Human Relations with an emphasis on Native American traditions and philosophies. He has worked as a counselor and teacher for over twenty years and lectures throughout the United States. In the fall of 2000, Lench represented Native American Peoples before Pope John Paul II at the World Mission Conference at the Vatican in Rome, Italy. Two weeks after the events of September 11, 2001, he was invited to guide and assist Manhattan residents in a workshop dedicated to the healing of emotional and spiritual trauma, which concluded with a ceremonial healing circle held at Ground Zero. For more infomation you can visit www.windspiritteaching.com

Stephanie S. Covington, PhD, LCSW

Stephanie.jpg Dr. Stephanie Covington is a clinician, author, organizational consultant, and lecturer. Recognized for her pioneering work in the area of women's issues, Dr. Covington specializes in the development and implementation of gender-responsive services. She has conducted seminars worldwide on addiction, sexuality, families, and relationships for health professionals, business and community organizations, and recovery groups. The seminars, both practical and sensitive in approach, provide professionals with a valuable opportunity to learn new skills for dealing with personal, institutional, and societal changes as we move into the twenty-first century.

Dr. Covington’s organizational work in both the public and private sectors focuses on systems change and the development of caring, compassionate, and empowering environments. Her work as a consultant to the Betty Ford Treatment Center included the creation of a progressive and innovative program for women. She also consulted with Hanley-Hazelden in West Palm Beach on the development of the Center for Women’s Recovery. Dr. Covington recently completed a multiyear contract with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections to provide comprehensive, system-wide consulting services to address the issues of female offenders. She also helped the PA DoC create an addiction treatment philosophy and design a treatment framework to serve both women and men.

Dr. Covington has also served as a consultant to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) in Washington, D.C. She was a workshop chair for both the Women’s Treatment Improvement Protocal (TIP) and the Trauma TIP (published by CSAT). She also co-authored the National Institute of Corrections three year research project "Gender-Responsive Strategies: Research, Practice, and Guiding Principles for Women Offenders."

Educated at Columbia University and the Union Institute, Dr. Covington has served on the faculties of the University of Southern California, San Diego State University, and the California School of Professional Psychology, and she is a former chair of the Women's Committee of the International Council on Alcoholism and Addiction. Dr. Covington is a board-certified Diplomate of the National Association of Social Workers, the American Board of Sexology, and the American Board of Medical Psychotherapists, and she is a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.

Among the many articles and books written by Dr. Covington are:

She has authored three curricula:

Dr. Covington is based in La Jolla, California, where she is co-director of both the Institute for Relational Development and the Center for Gender and Justice. For more information, you can visit www.stephaniecovington.com

Wendi Fox, Comedian

Wendi.jpg Known nationwide for her "Alcohol Insanity Tour" and her straight-forward and humorous look at the importance of finding the funny.

Wendi is not your average speaker. She has literally reinvented the lecture format. While working as a stand-up comedian in the college market, Wendi realized that her personal alcohol related stories were having an impact on how people were addressing the issue of alcohol abuse and addiction.

Having spoken to hundreds and hundreds of college campuses nationwide, Wendi has made a commitment to the very issues of self-esteem, substance abuse, and finding the path to health. visit www.wendifox.com for more.

Norman Merrill, Artist

Norman.jpg Norman Merrill had been sober for several years but still suffered from depression. One day when visiting a friend who had paints lying around, Norman decided to pick up a brush and mysteriously found his way out of the darkness by expressing himself through his painting Norman is now a successful painter in Venice Beach, California, where he shares a studio with many other artists of like mind. He has had art shows at such venues as the Peach Tree Gallery in Venice Beach.

Daniel Peralta, Counselor: Hawaii State Prison

daniel.jpg Daniel Peralta has been a specialist in the healing arts for 20 years. He is an education specialist, counselor, and consultant who received his degree from Antioch University in the Psychology of Consciousness, where he integrated performance arts, psychology, and metaphysics in exploring human behavioral expressions. Daniel’s sharp mind, charismatic personality, and well-refined intuitive skills make him a dynamic and innovative teacher whose work in the prison system over the past 14 years has put him in touch with the many challenges of human patterns and choices. Daniel conducts programs in self-esteem, anger management, conflict resolution, personal empowerment, emotional healing, and change and transition. He has been a teacher and trainer in cognitive restructuring programs, a trainer in the Healing Emotional Literacy Program for corrections professionals, and a facilitator for domestic violence intervention groups. He has done extensive work with drug addicts and substance abuse. For more information, you can visit www.lovedaniel.com

Rahasya Poe, Writer/Publisher

Rahasya.jpg Found his way out of addiction through meditation and, ultimately, through writing. Rahasya lives with his wife, Dhara Lemos, in Chico, California. Together they publish Lotus Guide magazine, which focuses on the spiritual issues of our time, and together they wrote The 12 Spiritual Laws of Recovery and Meditations for the 12-Step Program. He was visiting India when he had his life-transformation experiences and received his name, Rahasya, which means “Mystery.” For more information, you can contact him at rahasya@usa.com or visit www.LotusGuide.com.

Donald Payne, Nutrition Specialist

DonaldPayne.jpg Donald Payne has worked in the natural products industry since 1971. His expertise as a nutritionist has been developed through his own study and experience, and he is well respected and often sought for his knowledge of vitamins and herbs. He gives seminars and free workshops on natural health topics regularly, and has a special interest in the nutritional components of recovery. He believes most people are addicts, whether it be to physical substances or to money, power, and prestige.

R. Kelley Otani MD Rehabilitation Medicine Medical Director, Physical Medicine Rehabilitation , Enloe Hospital

Born in Roseville, California, Dr. Otani did his undergraduate work at the University of San Diego, his medical degree at the University of California, Davis, and his internship and residencies at the University of Arizona. His post-graduate work was at the University of Washington. He currently resides in Chico, California, as the Rehabilitation Medical Director at Enloe Rehabilitation Hospital, where he seeks to find an appropriate balance between Western medicine and alternative modes of healing.

Sirena Squires, Musician

I currently reside in Northern California, originally being from the North East US. I am a multi-instrumentalist and have been playing the Native American Flute for many years. It is my ambition to bring awakening and healing to the world via music. I have realized how it is within the intent of creating the music that makes it transformational within the lives of those that hear it, along with the knowing that it is God/Creator that is moving through me. So this is my purpose; to bring pure intent to the world via sound, whether it be through voice or other instrument(s), for the purpose of assisting us all in awakening and enlightenment.

My current CD, Where Hawks Fly, is purely Native American flutes, with drum in only the last song. I intend it to bring peace to all who hear it. One thing I want to note is that although I do have some family roots of Native American Indian, I also have roots of German and Austrian decent. What I want to be known is that I create this music from within me; from the oneness of us all being spiritual beings having a human experience. I am not following any particular protocol except for that which comes from within me. All of the music is original, and created in the moment it is received.

My future CD projects, to be available when they are to be, will include more instruments with vocal chants and sounds. I am excited to see what comes forth! There is greatness being discovered, and magic is afoot!

Peace and Blessings to you. May you know your light through your darkness, and may you see beauty in all.

For more about Sirena and for her cd, go to: www.wherehawksfly.com

Ken Foreman, Stockbroker