Boston Shambhala Center Leadership

The following contact information is designed to facilitate more meaningful and direct communication within our organization and the broader community. If you have questions or concerns please make them heard by contacting the appropriate person or department.

Executive Director: Jill Blagsvedt

Board of Trustees Chair: Mary Coonan

General inquiries/information: Click here

Local Center Leadership

Center Coordinator & Publicity Coordinator: Sarah Lipton

Shambhala Training Resident Co-Directors: Greg Smith and Barbara Hopcroft

Membership Coordinator: Andrea Sparks
Rusung of the Dorje Kasung: Rusung Bo Williams

Finance support: Caitlin Cianflone, Bruce Dodds & David Hollocher

Health & Well Being Council: healthandwellbeing@shambhalaboston.org

Bookstore Manager: Michael Fagan

Family Coordinator: Jennifer Lacy

Board of Trustees

Chair: Mary Coonan
Members: John Bailes, Valerie Bassett, Matthew Bellows, Jill Blagsvedt, Tom Curlin, Tom Ericsson, Carolyn Krusinski, Mary Lang, Anne McLellan, John Ranco, Larry Teitelbaum

View: The Board of Trustees is the holder of the trust of the community. It works for the benefit of the Boston Shambhala Center, its members, and others who benefit from our community and its teachings. The Board is concerned with the long-term propagation of the Shambhala Buddhist dharma in Boston and the surrounding region. It functions as an advisory, oversight, and policy-making body, rather than an administrative one.

Responsibilities: The Board guards the Shambhala Buddhist vision through developing appropriate policy guidance for the Director and the Shambhala Council. Policies will follow and be consistent with the directives of the Sakyong, President Reoch, and the governance structures of the international Shambhala mandala. The Board of Trustees is responsible for long-range and strategic planning for the Boston Shambhala Center, particularly in terms of the purchase, sale, maintenance and renovation of the Center’s assets. The Board conducts, when necessary, a search for a Director of the Center, and negotiates a contract with the chosen candidate. The Board conducts periodic reviews (annually or semi-annually) of the Director’s performance and provides feedback to the Director based on input from community members. The Board is responsible for gathering resources (money, personnel, or expertise) as necessary in order to implement the long-range vision and strategic plans for the Boston Shambhala Center.

 

 

Shambhala Council

 

John Bailes : Board liaison

Jill Blagsvedt: Executive Director

Sarah Lipton: Center Coordinator

Andrea Sparks : Membership Coordinator

Caitlin Cianflone : Finance Coordinator

Joe Snowdon : Technology Coordinator

Barbara Hopcroft: Shambhala Training Resident Director

Alyssa Marino-Medina: Facilities Manager

Bo Williams: Rusung of the Dorje Kasung

 

View and Responsibilities: The Shambhala Council is the core leadership of the Shambhala Center. It is responsible for the day-to-day activities of the Boston Shambhala Center and also guides, supports, and harmonizes all of the Center's activities according to Shambhala Vision and in realizing enlightened society at our center and beyond. The Coucil meets approximately every 45 days to discuss issues pertinent to our areas (membership, technology, etc.), other major topics in the community, and to plan for upcoming community events and programs.

 

 

Practice and Education Committees

Curriculum and Programming Committee

Chair: Jill Blagsvedt

Members: Diana Evans, Scott Robbins, Janet Romaine, Sarah Lipton

View and Responsibilities: The Curriculum and Programming Committee holds the responsibility of developing programming for all levels of practitioners in the center, in accordance with and in addition to the curriculums provided by the Shambhala International Office of Practice and Education. This committee is the liaison with all other practice and education committees (listed below). All curriculum and program proposals and concerns should be sent to Jill (email above), and will be considered by this committee.

Shambhala Training: Heart of Warriorship & Sacred Path

 

Resident Co-Directors: Barbara Hopcroft & Greg Smith

Executive Council Members: (currently being formed)

 

View and Responsibilities: To offer and support all Shambhala Training programs at the center. Creates the calendar for the core programming offered at the Shambhala Center, of all levels of Shambhala Training and the Way of Shambhala clases. Finds Directors, Assistant Directors, Coordinators and staff for all programs.

Teacher Development Committee

Diana Evans, Greg Smith, Charlie Trageser, Jill Blagsvedt

View and Responsibilities: The Teacher Development Committee thoughtfully considers what local and regional teachers to invite to teach the various Boston Shambhala Center courses related with the Way of Shambhala, Shambhala Training, and Intermediate and Advanced classes. They receive and consider feedback about teachers from classes and accept requests from the community to teach. They consider how to develop and encourage aspiring teachers to continue on the path towards teaching.

 

 

Magnetizing Teachers Committee

Jim Wilton, Ilona Anderson, Jim Rosen, Jill Blagsvedt

View and Responsibilities: The Magnetizing Teachers Committee suggests visiting teachers which would deepen and expand our Buddhist and Shambhala practice and study.

Gatway Programs Representatives

Position Open (Gateway Programs Coordinator), Barbara Gard (Nyinthun), Dereck Cate and Dawn Davies (Open House Coordinator), Nick Krantz (Under Thirty group Rep), Jeffrey McIntyre (Heart of Recovery Coordinator), Iris Alpert (Turning the Mind into an Ally Coordinator)

 

 

Visiting Teacher Support Committee

 

Chair: Martina Bouey

Committee Members: Cindy Caros, Bryan Mediola, and for Shambhala Art Kathy Lique and Trish Nozula

View and Responsibilities: Is to support the center in hosting visiting teachers including Rinpoches, Acharyas, and other visiting teachers. Their view is to create an uplifted container for the teachers' programs and teachings. They will train and arrange for coordinators, staff, and assistants for all visiting teacher programs.

 

 

Advanced Programs Representatives

Larry Teitelbaum, Anne Carter (Vajrayana Intensives), Mary Lang (Kalapa Council), Ilona Anderson (Advanced Feasts)

Kalapa Council

 

Chairs: Tom Ericsson and Mary Lang

Members: Tom Curlin, Bruce Dodds, Judy Hollocher, Jill Hurley, Eric Ruby, Esther Seibold, David Williams

View and Responsibilities: The Kalapa Council works to establish enlightened society in our Shambhala Center and in the greater community. Some of their activities and responsibilities include coordinating advanced meditation gatherings and encouraging communication between different groups of practitioners.

Health and Well-Being Council

Chair: Frank Ryan

Members: Jill Blagsvedt, Barbara Inskeep, Mary Lang, Phyllis Prout, Charles Styron

View and Responsibilities: The Health and Well Being Council of the Boston Shambhala Center is available upon request to support members of the Boston community in two ways:

    * Assistance to members and their families in times of serious need.

    * Assistance to members and their families in matters of diversity and accessibility. 

Examples of possible need include the birth of a child, serious illness, death, emotional or financial crisis, problems related to health care or housing, and a sudden wave of difficult circumstances. Read more about who is on the Council and how to contact them.

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Shambhala Meditation Center of Boston
646 Brookline Avenue, Brookline,  MA 02445
Tel. 617-734-1498    Email: