For the Love of Wisdom Fun-Raiser Presenter Bios

 

Interviewees:

Agness Au became a student of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche in 1975 and was empowered as sangyum, or female lineage holder, in 1985. She’s a senior Shambhala Buddhist teacher and Warrior Assembly Director and a long-time teacher in the Sogetsu School of Ikebana. She had a 25-year career in New York City as a fashion director and business owner. Agness is happily married and the loving mother of two young men.

 

 

David I. Rome is a teacher, writer, and consultant on applications of contemplative methods in personal, organizational, and social change. He is co-editor of Mindfulness-Oriented Interventions for Trauma: Integrating Contemplative Practices. David began practicing Buddhism in 1971 and served as private secretary to Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. He helped create Naropa University and Shambhala International, and is a senior teacher of Shambhala Training. He is a Certifying Coordinator with the Focusing Institute. His website is mindfulfocusing.com.

 

“Tea & Thangkas” Instructor

Cynthia Moku began a lifelong practice and study in meditation and thangka painting in 1973 following the prompting of her teacher, Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche. Cynthia is Creative Director of Lhadrima Foundation, a non-profit organization enthusiastically committed to Connecting Wisdom Traditions & Communities through the Arts. To see a collection of Cynthia’s artwork, order prints, find out more about Lhadrima Foundation, or send a message, Cynthia invites you to visit her website: cynthiamoku.com.

 

 

Guest Performance Artists:

Karl Baumann studied dance at the Juilliard School and soon after toured with MOMIX dance company. He then joined Cirque du Soleil where he starred in the shows Mystère, Quidam, Delirium, KA and Kooza. He also acted as a movement consultant and stunt man for Stephen Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tintin. Karl recently received his MFA degree in Theatre: Contemporary Performance from Naropa University. He is currently writing his memoir, edited by Selena Milewski.

 

Selena Milewski is a multidisciplinary artist and writer who recently received her MFA in Theater: Contemporary Performance from Naropa University. With collaborator Karl, she’s created multiple devised movement-theatre pieces, and looks forward to bringing a sample of this style to the Center’s fun-raiser! Selena’s artistic passions include environmental advocacy, trauma processing, and layering systems of thought in order to play in the discourse. She’s likewise deeply grateful for her recent hiring as the Center’s Marketing and Publicity Manager.