Members of the network have expressed interest in social impact strategies, evaluation, and reporting and this is an area HCN is passionate about. This weeks webinar flows into two sessions offered during the annual Virtual Gathering of Holistic Centers. Each session has been designed to provide an accessible introduction as well as sharing leading practices in impact measurement and performance monitoring for social purpose organizations.
[Read more…]Recognising the Pain of the Asian Community
Dear friends,
During our webinar this past Wednesday we acknowledged the pain and hurt of the Asian community and read the names of the eight lives lost, six of which were women of Asian descent, in Atlanta, Georgia; Yong Ae Yue, Hyun Jung Grant, Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Suncha Kim, Soon C. Park, Delania Yuan and Paul Andre Michels.
We recognise the pain of the Asian community within our retreat centers (be they staff or guests) at this pivotal time in the work against racial injustice and hate crimes, exacerbated by the pandemic over these last 12 months.
HCN has and always will be in the spirit of collaboration, seeking to co-create a more just and loving world. We exist to bring people together and to share the benefits of inner reflection for outer action, leading towards the transformation of society. Despite the suffering that exists in the world we believe in the importance of this collective work and that it matters now more than ever. We’re grateful to be in this with you and seek to create ever greater diversity, inclusion and compassion.
[Read more…]Virtual Gathering 2021: Announcing our Keynote Speakers
This year the annual Centers’ Gathering 3-6 May, 2021 takes place once more under unique circumstances. Not only are we online rather than in person, we are also re-emerging from over a year of a grave pandemic which has deeply affected the whole world. And of course, it has had a profound effect on the activities of our centers. Some have closed temporarily, some have shifted online, others are uncertain how to proceed. In all cases, we face unique opportunities in considering how we can emerge in a way that speaks to the profound challenges of our times and build resilience personally and collectively.
[Read more…]Magic Wands and Community Data
Adapted from an original blog by Ben Scott-Brandt and Justine Johnson, Retreat Center Collaboration
Our friends at the Retreat Center Collaboration (RCC) hosted a recent community call with our friends at Retreat Guru that will inform our HCN Virtual Gathering in May. We invite you to contemplate the question posed to the retreat centers present; “If you were given a magic wand what would you wish for personally, for your center, and for the world at large?” It was an engaging way to harvest the needs and challenges in conversation, rather than via a survey, and we welcome your input too as we strengthen our collective work.
Inner Leadership and our Consciousness of Money
We’ve been exploring the resilience of centers in different ways over recent webinars; from pricing analysis of programming, to co-creating a care first world, and keeping an eye on the horizon and the bottom line in preparing to re-open.

There’s growing interest in financial literacy and the link with leadership and we’re delighted to welcome back Karen McAllister. Karen holds the unique position of being a founding member of Clear Sky Retreat Center, responsible for fund development, a Mindful Money coach and spiritual teacher.
Mentored by Lynne Twist, global activist, fundraiser extraordinaire and author of the Soul of Money, and Deborah Price, founder of the Money Coaching Institute, Karen brings a lived experience of how this work can transform the culture of a holistic center. She offers money coaching internationally and will share real life examples of different behaviours that show up around leadership and money.
[Read more…]Exploring the Different Dimensions of Re-Opening
With the rollout of vaccinations taking place around the world and people in different stages of lockdown, the opportunities for centers to re-open for in person guest programs varies vastly. This week’s webinar helps navigate the many considerations involved for both participants and staff. Come together as we explore the practical to the emotional. From being mostly at home it can be disorientating for staff to go back to work or for participants to attend a gathering again. We all need to feel safe and prepare ourselves for the long haul.
[Read more…]Announcing the 2021 Virtual Gathering: The Long Game
The dates are now set for our annual gathering and once again we’ll be meeting in the Virtual Space. Save the dates 3 – 6 May and know that heartfelt connection, soulful nourishment and thought provoking inspiration will fill the space. We look forward to meeting in person when that’s possible once more and right now embrace the opportunity for your entire staff and support community to participate in live sessions.
Building on the success of our first Virtual Gathering in May 2020, and weaving in feedback from the network, we’re excited to share the unfolding schedule with you over the coming weeks. Throughout the event sessions are designed for powerful interaction and intimate engagement in groups large and small, meeting and learning from peers in other centers, celebrating the spirit of collaboration and mutual support.
[Read more…]Co-creating a Care First World
Following on from our recent webinar focused on Pricing Analysis of Holistic Programs, we deepen into the importance of meaning and money, mission and margin, vital for our centers to thrive in their role and relevance in the world.
Join us as we explore the shift from a Money First to a Care First attitude and its application across sectors to co-create positive change in the world. In Care First, money serves the well-being of people and the planet and is a unifying force.
[Read more…]Pricing Analysis of Holistic Programs
Keeping a center going during these uncertain times often means fundamental operational changes, from what services we are able to offer, to how much they should cost. In this webinar, deepen your understanding of your center’s financial viability and discover tools and variables to use as you explore the sustainability of your current business model.
[Read more…]A Pilot Initiative for the Lunar New Year
By Jenyng Wu
Friday, February 12, 2021 is the Lunar New Year. In my home growing up it was the Chinese New Year. We would spend the day saying things like ‘May the New Year be full of happiness,’ and ‘Congratulations and good fortune to you.’ Blessings are shared, gifts of food symbolic of health and prosperity are bestowed, and firecrackers pop as dragons dance to celebrate the ‘new.’

Chinese New Year is also commonly known in East Asian cultures as the Spring Festival, marking the end of winter and the beginning of spring in the lunisolar calendar. It’s only appropriate then that the Holistic Centers Network, an organization representing a network of international centers, will be piloting an initiative, “Act Local, Think Global” to celebrate the tradition of community, wellness, and hope.
[Read more…]