Our Board of Directors
Jalaja Bonheim
Founder and Director
For more info, please visit www.jalajabonheim.com!
Jalaja Bonheim, Ph.D., is the founder and director of the East-Coast based Institute for Circlework and author of four books, with a new upcoming book titled Living in Peace: A Vision of Hope for Humanity. She is an inspiring public speaker, a workshop leader who teaches at prestigious centers around the world. The experience of growing up as a Jew in post-war Germany instilled in her a passionate dedication to peace, as well as to the empowerment of women, whom she views as having a key role to play in saving our planet. Today, she gathers Jewish and Palestinian women in circles, trains them to lead their own circle gatherings, and is increasingly empowering women from around the world to serve as leaders and change-makers.
My job is to help people experience their oneness in life-changing ways. Once they know their oneness, not as an intellectual concept but as an embodied experience, then prejudice and hatred dissolve, and are replaced by compassion and understanding."
Jane Hexter
Treasurer
As President of Grants Champion, I have written well over 50 successful proposals and raised over $28 million for my clients in the last few years alone. I also served on the National Board of the American Association of Grant Professionals and am a former chapter board member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Finger Lakes. I was fortunate enough to serve as Subject Matter Expert for the Grant Professionals Certification Institute (GPCI) to develop the Grant Professionals Certificate exam. I enjoy teaching others about the art of grantwriting and am developing courses in Spiritual Grantwriting. I was born and raised in Nottingham, England. When I'm not trying to make the world a little more liveable, I love to hike in the beautiful state parks that are just minutes from my home in the New York Finger Lakes Region, swim in the lakes during summer, and whiz down ski slopes at breakneck speeds in winter. Best of all, I like to hang out with my two kids and my black lab - throw in a little dark chocolate and life couldn't be better.
Like a lot of people, I am deeply committed to creating a peaceful planet where everyone has full access to food, shelter, clean water, a decent education, and economic opportunities regardless of anything. And, that must be done while ensuring the long-term viability of our earth. I am passionate about empowering women to be the agents of social change that are so dearly needed.
Alice Saltonstall
Alice Saltonstall is a vocal artist, mother of four, and native Ithacan. She holds a bachelor of music degree from Syracuse University College of Visual and Performing Arts and is passionate about the healing and transformative modalities of music and of the voice in particular. Alice has participated in many circles with Jalaja, and has completed the Level One Circle training. Alice also serves on the board of The Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts.
I believe deeply in the magic and synergy of building community through circles and song.
Leslie Carrere
Leslie Carrere is the Director of Marketing and Development at RPM EcoSystems, which are dedicated to healing and restoring the environment with high performance native plants. Leslie is involved in critical restoration projects nationally and internationally on her mission to restore the earth and educate others of the importance of reforestry.
Before that, she had her own PR firm Lunamedia, which she maintained in the Ithaca area for 20 years. Through Lunamedia, Leslie was involved in the early development of the Institute for Circle Work. Not only did she have the privilege of supporting the evolution of Jalaja's important work but she has attended many of her circles and has experienced the transformational powers and gifts of Jalaja's teachings.
It is an honor to be part of this board, and to support the Institute for Circlework in its development as it reaches out internationally to foster greater peace and understanding in the world through its trainings and teachings.
Amy Opperman Cash
Amy Opperman Cash runs Larson Publications with her husband Paul R. Cash, a publishing company dedicated to global community and individual awakening. She has been involved since 1982 publishing philosophic, spiritual and transformational work from many cultures. Also actively involved in the Arts, she continues to teach piano and help arts organizations that bring upliftment to people of all ages from many backgrounds. Amy was a board member of Musicians for World Harmony, under director Samite Mulondo for several years dedicated to bringing the joy and hope to people all over the world. She was also a lead fundraiser at The Ithaca Ballet in Ithaca, NY for many years, and co-founder of the Cultural Arts Festival in Watkins Glen, NY.
I am honored to be part of this organization that brings the deep listening power of women together to heal each other and then in turn to bring compassionate tools into the world
