Our Story

In 2022, driven by the lack of mental health resources on college campuses and inspired by Lisa D. Miller’s brain research on the protective factors of spirituality, our founder Dori Baker began assessing the needs of young people and the student life professionals supporting their wellbeing. Her research led her to healers and mental health practitioners who felt called to address the lack of resources for not only young people's mental and spiritual health, but our collective mental and spiritual wellbeing. The universe then crossed the paths of Dori and Anna Del Castillo, a then recent graduate of Harvard Divinity School, who was exploring the ways that circle spaces in non-religious contexts (where everyone's religious, spiritual, or lack thereof identity is welcome) create pathways for healing and sustaining justice work. A sacred intergenerational friendship and partnership was formed. 

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Now, OODW is a growing diverse and intergenerational collective from across religious and spiritual traditions. We are based in Washington, D.C. and Lynchburg, VA, investing in these communities while also are bringing resources and gatherings to communities across the nation.

 

Our mission is simple: help people tap into their own deep wells of wisdom through soulful practices and conversations.​

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