Connection 1st

Root designs experiential opportunities for learning by creating strong containers for the graceful facilitation of group energy. He holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Education, and certificates in Sustainable Curriculum Design, Participatory Facilitation, and Ecopsychology. He has co-led short courses on regenerative cultures and cultural mentoring for Schumacher College, Findhorn College the ALT program in Thailand, and is a certified trainer in Gaia Education eco-social design. With his wife Deborah Benham, he has delivered trainings on Sociocracy, Positive Leadership, Social Entrepreneurship, and Culture Repair. Former Training Coordinator for Transition Network, he is the co-author and curator of Transition resources on Personal Resilience, Conflict Resilience, Group Culture, and Social Justice. He has been part of teams in the UK offering programs introducing the Connection 1st framework, and has co-led the Connection 1st online courses: “Introduction to Regenerative Community Building,” “Designing for Peace,” and "Pathways to Village Building.” With Jon Young and Deborah, he is co-authoring a series of e-books on regenerative community design. With his ear to the ground, Root’s guiding question is: “What is most needed here now?”

Shore has dedicated her life to helping others understand the value of community, of peace-tending, of deep connection to the natural world, and of living in service to the needs of future generations. Homeschooled, Shore holds an extended Bachelor of Arts in environmental studies, ecosystem restoration, anthropology, sociology, the philosophy of education, and developmental psychology from Guelph University. She also holds an Indigenous Social Work degree from First Nations Technical Institute and has, since 1994, run a private counseling practice for special-needs and at-risk populations. Mother of eleven adopted and biological children and grandmother of six, Shore has fostered many special-needs children and been a child welfare consultant. A practicing social worker, Shore founded The Circle for Change to heal damaged relationships and communities. She also co-created Manitoulin Eco Park and Dark Sky Preserve, where people can build relationship with the natural world. Shore serves as a director for Earth Path Forest School, and for WWOOF Canada. She serves as a co-facilitator and sits on several advisory councils for Connection 1st. Visit https://www.thecircleforchange.net/ to learn more about Shore.

Aidan is a musician, naturalist, and mentor. Over the past 20+ years, he has mentored hundreds of musicians, including over a dozen that went on to top music schools, performed on stage over a thousand times, mentored youth and adults in nature connection, including Kamana services, and guided people on their creative paths as a personal mentor. He is a graduate of the Kamana Program and experienced in the Shikari Tracker Training Program, has served on several Art of Mentoring acorns, helped produce The 512 Project, plays guitar, bass, piano, and mandolin, sings, and writes songs. He currently offers music lessons and personal mentoring and lives in Los Altos, CA with his wife Mystical and their three children.