Initial Mission Statement
The World Council of Wisdom Keepers has been formed to:
- Create greater awareness regarding the essential role Elders/Sages can and must play in supporting the highest and most constructive goals of contemporary society.
- Educate the population on the role Elders/Sages have played in previous historical periods.
- Create media models that support the honoring of elders and advance a series of initiatives that will assist the nations of the world to put in place various laws and practices that contribute to the establishment of age friendly societies.
This Council will:
- Serve as an informal advisory body offering its insight, guidance, historical perspectives, and alternative solutions to governments, institutions, businesses and individuals.
- Collaborate with other Elder Councils and stakeholder groups around the world in moving to have the United Nations to declare ‘A Year Of The Elder’
- Support the establishment of ongoing international oversight bodies that will better articulate and champion the rights and responsibilities of older citizens around the globe. In short, support the creation of organizations that do for elders what UNECEF and other organizations now do to advance the cause of children.
- Encourage the US Government as well as other national governments to establish cabinet level positions and “Departments of Longevity” whose purpose will be to better serve the needs of elders, stimulate and support innovation in healthcare, life-care and help to create alternative models for living and learning environments.
- Create templates and encourage the formation of local Wisdom Councils within major institutions, organizations and communities on the regional and local level.
- The Council will also support, encourage and, in some cases, convene and execute national, regional and local symposiums and conferences where leaders from the private, public and non-profit sectors can come together to explore more realistic, achievable and effective solutions that address the ‘graying’ of the world’s population.
Finally, and of special importance, the members of Council, individually and jointly, will encourage those who the world calls Older GenXers, Boomers and Seniors to do the essential and necessary individual work of ‘making right their relationships with themselves and with the world’ so that they not only can take their rightful place as elders, but truly help their brethren and those in future generations to establish a more sane and sustainable foundation for life in these times.
Founding Members
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Angeles Arrien – Angeles is a cultural anthropologist, award-winning author, educator, and consultant to many organizations and businesses. She lectures and conducts workshops worldwide, bridging cultural anthropology, psychology, and comparative religions. Her work is currently used in medical, academic, and corporate environments. |
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Rev Michael Beckwith – Dr. Beckwith is founder and spiritual leader of the Agape International Spiritual Center. Agape’s University of Transformational Studies and Leadership classes, ministries and other outreach programs, reach deep into local and global communities teaching individuals about the transforming, healing power of prayer, meditation, and selfless service. |
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George Cappannelli – Co-Founder of AgeNation, George has been assisting and inspiring thousands of individuals as well as some of the premier organizations in the private, public and non-profit sectors for more than 25 years. He is the author of 9 books and has been privileged to work with a number of major world leaders. His new book, is Do Not Go Quietly, A Guide to Living The Life You Were Born To Live. |
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Sedena Cappannelli – Sedena is Co-Founder of AgeNation. She is recognized nationally as a speaker, author, and Whole Life-Synergy Consultant inspiring and empowering individuals and organizations to create greater levels of energy, balance, wellness, and purpose. Her books include: Authenticity, Say Yes To Change and the soon to be released, Do Not Go Quietly, A Guide To Living The Life You Were Born To Live. |
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Ram Dass – (born Richard Alpert on April 6, 1931) is an American contemporary spiritual teacher and the author of Be Here Now. He is known for his work with Timothy Leary at Harvard, for his travels to India and his relationship with the Hindu guru Neem Karoli Baba. He founded the Seva and Hanuman Foundations and his most recent book, Still Here, is an honest & portrait of the lessons learned since his stroke & the humanity and wisdom that he continues to share with us. |
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Jean Houston – Dr. Houston, scholar, philosopher and researcher in human capacities, is one of the foremost visionary thinkers and doers of our time, one of the principal founders of the Human Potential Movement. A powerful and dynamic speaker, she has served as a special UN Envoy inspiring and invigorating people in 40 cultures and 100 countries conveying her vision – the finest possible achievement of the individual potential. |
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Dr. Gladys McGarey – is internationally recognized as the Mother of Holistic Medicine. In practice as a family doctor from 1946 to 2004. She relentlessly advocates and advances the emergence of holistic patient care. Often, in the early years, she experienced staunch opposition from the traditional medical establishment. In 1970, she co-founded the A.R.E. Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, where she and her former husband pioneered the integration of allopathic and holistic medical practices, laying groundwork for the cultural shift of recent years. |
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Michael Meade – Michael has studied myth, anthropology, history of religion, and cross-cultural rituals for over 35 years. His hypnotic and fiery storytelling, and spellbinding interpretations of ancient myths and symbols are highly relevant to current culture. His book Fate and Destiny is one of the seminal books of the decade. |