IWM Practice Leaders and Facilitators
Jen Cannon (Practice Leader; White & Awakening in the Dharma Facilitator)
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Jennifer Delozier (Practice Leader)
Jennifer Delozier has practiced meditation for the past 35 years; sometimes “on” and sometimes “off,” but more “on” than “off.” She spent five years at a residential Retreat Center/Monastery in CA as a Zen practitioner with Cheri Huber as her Teacher. Jennifer came to Vipassana 11 years ago through IWM and has been a Practice Leader for about 6 years. Our Sangha/community is Jennifer's second home. PS – she is not fond of New England winters! |
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Lore Detenber (Kalyana Mitta Facilitator; White & Awakening in the Dharma Facilitator)
Lore is member of IWM's Beloved Community Builders committee and other working subcommittees of the IWM board. She co-facilitates White & Awakening in the Dharma and a Kalyana Mitta (Spiritual Friends) group. She is also a retired counselor, health educator, mother of an adult daughter and support for her elderly mother. She lives in Florence with her life partner, Mary and beloved furry companions. She was first introduced to the Dhamma in 1995 and the gifts and direction of the path rang true immediately. Primary teachers have been in the Ajahn Chah/ Thai Forest Tradition and more recently the teachings of Sayadaw U Tejaniya. The mutual support and guidance from friends on the path are some of the most treasured aspects of her life. |
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Hal Fales (Practice Leader; Kalyana Mitta Facilitator)
Hal was first introduced to meditation by a Zen teacher in graduate school in 1975. He began a committed practice in the Vipassana tradition in 2008 and has attended numerous retreats at IMS including a six week retreat in 2018. He enjoys trying to create a wholesome space for meditation and learning from the experience of other sangha members. Hal has been a member of the Board since 2013. |
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Ruth Folchman (Practice Leader; Kalyana Mitta Facilitator)
Ruth Folchman is a psychologist, and certified teacher of MBSR and MBCT for Depression. She’s been a seeker and practitioner of mindfulness for 25 years, and endlessly grateful for how dharma supports her work and life as a partner, parent, human being, and guest in this beautiful and complicated world. |
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Leslie Smith Frank (Practice Leader)
Leslie was introduced to mindfulness in 1993, in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. She began attending retreats and receiving teaching at Insight Meditation Society, on the recommendation of a dear dharma friend. After 25 years as a physician assistant, she transitioned to teaching mindfulness and intuitive eating in 2009. After becoming a certified MBSR teacher, she taught at the Center for Mindfulness at UMass and Brown University. A former IWM board member, she has been a practice leader since 2018. Leslie is guided by her direct experience and the teachings of Rodney Smith, Mark Nunburg, Jan Frazer, as well as the plants, creatures, water and sky of Western Massachusetts. |
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Bernadine Mellis (White & Awakening in the Dharma Facilitator)
Bernadine Mellis is a member of IWM's Board and the Beloved Community Builders committee. She co-facilitates White & Awakening in the Dharma and facilitates The Sure Heart (a group for children and families). She is also a filmmaker, teacher, and mother. She is currently a student in the True North Insight Community Meditation Teacher Mentorship Program and a part-time student in divinity school. Bernadine has been a member of the Board since 2019. |
Melissa Tefft (Kalyana Mitta Facilitator; former Practice Leader)