The holiday season brings with it a sense of wonder, gratitude and generosity. Welcome the spirit of the season at Prairiewoods’ annual Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, Nov. 23. It will be a great opportunity to cross items off your holiday shopping list! Our doors will open at 8 a.m. so that you can enjoy a…
DetailsPrairiewoods is pleased to announce that we will welcome Marc Ian Barasch and Drew Dellinger to the 2014 Spirituality in the 21st Century conference March 28–29, 2014. Marc and Drew will talk about compassion, eco-justice and hope for the world today. Marc Ian Barasch is an award-winning writer, editor and producer. He is the founder of…
Details“Every single person has capabilities, abilities and gifts. Living a good life depends on whether those capabilities can be used, abilities expressed and gifts given. If they are, the person will be valued, feel powerful and well-connected to the people around them. And the community around the person will be more powerful because of the…
Details“All we have to do to create the future is to change the nature of our conversations to go from blame to ownership, and from bargaining to commitment, and from problem solving to possibility.” —Peter Block Studies show that there are two major determinants of our local safety. One is how many neighbors we know…
Details“Determination, energy, and courage appear spontaneously when we care deeply about something. We take risks that are imaginable in any other context.” —Margaret Wheatley “The economy” is the sum total of transactions between people. And people’s lives and experiences are about much more than just dollars, profit and growth. As the conventional economy continues to…
Details“Circles create soothing space where even reticent people can realize that their voice is welcome.” —Margaret Wheatley We are responsible for each other. This is the meaning of community. We take seriously the idealistic notion that our future is dependent on each of us and if one of us is not free, or valued, or…
Details“Whatever life we have experienced, if we can tell our story to someone who listens, we find it easier to deal with our circumstances.” —Margaret Wheatley Children become effective adults by being connected with community adults in their productive roles. The most effective local communities claim their youth and assume primary responsibility for their upbringing.…
Details“Everyone in a complex system has a slightly different interpretation. The more interpretations we gather, the easier it becomes to gain a sense of the whole.” —Margaret Wheatley The environmental movement has taught us a great deal about how everyday lifestyles and behaviors can have an impact on the quality of life on our planet.…
Details“In these… times we don’t need more command and control; we need better means to engage everyone’s intelligence in solving challenges and crises as they arise.” —Margaret Wheatley Take time to learn the ways in which different cultures give expression to the human spirit—engagement and identity, performance and creativity, culture and art. Circles currently forming…
DetailsSave the Date for Engaging Community, Narrating Change Phase 2! Wednesday, November 20, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Tens of thousands of people build community, not because it is their job, but because of who they are! The hope of all who engage associational life is to bring into conversation the collective wisdom present within each and…
DetailsSt. Francis of Assisi was born in Italy more than 800 years ago, and his love of all creatures, joyful approach to life and unique way of following Jesus without limit or self-importance remain a wonderful example for us today. We invite you to Prairiewoods’ annual Nature Fest to walk in spirit with St. Francis…
DetailsThe Garden Party is Prairiewoods’ largest fundraiser of the year. We couldn’t offer the variety of spiritual and ecological programming our guests have come to appreciate without your help! The Prairiewoods board and staff would like to extend a special thank you to those who helped make tonight a success … Special Thanks to Cedar…
DetailsBuilding community is a complex and life-long journey with relationships residing at its core. Engaging Community, Narrating Change, Prairiewoods’ annual Spirituality in the 21st Century conference, held April 4–5, affirmed just that—relationships! Nearly 500 people “circled up” and leaned into synergetic conversations to find connections in the service of something greater than themselves. Their overall…
DetailsPrairiewoods has been awarded LEED® Gold certification for existing buildings, making it the first nonprofit in Iowa with that honor. LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings and was established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute…
DetailsEngaging Community, Narrating Change Thursday, April 4, 7–9 p.m. (at St. Pius X Catholic Church) Friday, April 5, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center) The work of “building community” is a complex and life-long journey; relationship resides at its core. This work is challenged by our culture. Though individuals are very connected…
DetailsImagine growing vegetables all through the winter … in a garden in Iowa. It may seem far-fetched, but Prairiewoods is doing it! On Saturday, October 6, twenty-five people from the community helped build a hoop house and install a solar-powered root zone heating system in the Prairiewoods kitchen garden. Since 2010, the Prairiewoods grounds have housed a…
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