In this experiential workshop we will discuss how privilege functions institutionally, how to address unequal access, and to leverage what privilege with wisdom and compassion for others.

Scott is Dean of Students and Faculty at the Institute of Buddhist Studies and the co-host of the Dharma Realm podcast. He teaches and writes about Buddhism in the West, Buddhist modernism, Pure Land Buddhism, and Buddhism and media.

The workshop will be about how chocolate is made, starting from the cocoa beans, all the way to a complete chocolate bar. Laura will also be discussing sustainability, because the environment and the people growing the cocoa beans are an integral part of chocolate. Lastly, you can't talk about chocolate without eating it, so come hungry because we will have a sensory tasting of a few different chocolates and ingredients.

Laura is an Research and Development Scientist at Blommer Chocolate Company, the largest cocoa processor and ingredient chocolate supplier in North America. Laura has been with Blommer for 4 years and eats chocolate every single day. She formulates new chocolate and compound products, creates samples, and provides support to customers, sales, and customer service. She has technical knowledge in chocolate, and leads on scale-ups and trials. Feel free to ask her about anything regarding food, her background degree is Food Science and Technology with a minor in Food Microbiology. Laura is obsessed with finding new food to try, and exploring restaurants throughout CA.

Let's talk about the teaching of Buddha and Master Shinran over a glass of beer!

Participants will engage in guided and skillful discussion around sensitive–but important!–topics such as race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual identity. This is a practice of coming together and practicing mindfulness in a group setting, so that we may face and overcome our challenges as a community.

Grace Talice Lee is a writer and educator based in San Jose, California, with four books available to the public and regular contributions in local magazines. With every word she writes, she seeks to empower the reader to lead a life of true peace, individual agency, and meaningful happiness.