Hi! I’m Dawn Haney (they/she pronouns are both great).

I weave together wisdom from Buddhism and social justice traditions, understanding identity, power, and change through my own experiences as a white, fat, queer, nonbinary femme.

I began closer study of relationships and group dynamics in my graduate work in Health Promotion and Behavior at the University of Georgia, applying these skills to violence prevention efforts and queer organizing in Durango, Colorado.

In the past decade, I have been a voice for justice and inclusion in Buddhism and mindfulness. I make an impact in formal and informal roles that have included co-director of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, a mentor and DEIA consultant for the global Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program, and a lead coordinator of a letter asking Insight Buddhist communities to fulfill commitments to train BIPOC & LGBTQ retreat teachers.

My home base for teaching is with the East Bay Meditation Center, and I have taught at Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, New York Insight, Access to Zen, Durango Dharma Center, and Upaya Zen Center. I have offered innovative and popular classes on Finding Liberation in Relationship, Fat Dharma, the Dharma of Being Anti-Racist, Mudita Revolution, and the Block Build Be spirituality+social justice retreats.