Co-Facilitation Team | White Elders Circle
Kurt Kuhwald
Who am I?
Why am I here?
What are my intentions, my hopes, my dreams, for this Circle?
My name is Kurt, and my heart is singing a deep river running song of gratitude that this Elder’s Circle has finally found legs. Drew and I built a deep collaborative friendship when we were part of a facilitation team co-leading the first Elder’s salon in Oakland a number of years ago. I am glad to be sharing the co-facilitation of this Circle with him.
I come to elder work with a long history of leading in spiritual communities (I was a Unitarian Universalist Minister in 8 congregations and 3 community ministries for over 20 years—and co-facilitated anti-racism trainings during all of those years in UU communities and on the national UU level); teaching Special Ed in combined High/Jr. High public school programs (23 years); practicing as a licensed psychotherapist (@ 15+ years) and also as a Spiritual Director (well over 30). Currently I’m engaged in Interfaith work in the East Bay supporting people working in low-wage jobs (a passion of mine)—as well as getting schooled in Internal Family Systems work, while also being a client in IFS therapy. I am committed to Waking Up and Growing Up.
I’m a single grandfather, and drive to LA each month to spend a week with my 6 year old GRANDson, and to support my daughter and son-in-law—all of which brings me deep joy and is enormously challenging.
When asked to give my full name, it goes like this: Kurt A. Kuhwald. The “A” is for Arthur, which was my father’s first name. I keep it present and visible in my signature because my father died by his own hand as a result of undiagnosed PTSD that overtook him after serving in WWII and the “Conflict” the US waged in Korea in the early 50s. The legacy of his devastating burden has deeply shaped and informed my life—as well as that of my courageous mother whose heroic pursuit of her own inner liberation and outer success in her work life indelibly influenced me.
My “Why” and “Intention” for this Circle: I turned 79 this summer and am deeply aware of the privilege of being able to live this long. The work I have done, and am doing, with Elders, clearly demonstrates for me the profoundly spiritual possibilities latent in the advanced decades of life—if we commit to support and cultivate them. Those possibilities manifest in qualities of beauty, power and grace, steeped in intelligence and compassion that I am eager to explore with you all as we take this journey together.
Drew Sproul
Who am I?
Why am I here?
What are my intentions, my hopes, my dreams, for this Circle?
My name is Drew, I am 72 years old as of two Sundays ago, the 9th of October. There are 10,218 days until my 100th birthday, at which point I intend to fully retire. I was born in Detroit, MI, raised in Spokane and Seattle WA, lived in the Bay Area of California for 40 years and now reside in NY’s Hudson River Valley. I have been a gardener, social worker and political revolutionary. I am husband to Sharon, father to Pia and Julian, grandfather to Ben and uncle to Myles. I support social justice in all its manifestations and am personally committed to Eldering, Nature Connection and preserving Indigenous teachings.
I am in this Circle because I believe that if we have the opportunity to grow older, we also have the opportunity to reflect on our lives and what it means to be an Elder. I personally believe that our first challenge and obligation in becoming Elders is to review our lives, repair our wounds as best we can so as not to pass them on.
My intention, with Brother Kurt and you all, is to create and maintain a safe and welcoming space here, where we can share from the heart. A place where we can share openly and honestly what’s in our hearts and on our minds, and where we know that we will be heard and our words respected.
Circle Guidelines and Agreements
We gather in what is sometimes called a Talking Circle. Talking Circle guidelines start with feeling Welcome. The Circle is a place where you are seen, heard, belong, contribute and are recognized for who you are. We also share the following agreements:
Respect for each other and the truth we each share.
We agree to practice deep listening to each other
Everyone has an equal opportunity to speak
Pass and return is always an option
We respect each other’s privacy
What’s said here stays here. What’s learned here leaves here.
We encourage all voices to be heard. Step up if you’re reticent. Step back if you’re not shy.