Sunday May 24

Lago Alianza and Lakeside Charities: Giving that Counts

Presenter:  Joan Machlis-Crasemann

Many of us care deeply about our community. We give money. We give time. Yet philanthropy can feel fragmented or quietly frustrating—for donors and nonprofits alike. This talk may be of interest to anyone who has ever donated to a cause, served on a board, volunteered, or wondered whether their efforts truly make a difference. Joan shares the evolving story of Lago Alianza and poses a simple but ambitious question: What would it look like if we treated nonprofits and philanthropy not as isolated acts, but as a shared ecosystem?
Drawing on real experiences at Lakeside, Joan explores the pressures nonprofits face, and the questions donors quietly carry. This conversation invites reflection, practical insight, and a more connected way of strengthening the community we already care about.

Sunday May 31

Senderos (Trails) de Mexico: What We’re Building and Why it Matters

Presenter:  Matteo Volpi

This talk may be of interest to anyone who has ever walked the trails above Ajijic and wondered who maintains them, marks them, or plans what comes next.
Senderos y Caminos de México is a Jalisco-based nonprofit that has spent over a decade designing, signing, and maintaining hiking trails in partnership with local communities and ejidos. This presentation shares the current state of the trail network in the Sierra de San Juan Cosalá, the plans for its expansion, and the model behind it — one that prioritizes safety, accessibility, and long-term community stewardship over mass tourism. Attendees will gain a clearer picture of the trails in their own backyard, the challenges of keeping them open and safe, and the ways the Lakeside community can be part of what comes next.
Matteo Volpi is a geographer and a member of Senderos y Caminos de México A.C., a nonprofit working since 2014 on trail design, signage, and maintenance across Jalisco. He is also the founder of Volpi Outdoor Gear, a Guadalajara-based ultralight gear workshop. His experience in the field includes sections of the Pacific Crest Trail and the Colorado Trail. He holds a degree in Geography and Territorial Planning from the Universidad de Guadalajara.

Sunday June 7

The Courage to Be Disliked: A Punk Rock Guide to Radical Acceptance
Presenter: Kenneth Cahall

Ready to stop worrying about fitting in and start enjoying who you actually are? Join us for a fast-paced dive into what it really means to be an outsider—and why that might be your greatest freedom.
Through raw, funny, and deeply personal stories, Kenneth will show how to flip feelings of “inferiority” into fuel for connection, creativity, and courage. We’ll explore defining boundaries (without apologizing), using humor as a weapon against hypocrisy, and putting radical acceptance into action in your everyday life.
Kenneth Cahall spent over 20 years in South Korea as an educator, building a career in “edutainment”. Bringing together humor and honesty, he shares how a lifetime of being the perpetual outsider led him to a deeper sense of personal freedom, belonging, and radical acceptance.

Sunday June 14

Another great Open Circle presentation.

Another great Open Circle presentation.  Bring a friend.

Sunday June 21

Meditation and Inquiry:  Learning to Meet Experience More Deeply

Presenter:  Amma Thanasanti

Meditation is often associated with relaxation or stress reduction. But many contemplative traditions also include inquiry — and inquiry is something altogether different.Inquiry is a portal. It can move us from absorption in experience to resting in the awareness that holds it. It reveals what is hard to see alone. And in relationship, it becomes a form of intimacy — moving quickly past the surface of daily life to what is actually alive between two people.When meditation and inquiry work together, something becomes possible that neither offers alone: not just greater calm, but genuine recognition — of oneself, of others, and of the luminous presence that is always already here.Amma Thanasanti has meditated for over 45 years and has taught internationally since 1996. She spent 26 years as a Theravada Buddhist nun and is the founder of Awakening Truth, an organization dedicated to making contemplative practice genuinely healing. Her work explores the meeting place between meditation, relational healing, and the patterns that sincere practice alone sometimes cannot reach. She lives in Ajijic, Mexico.

Sunday June 28

Mindful Walking and Living – A Playful Experiential Talk
Presenter: Taj Baker

What if your daily walk could reset your body and lift your mood? Join Taj Baker for a lively, practical exploration of mindful walking—designed for real life, from uneven sidewalks to busy minds. Through simple, playful practices, you’ll discover how to feel more present, confident, and energized with every step. No special gear or perfect posture required—just curiosity and a willingness to move.
Taj Baker is a painter/printmaker and mindfulness and creativity coach with an M.A. in Art Therapy from Naropa University. Drawing on decades of meditation practice, Taj brings warmth, humor, and real-world insight to help you feel steadier, safer, and more alive—even when life gets wobbly.