Open Circle is looking for volunteers to help on our committee join us! See the moderator after the presentation

Sunday June 14

It’s Never Too Late to Find Your Voice

Presenter:  Robin Brenizer

What happens when a retiree picks up a mic for the first time? In this fun, interactive presentation, we’ll explore karaoke’s surprising history, the equipment that helps you improve, and practical strategies for building confidence on stage. Discover the unexpected health benefits of singing, how it helped my sleep apnea, and the incredible friendships that form when people share a microphone. Come ready to participate — and maybe even sing. It’s never too late to find your voice.
 
Bio: A proud Air Force brat, Robin Brenizer grew up adventuring across the United States and Thailand, and she never quite lost that spirit. She spent 20 years leading a training and development company serving Fortune 50 clients, then followed her heart — trading the corporate world to manage her husband’s inspection business and spend weekends camping together in Colorado. Two years ago, she and her husband retired and made the leap together with their two Shihtzus to Ajijic. She had already fallen in love with the place — after all, she’d bought their house in just 10 days — and the beauty, the culture, and the warmth of the people have never stopped winning them over.

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

Another great Open Circle presentation.

​Another great Open Circle presentation.  Bring a friend.

Sunday July 5

Title:  The founding moments of a nation
Presenter: Steven Nousen

It's July 5th, 1776. For the past 24 hours, rumors have swept through Philadelphia. Is it true? Has Congress just declared independence from Great Britain? No one can be certain. Meeting under strict secrecy, the members of the Second Continental Congress have revealed nothing publicly. Speculation fills the streets, but confirmed facts are scarce. In response, Benjamin Franklin has invited interested citizens to gather in the State House. A printer by trade and long a champion of an informed public, Franklin has devoted himself to sharing reliable information in uncertain times. The actions of Congress are certain to have life-altering consequences far beyond Philadelphia. You are invited to join Dr. Franklin and discover what the citizens of Philadelphia might have known exactly 250 years ago.
Steven Nousen, an award-winning teacher and lobbyist, returns to Open Circle as Benjamin Franklin to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. For most of the 21st century, Steven has helped audiences better understand the most influential American of the 18th century. He has appeared before countless audiences in venues ranging from the Library of Congress and the National Geographic Society to elementary students across the USA.

Sunday July 12

Title:  Another compelling presentation
Presenter: You?

It could be you.  Do you want to present at Open Circle?  Fill out the form on the Be a Speaker menu tab above.

Sunday July 19

Title:  Another compelling presentation
Presenter: You?

It could be you.  Do you want to present at Open Circle?  Fill out the form on the Be a Speaker menu tab above.

Sunday July 26

Mindful Walking and Living – A Playful Experiential TalkPresenter: 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.