the gift academy

meet your guides

Team + Teachers

Environmental Design

Nicolas Rotundo

Nicolas has melded advanced systems and natural cycles for a comprehensive understanding of the interdependencies of Life. Ranging from scaled agroforestry to ecosystem restoration he has contributed to holistic design and implementation that values people as integral to lasting change in 16 countries on over 50 different land bases. Nic bridges the technological and the ecological, developing sophisticated systems for controlled environment agriculture. 

Program Architect

Zamir Dhanji

A graduate from NYU with a self-designed degree in Spiritual Economics, Zamir spent a decade in sustainability education, arts and youth mentorship.  While serving on the board of directors for the Teen Journey Society he helped guide global Rites of Passage programs through Canada, India and Peru. Trained in counselling by Dr. Gabor Maté, he co-created Patterns to Presence a program for healing attachment trauma. As a yoga educator he established Mystic Yogi and published the Inner Path Yoga Deck, and teaches classes and trainings at the Awake Center, where he serves on the leadership team. 

Program Manager

Terra Fleenor 

Terra is a holistic hybrid instructional designer, community organizer, relationship coach with over 20 years of event experience. She has worked with Envision Festival and organized countless transformational events focusing on fostering individual resilience and supporting the revival movement. 

She’s co-creator of Holistic Life Tribe, a vibrant digital community where seekers come together to pursue personal growth, professional enhancement and holistic transformation.

Ecology & Ceremony

Chris Norris

Christopher Norris Tlahuililoc is a true Phoenix, rising from the ashes to create "The Living Library Sanctuary for Sacred Plants" in 2016. His deep love for sacred medicinal plants and a profound respect for indigenous teachings has led to collaborations with various Indigenous communities, both local and international, enriching his understanding and appreciation of the relationship between culture, ecology and the ceremonial ways that bind them together. 
A sundance firekeeper and sweatlodge pourer, he serves his community with the principles of integrity, dedication and self-reliance.

Peace Activation

Eva Dalak

International Consultant, Facilitator, and Trainer, Eva is a Palestinian born in Israel and based in Costa Rica. Founder of Peace Activation, Eva has spent 30 years working in conflict zones across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Specializing in conflict transformation and women's empowerment, she is committed to fostering peace from within individuals to create lasting community impact. This dedication inspired her to create Peace Activation and advocate for “soul-based peacebuilding.”

Restoring Commons

Danielle Gennety

Danielle is an activist for ecological restoration, architect of place-based communities and alchemist of decentralized governance economies.
A former corporate project manager of IT systems, Danielle has been facilitating change in networked environments for over 30 years. She now lives in Costa Rica, contributing to projects that bring blockchain-based tools for collaboration and crypto-philanthropy to real world applications that incentivize economic restructuring around caring for public goods. 

Global Studies

Mauricio Falla

Mauricio was an International Officer for UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency with 20 years working in Central and South America, the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and Europe.

He brings vast experience from working in the humanitarian field, in areas such as refugee protection, human rights policy development, humanitarian emergency management, monitoring high-impact social projects and promoting community engagement for local solutions.


 

selfistry

Sarah Marshank

Sarah Marshank, MEd, is the founder of Selfistry, an integrative system for mastering the art of being human, and author of Selfistry: A Guide to Embodying Timeless Spiritual Wisdom. Combining spirituality, psychology, and neuroscience, Selfistry blends Eastern and Western philosophies with meditative and somatic practices. Sarah teaches globally and offers one-on-one mentoring. 

Her journey is detailed in her memoir Redefining Being Selfish: My Journey from Escort to Monk to Me.

Peace Activation

Fabrice Renaudin

Fabrice was born and raised in the South of France. He moved to California to learn Primal Therapy, yoga, breath work and dove into the art of massage 27 years ago. His focus and goal is to lovingly and skillfully bring people to a state of balance and wellbeing.

He works with his partner Eva Dalak in peace activation, empowering individuals to embody peace within themselves, and activate peace in their families, communities, and beyond.