Based in San Francisco, California, Honoring the Path of the Warrior is an organization that is sponsored by the San Francisco Zen Center. They run retreats and other events for war veterans, specifically from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Founded by Lee Klinger Lesser and Chris Fortin, the organization focuses on mindfulness, being out in the world, engaging with nature and meditating. All and all, the Honoring the Path attempts to address some of the key issues facing veterans as well as creating community.
Honoring the Path of the Warrior was recently featured on the Forbes website along with a story of how the organization helped a woman who had been raped in the military. The article was called "14 Social Entrepreneur Ideas That Will Surprise Or Inspire You."
Contact Information
Honoring the Path of the Warrior website
Honoring the Path on Facebook
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Social Enterprise Zen Centers
- Zen centers are being used as a platform for charitable and support organizations for veterans.
- Mindfulness and Meditation for Veterans
- The practice of mindfulness and meditation is being promoted as a way to address the mental health issues facing veterans.
- Community Building for Veterans
- Creating a community through shared experiences and supportive environments is being recognized as a critical need for veterans.
Where This Applies
- Military & Defense
- Organizations focused on mindfulness, meditation, and community building for veterans can provide disruptive innovation opportunities within the military and defense sector.
- Mental Healthcare
- Promotion of mindfulness and meditation practices as tools for healing and treatment can provide opportunities within the mental healthcare industry.
- Non-profit & Charitable Organizations
- Using a zen center or other existing platform to develop charitable organizations that provide support for veterans can open up opportunities within the non-profit and charitable sectors.
