David Viafora, LICSW, leads mindfulness retreats for educators, families, teens, young adults, and other groups in North America and Europe. He first ordained as a monk with Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in 2005 and spent several years living in the Plum Village tradition monasteries before finding his niche in lay community life. Practicing in and cocreating mindfulness community with others has been the greatest source of joy in David's life thus far. He has founded several mindfulness communities across the US, including Greatwoods Zen in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he currently resides. David is a lay ordained member of the Order of Interbeing, the core community of the Plum Village tradition, and works as a licensed therapist for children, adults, and families. David identifies as a white-presenting Chinese-American cis man. Some of David’s favorite activities are drinking tea in the woods with friends, Sangha game nights, sober dance parties, and sunset meditations.