about me
my birth name is amy elizabeth johnson howton.
my spiritual name is Bonewoman.
i am devoted to creating more loving,
liberating, and life-affirming stories of who we
are and what is possible when we remember.
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my work over the past thirty years has focused in the areas of trauma, racial + gender justice, community building, and organizational leadership development.
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i hold an MA in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and a doctorate in Ecological Counseling. i am a licensed professional counselor in the state of Ohio, certified in Reiki, experienced in participatory action research, human-centered design, and trained in the Art of Hosting. i draw inspiration and guidance from the contemplative and mystical Christian wisdom tradition and the Celtic, Shambhala, Cherokee, and Dagara lineages I carry.
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the natural world has been my most enduring classroom, grounding my practice in living systems, systems thinking, and emergent theory. i have taught at the university-level and practiced in various contexts including higher education, community-based nonprofits, faith-based institutions with experience working with individuals, organizations, and in network-building. communities of practice as a model for transformative change have been a core focus of my research and practice throughout my and i continue to believe in the power of bringing people together through intentional cycles of action and reflection.
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my most important training has been life and my own healing journey. with thanks to the lessons learned through occupying this white, female body, i draw on the wisdom and joy gained from a life of unlearning social conditioning and healing ancestral wounds, with deep gratitude to the ancestors and the elders and teachers who have guided and supported me along the way.
wildroots' wisdom council
each of these wisdom keepers has been instrumental in the WildRoots' journey and beginning in early 2024, convenened to offer wise council to the continued development of the WildRoots' vision and action.