A World That Works for All

art by Frits Ahlefeldt-Laurvig

This is the time. This is the place. Come to connect, collaborate and co-create a love-centered world, free of exploitation.

Where: Unity Village, Missouri (near Kansas City)

When: October 17-20, 2024

In our fourth year, we are once again calling all spiritually minded, planet-conscious and animal-loving people to enjoy three days (Thursday afternoon to Sunday afternoon) of inspiration, learning, renewal and collaboration as we co-create a world that works for all beings on the planet. Experience the sacredness of the Unity Village grounds, home of the Unity movement where co-founders Charles and Myrtle Fillmore pioneered and advocated for ethical vegetarianism in the early 1900’s. Participate in the awakening of consciousness in the heart of our nation. All lunches and dinners will be organic and plant-based. Vegans, omnivores and vegetarians are all welcome! We are all learning and sharing and open to connection!

This year’s theme is “A World That Works for All.” We all remember Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s famous “I have a dream” speech. “A World That Works for All” is a dream. A worthy dream. A dream that calls us to universal love for each other and all sentient life – ahimsa. It certainly is a departure from the experienced reality of our current and past worlds! Whether we look at environmental destruction, species extinction, human and animal exploitation, government corruption or war, it’s easy to find ourselves in a low vibration. But new creation emerges from a higher place. We need to become something different to create something different.

***** ATTENDANCE IN PERSON IS $389 UNTIL SEPT 5, $429 AFTER; VIRTUAL IS $109 - SCROLL DOWN TO REGISTER *****

During these three days we will delve into the creative process, engage in inquiry, learn, and play in the realms of ahimsa, imagination and co-creation. We will also enjoy fabulous organic, plant-based meals, engage in spiritual practices, honor our animal friends and enjoy the beautiful grounds of Unity Village. Bring your heart and willingness to connect with other wonderful people who also want to co-create a world that works for all.

Everything about the retreat is on this web page! Scroll down to learn about registration, Unity Village, the hotel, the retreat schedule and more!

Programming Includes (scroll down for schedule):

• Workshops on Whole Planet Spirituality, health, intersectionality, and co-creating a more beautiful and sustainable world

• Keynote speaker John Pierre (scroll down to learn more)

• Morning balance and coordination class

• Art ministry project

• Spiritual practices centered on self-care and inner peace

• Connection/collaboration with like-hearted people

• Animals and World Religions traveling exhibit by curator Dr. Lisa Kemmerer

• Evening social gatherings

• Screening of Allison Argo’s new film, Forever Home

• Meditation, labyrinth, walking trails for renewal, restoration and self-care

• Ceremonies to honor animals and habitats

• Support in making values based lifestyle transitions to align your actions with your heart

• Support of your creative process and effective action

• Creative activities to support your inner journey and awaken the world

• Virtual attendance includes all daytime programming on Friday, Saturday & Sunday morning

Accommodations

You can make your room reservations now for 2024. We have reserved rooms for our retreat attendees at the Unity Village Hotel and Conference Center, which is a short walk to/from the event space. The room rate is $139/night plus taxes. The direct number to make your reservation is 816-347-5537. If they do not answer, leave a message and they will call you back! When you call be sure to say you are with the “WHOLE PLANET RETREAT.” That is how you will get the discounted rate.

There are many other area hotels in close proximity. As the time for our retreat draws closer, we will facilitate people who want to find roommates.

If you live locally and would like to open a room in your home to a retreat attendee, please email me at revcarolsaunders@gmail.com.

For retreat updates:

NOTE: PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDER FOR THESE UPDATES AND MOVE TO YOUR INBOX FOR FUTURE EMAIL UPDATES. I SEND OUT MONTHLY OR BI-WEEKLY EMAIL UPDATES, SO IF YOU DON’T RECEIVE THEM, THEY ARE LIKELY IN YOUR SPAM FOLDER!

Event Host

Financial and Promotional Sponsors

We are grateful to two anonymous donors and the Circle of Compassion for their financial donations to this event in 2024. It makes a big difference in what we can offer during this retreat. We are also grateful to Fillmore Church, Compassion Consortium, and Vegan Spirituality for their willingness to promote our event through social media.

Registration

Registration for 2024 is open! Rental rates and meal prices increased in 2024 and our retreat pricing has been kept as close as possible to last year’s. As in past years, we have three levels of registration - full experience, single day and virtual.

Full experience: The retreat fee includes all programming, three organic, plant-based dinners (Thursday, Friday & Saturday) catered by Cafe Gratitude, and three organic, plant-based lunches (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) catered by Gigi’s Health and Wellness Cafe. Accommodations and breakfast at the Fillmore Cafe are not included in the registration fee. Call the hotel (816) 347-5537 to book separately and mention your attendance at this retreat to get a reduced price. The Unity Hotel will NOT be serving a plant-based breakfast for us this year but you can select vegan options from their regular hotel guest breakfast (included in your room rate) or walk across the street to the Fillmore Cafe. The registration fee for the full in person experience is $389 through September 5. After that it increases to $429.

Single day: If you can only attend for a single day, you can register for either Friday or Saturday. This registration includes all programming and lunch and dinner on that day. The single day registration is $149, but will go up to $165 after September 5.

Virtual: Virtual attendance will be held via Zoom and will include all daytime speakers/workshops, spiritual practices and break out sessions from Friday morning through Sunday lunch. It will be a fully immersive experience with the opportunity to connect and engage in group work/sharing with fellow virtual attendees. The virtual registration is $109, which supports the expense of two dedicated staff people.

Sunday afternoon dialogue workshop: Again this year, Laura Aube will lead a communications workshop after lunch on Sunday for those who can stay. This will be held in a smaller room for a maximum of 20 participants.

YOU CAN ALSO PAY BY CHECK TO: THE SPIRITUAL FORUM, N5684 COUNTY ROAD F SULLIVAN, WI 53178.

YOU CAN CANCEL YOUR REGISTRATION WITH FULL REFUND UNTIL SEPTEMBER 17, 2024. AFTER SEPTEMBER 17, YOUR REGISTRATION FEE IS NON-REFUNDABLE, BUT CAN BE APPLIED TO THE VIRTUAL OR DAILY EXPERIENCE.

About Unity Village

The Unity Village grounds are beautiful and offer many amenities. For your stay, there is a hotel and three Airbnbs on site, plus others nearby (scroll down for links to accommodations). Our room rate is $139/night plus tax. Call (816) 347-5537. Do not register online or you will miss the retreat discount.

For reflection/renewal time there are several chapels, gardens, sitting areas, walking trails and a labyrinth. Tours of the grounds will be offered on Thursday afternoon. Here are just a few photos of the Unity Village grounds and trails. The Unity Cafe, located across from the Unity Hotel, serves Starbucks drinks and is open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and closed on Sunday. Here is a downloadable map of Unity Village. Our meeting room is the Fillmore Chapel.

2024 Featured Speaker

Meet the Organizer

Schedule of Activities:

The schedule below is a working schedule and will be updated as more details become available, so check back frequently or sign up to receive updates (sign up above to get on the newsletter list). We recommend that you arrive on Thursday by 4 pm and stay through at least lunch on Sunday. If you arrive earlier on Thursday, there is a nature walks and tour you can participate in. If you stay after lunch, there is a communication workshop tailored to making the retreat as meaningful as possible.

For onsite attendees, you are free to attend any of the programming you wish and take personal reflection time as you see fit. The retreat meal plan begins with dinner on Thursday and ends with Sunday lunch. For breakfast, you can find some vegan options among the regular breakfast served at the hotel for guests OR the Fillmore Cafe across the street will have vegan breakfast options available for sale.

Each morning we will offer a body movement class starting at 7 am.

Thursday, October 17

1:00 - 5:30 Registration - pick up nametag at Fillmore Chapel, check out the Animals and World Religions display

1:30 - 3:30 pm - Mindfulness nature walk on Unity trails led by Kristin Cherry (meet in the hotel lobby)

4:00 - 5:30 pm Walking tour of Unity Village grounds and archives

5:30 - 6:30 pm Dinner

6:45 -8:30 pm Orientation and introductions in the Fillmore Chapel

Friday, October 18 - The Fillmore Chapel

7:00 - 8:30 am Breakfast at the Unity hotel (with some vegan options) or at the Fillmore Cafe (not part of retreat meal plan)

7:00 – 7:45 am Balance & Coordination class with John Pierre

This is JP’s most popular movement class. He will cover why training your balance and coordination are the real keys to longevity, health and vitality. We will do practical and functional movements that will wake up your nervous system and stimulate your cognitive functioning. You’ll also learn fall prevention skills.

8:45 – 9:00 am Morning meditation/music

9:00 – 9:50 am “Whole Planet Spirituality, the Creative Process and Early Unity Teachings” led by Rev. Carol Saunders

9:50 – 10:20 am Interactive Forum

10:20 – 10:30 am Break

10:30 - 11:20 am Group connection/collaboration

11:20 - 11:50 am Meditation and group art project

11:50 am – 12:00 pm Prayer Circle for Animals

12:00 - 1:00 pm Lunch in Executive Ballroom

1:15 - 2:45 pm “PLANET-Based Living” with our featured speaker, John Pierre, plus Q&A

John Pierre’s non-profit, Living with Harmony, coined the term, “PLANET-Based Living.” This is a lifestyle of conscientious choices for the good of the people, the animals and the planet, and can be divided into three general areas: Environment, Ethics, and Health. John Pierre will share with us the many ways we can live a life that does the least harm to our planet and all her inhabitants. Whether you are new to this concept or consider yourself a veteran, you are sure to walk away with new knowledge and new commitments to put into practice in your life.

2:45 - 3:00 pm Break

3:00 – 4:00 pm “Homo Ahimsa” with Judy Carman

Ahimsa, the Sanskrit word for non-harm, is the highest expression of selfless service; it is the confronting of violence with love; it is universal, divine unconditional love for all beings. Ahimsa and its close friend, the Golden Rule, are vegan living in thought, word and deed. Can we ascend out of our Homo Sapiens nature and awaken to our true hearts as Homo Ahimsa? Judy Carman believes we can. In this workshop, we will gather together and explore the joyful steps we can take to “create a world that works for all,” including ourselves. Judy is the acclaimed author of Peace to All Beings and Homo Ahimsa.

4:00– 4:15 pm Animals and Habitats meditation

4:15 - 5:00 pm Group connection/collaboration

5:00 - 5:30 pm Free time

5:30 - 6:30 pm Dinner in Banquet Room

6:30 – 7:30 pm Café hangout in Fillmore Chapel

7:30 – 9:00 pm Screening of Allison Argo’s new film, Forever Home

Saturday, October 19 -The Fillmore Chapel

7:00 - 8:30 am Breakfast at the Unity hotel (with some vegan options) or at the Fillmore Cafe (not part of retreat meal plan)

7:00 – 7:45 am Balance & Coordination class with John Pierre

This is JP’s most popular movement class. He will cover why training your balance and coordination are the real keys to longevity, health and vitality. We will do practical and functional movements that will wake up your nervous system and stimulate your cognitive functioning. You’ll also learn fall prevention skills.

8:45 – 9:00 am Morning meditation/music

9:00 – 10:00 am “Brain Building” with John Pierre

Co-creating a new world requires a healthy brain! John Pierre created some of the first brain building programs in the United States 38 years ago. We will cover dietary do’s and don’ts, learn why prioritizing sleep and stress reduction are paramount to a healthy brain, and try some brain building exercises to enhance focus and recall.

10:00 – 10:15 am Break

10:15 – 11:15 am “The Big You - Building Beliefs That Support You” with Dona Sauerburger

We all have beliefs about ourselves and the world around us that either support us, or make us feel anxious, discouraged, and/or depressed. To create something different than what we already have, we need to become someone different. In this workshop, we'll explore how to build beliefs that support us. We’ll learn how to become The Big You – the you who understands and connects with those who oppose your efforts, the people who sometimes seem to be . . . well, just evil!  When we can love the sinner while fighting passionately against the sin, we are not only more effective, we feel more at peace about all that is happening. Dona’s workshops are rooted in her mother’s book, How to Think If You Want to Change the World.

1l:15 - 11:50 am Group Connection/Reflection time

11:50 am - 12:00 pm Prayer Circle for Animals

12:00 – 1:00 pm Lunch (meal plan) with dessert demo by our visionary/caterer, Gigi Jones

1:10 - 2:00 pm “My Journey to a Plant-Forward Church” with former Unity Worldwide Ministries CEO and founder of Fillmore Church, Rev. Shad Groverland

Churches have been at the center of some of the most influential shifts in humanity, and now Rev. Shad’s lived experience shows him that the next shift towards a plant-based future may need the power and influence of the church once again.

2:00 - 2:10 pm Body movement with John Pierre

2:15 - 3:15 pm “Pinky Promise” with Dr. Sailesh Rao

We will explore some delightful elements in Dr. Sailesh Rao’s book, The Pinky Promise. In this book, Sailesh’s granddaughter Kamaya is our teacher who sees the world as one would expect — through the eyes of a child! Can we create a world where we see every child in the world as our grandchild? A world where we don’t lie and where our games are not about domination and control? A world where we act for the world we imagine? Dr. Rao, a systems specialist with a PhD in Electrical Engineering, is the Founder and Executive Director of Climate Healers, a non-profit dedicated towards healing the Earth’s climate.

3:15 - 430 pm Tree meditation or free time

4:30 - 5:30 pm Ceremony to Honor the Animals and Habitats led by Rev. Carol Saunders

5:30 - 6:30 pm Dinner in Banquet Room

6:30 - 8:30 pm Cafe hangout/Open mic to share your heart and talent, evening labyrinth walk

Sunday, October 20 - The Fillmore Chapel

7:00 - 8:30 am Breakfast at the Unity hotel (with some vegan options) or at the Fillmore Cafe (not part of retreat meal plan)

7:00 – 7:45 am Balance & Coordination class with John Pierre

This is JP’s most popular movement class. He will cover why training your balance and coordination are the real keys to longevity, health and vitality. We will do practical and functional movements that will wake up your nervous system and stimulate your cognitive functioning. You’ll also learn fall prevention skills.

8:45 - 9:00 am Meditation

9:00 – 10:00 am “What’s on Your Heart” dialogue with Rev. Carol Saunders

10:00 - 10:15 am Break

10:15 - 11:15 am Group consecration project and processing

11:15 – 11:45 am Group sharing - Who am I going forward?

11:45 – 11:50 am Closing words (for those who have to leave early)

11:50 am - 12:00 pm Prayer Circle for Animals

12:00 - 1:00 pm Lunch in Banquet Room/good-byes to those who are leaving

1:15 - 3:30 pm Dialogue workshop with Laura Aube

Laura’s workshop will give you the opportunity to deeply dialogue with other conference participants on the insights gained over the previous few days. You will experience the power of dialogue to help you expand your understanding, solidify insights, and tap into inspiration for implementation in your life. You will also gain skills to help others tap into their own inner compassionate nature.  

Ground Transportation to/from the Kansas City Airport:

For ground transportation to and from the Kansas City International Airport (MCI), we recommend BATS (Better Alternative Transportation Service). BATS has reliably served Unity retreats for many years and will coordinate shared rides to give you the best price possible.

Accommodation Options (click on photos and links):

Other Area Hotels:

• Best Western Plus Lee's Summit

• Comfort Inn & Suites Lee's Summit

• Holiday Inn Express Kansas City Lee's Summit

• Hampton Inn Kansas City Lee's Summit

• America's Best Value Inn Lee's Summit

• Fairfield Inn and Suites Kansas City Lee's Summit

• Super 8 by Wyndam Lee's Summit

Join us in 2024 to co-create a world
that works for ALL!