Board of Directors
HH (Heather Harvey | she/hers) is the Executive Director of the Community Meditation Center and is a non-profit administrator, facilitator, and theatre-maker. She works with nonprofits, artists, educators, and organizers to amplify and resource BIPOC communities. Her theatre work includes credits at JACK, HERE Arts Center, The American Theatre of Actors, in addition to many regional projects. Her nonprofit and facilitation work includes her tenure as Hook Arts Media’s Marketing Director, several community projects, and lecturing for universities including her alma mater, Oberlin College. In 2015, she co-founded Black Revolutionary Theatre Workshop and currently serves as Co-Artistic Producer with Mieko Gavia and Tim Craig. Meditation was a feature of her childhood home, and she has enjoyed a lifelong meditation practice.
HH (Heather Harvey | she/hers) is the Executive Director of the Community Meditation Center and is a non-profit administrator, facilitator, and theatre-maker. She works with nonprofits, artists, educators, and organizers to amplify and resource BIPOC communities. Her theatre work includes credits at JACK, HERE Arts Center, The American Theatre of Actors, in addition to many regional projects. Her nonprofit and facilitation work includes her tenure as Hook Arts Media’s Marketing Director, several community projects, and lecturing for universities including her alma mater, Oberlin College. In 2015, she co-founded Black Revolutionary Theatre Workshop and currently serves as Co-Artistic Producer with Mieko Gavia and Tim Craig. Meditation was a feature of her childhood home, and she has enjoyed a lifelong meditation practice.
Susanna Weiss (emeritus) was the Founding Executive Director of the Community Meditation Center. She has practiced meditation for over 20 years, studying with Allan Lokos, Sharon Salzberg, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Andrew Olendzki, among others. She has taught at Columbia University, New York Insight Meditation Center, Marymount Manhattan, and One Spirit Interfaith Seminary. She is in private practice as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, a trauma resolution therapy. A former professional modern dancer, and an ordained interfaith minister, Susanna also paints watercolors and has had exhibits in New York City and Santa Fe.
Susanna Weiss (emeritus) was the Founding Executive Director of the Community Meditation Center. She has practiced meditation for over 20 years, studying with Allan Lokos, Sharon Salzberg, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Andrew Olendzki, among others. She has taught at Columbia University, New York Insight Meditation Center, Marymount Manhattan, and One Spirit Interfaith Seminary. She is in private practice as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, a trauma resolution therapy. A former professional modern dancer, and an ordained interfaith minister, Susanna also paints watercolors and has had exhibits in New York City and Santa Fe.
Cori Ellison, a leading creative figure in the opera world, is currently staff Dramaturg at Santa Fe Opera and previously served in that capacity at Glyndebourne Festival Opera and New York City Opera. She is a Vocal Arts Faculty member at The Juilliard School and Ravinia Steans Music Institute, and has taught and lectured for schools, performance venues, and media outlets worldwide. Active in developing contemporary opera, she teaches dramaturgy for American Lyric Theater’s Composer Librettist Development Program and is a sought-after dramaturgical consultant to opera companies nationwide. She creates supertitles and singing translations for opera companies across the English-speaking world, and helped launch Met Titles, the Metropolitan Opera’s simultaneous translation system. She has often written for the New York Times, and has contributed to books including The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. Cori began attending CMC in 2014 and has found it a transformative and welcoming experience.
Cori Ellison, a leading creative figure in the opera world, is currently staff Dramaturg at Santa Fe Opera and previously served in that capacity at Glyndebourne Festival Opera and New York City Opera. She is a Vocal Arts Faculty member at The Juilliard School and Ravinia Steans Music Institute, and has taught and lectured for schools, performance venues, and media outlets worldwide. Active in developing contemporary opera, she teaches dramaturgy for American Lyric Theater’s Composer Librettist Development Program and is a sought-after dramaturgical consultant to opera companies nationwide. She creates supertitles and singing translations for opera companies across the English-speaking world, and helped launch Met Titles, the Metropolitan Opera’s simultaneous translation system. She has often written for the New York Times, and has contributed to books including The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. Cori began attending CMC in 2014 and has found it a transformative and welcoming experience.
Barbara Greenberg, MSW, is founder and president of The Philanthropic Group, a consulting and management firm. Her clients are funders, foundations, and individual donors. She designs and manages thoughtful grantmaking plans to help them achieve the greatest impact with every dollar contributed. Barbara’s areas of focus are food justice and racial justice, food waste reduction and hunger, children and youth, and neighborhoods. She currently serves on the Steering Committee of Community Food Funders, a NY-NJ-CT network of funders committed to an equitable, ecologically sound, and economically robust regional food system. Barbara is a scuba diver, snorkeler, and beach comber. She paddles her kayak on northeastern lakes, rivers, and ocean. She has been meditating for several years and delights in inviting friends and family to join her on Sundays at CMC.
Barbara Greenberg, MSW, is founder and president of The Philanthropic Group, a consulting and management firm. Her clients are funders, foundations, and individual donors. She designs and manages thoughtful grantmaking plans to help them achieve the greatest impact with every dollar contributed. Barbara’s areas of focus are food justice and racial justice, food waste reduction and hunger, children and youth, and neighborhoods. She currently serves on the Steering Committee of Community Food Funders, a NY-NJ-CT network of funders committed to an equitable, ecologically sound, and economically robust regional food system. Barbara is a scuba diver, snorkeler, and beach comber. She paddles her kayak on northeastern lakes, rivers, and ocean. She has been meditating for several years and delights in inviting friends and family to join her on Sundays at CMC.
Andrew Lipton is on his second stint as a CMC Board member, having first served in 2016-2017. He has had a regular meditation practice for the past 10 years and has been participating in the CMC sangha since 2012. Andrew is an attorney with a national law practice handling environmental and chemical hazard cases, representing victims with cancer from toxic exposures. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Deer Hill Foundation which provides scholarships and funding for service projects at a wilderness expedition camp for youths and school groups. Andrew has two grown sons, a step-son and step-daughter, and a parcel of grandchildren.
Andrew Lipton is on his second stint as a CMC Board member, having first served in 2016-2017. He has had a regular meditation practice for the past 10 years and has been participating in the CMC sangha since 2012. Andrew is an attorney with a national law practice handling environmental and chemical hazard cases, representing victims with cancer from toxic exposures. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Deer Hill Foundation which provides scholarships and funding for service projects at a wilderness expedition camp for youths and school groups. Andrew has two grown sons, a step-son and step-daughter, and a parcel of grandchildren.
Allan Lokos (emeritus) was the Founding Guiding Teacher of The Community Meditation Center and served as guiding teacher for fourteen years. He is the author of Through the Flames: Overcoming Disaster Through Compassion, Patience, and Determination; Pocket Peace: Effective Practices for Enlightened Living; and Patience: The Art of Peaceful Living. He has been featured on more than one hundred radio and television programs. Places he has taught include Columbia University Teachers College, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, The Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, The Rubin Museum, Tibet House US, and Upaya Zen Center. Allan has practiced meditation since the mid-nineties and studied with many of the world’s most renowned teachers, including Thich Nhat Hanh, Sharon Salzberg, Joseph Goldstein, and Stephen Batchelor. Earlier in this life, Allan enjoyed a successful career as a professional singer.
Allan Lokos (emeritus) was the Founding Guiding Teacher of The Community Meditation Center and served as guiding teacher for fourteen years. He is the author of Through the Flames: Overcoming Disaster Through Compassion, Patience, and Determination; Pocket Peace: Effective Practices for Enlightened Living; and Patience: The Art of Peaceful Living. He has been featured on more than one hundred radio and television programs. Places he has taught include Columbia University Teachers College, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, The Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, The Rubin Museum, Tibet House US, and Upaya Zen Center. Allan has practiced meditation since the mid-nineties and studied with many of the world’s most renowned teachers, including Thich Nhat Hanh, Sharon Salzberg, Joseph Goldstein, and Stephen Batchelor. Earlier in this life, Allan enjoyed a successful career as a professional singer.
Kimerly Polak is the Executive Director of Polero ICE Advisers, a firm which she started in 2008 to assist individuals with their financial challenges. Her experience prior to this was as a Senior Vice President of Citigroup and a Managing Director of Depfa Bank, where she focused on international investing and lived in several Latin American and European countries. Kim has an MBA from Harvard Business School, and has earned professional designations in many areas of financial planning. She has 2 sons and a daughter, who are all working and studying in NYC.
Kimerly Polak is the Executive Director of Polero ICE Advisers, a firm which she started in 2008 to assist individuals with their financial challenges. Her experience prior to this was as a Senior Vice President of Citigroup and a Managing Director of Depfa Bank, where she focused on international investing and lived in several Latin American and European countries. Kim has an MBA from Harvard Business School, and has earned professional designations in many areas of financial planning. She has 2 sons and a daughter, who are all working and studying in NYC.
Jennifer Taylor has been practicing meditation since 2000. She found CMC in 2012 when she sought a more formal meditation practice as a natural extension to her yoga practice, which she began more than 20 years ago. Jennifer is a real estate broker with Compass which aligns with her passions for helping others, architecture, New York City and an active lifestyle. She has completed the Teacher Training program at the Iyengar Institute and now teaches yoga. While raising her two now-adult sons, she spent many years volunteering at their schools. She enjoys traveling and competitive sailing.
Jennifer Taylor has been practicing meditation since 2000. She found CMC in 2012 when she sought a more formal meditation practice as a natural extension to her yoga practice, which she began more than 20 years ago. Jennifer is a real estate broker with Compass which aligns with her passions for helping others, architecture, New York City and an active lifestyle. She has completed the Teacher Training program at the Iyengar Institute and now teaches yoga. While raising her two now-adult sons, she spent many years volunteering at their schools. She enjoys traveling and competitive sailing.