In an era marked by profound cultural shifts and global interconnectedness,
Embracing Wholeness In Diversity: Towards Thriving Human Futures emerges as a timely exploration of cultural pluralism and diversity.

About the book

How can we cultivate wholeness in an increasingly divided world? What if diversity isn’t a challenge to overcome, but a path to human flourishing?

Embracing Wholeness in Diversity: Towards Thriving Human Futures explores how we can move beyond division and cultivate a deeper sense of integration within human diversity. Edited by Sushant Shrestha and Abigail Lynam, this book brings together insights from scholars, practitioners, and thought leaders in integral theory, adult development, and social transformation.

At its core, this book addresses one of today’s most urgent challenges: bridging growing social divides while honoring both our differences and our shared humanity. Diversity is often framed as a problem to be solved. This book offers a different perspective—one that sees diversity as a wellspring of wisdom and creative potential. Through personal narratives, theoretical frameworks, and practical applications, contributors explore how to move beyond superficial inclusion toward genuine integration and collective healing.

What Makes This Book Unique?

This book stands out for its integrative approach—bridging traditional wisdom with contemporary social justice, individual psychology with collective transformation. The contributors, experts in fields such as leadership development, indigenous knowledge, integral psychology, and organizational change, offer both theoretical insights and practical strategies for navigating cultural complexity.

Who Is This Book For?

This book is particularly relevant for leaders, educators, coaches, and change agents working across cultural divides. It speaks to anyone seeking to understand how we can cultivate more inclusive and life-affirming futures.

But this is not a book of simplistic solutions. Instead, it invites readers on a transformative journey—one that embraces complexity, fosters deeper understanding, and envisions diversity as a catalyst for collective evolution rather than a source of division.

As you turn these pages, we hope you embark on a journey of discovery, introspection, and growth.

Donations

We have a bold vision for this book but need your support.

Your contribution will help cover:

Editing and proofreading
Design, formatting, and printing
Marketing and distribution

Note: Fielding University Press has already accepted our book proposal.

Together, we can empower this message and expand its reach. Any amount helps get this important book out into the world. Please give generously and share with others.

Let's embrace wholeness in diversity in service of our shared humanity. Thank you for your support!

Project Leads, Editors and Authors:

Featured

Abigail Lynam PhD

Abigail is faculty for Fielding University’s PhD program in Human and Organizational Development and for Pacific Integral’s Generating Transformative Change leadership development program in Seattle and Ethiopia. Abigail’s scholarship and practice integrates the interior dimensions of human knowledge and experience (culture, worldviews, adult developmental psychology, wisdom traditions, etc.) with adult learning, leadership development, and social and ecological change work. Abigail is a skilled facilitator, developmental scorer, debriefer, and coach, teacher of awareness, shadow, and embodiment practices, and facilitator of Work that Reconnects.

Sushant Shrestha MA

Sushant Shrestha is a Nepali-American entrepreneur who has dedicated his career to understanding multicultural identities and a sense of belonging. Growing up as a member of the Nepali diaspora in the United States, he brings a unique perspective to the conversation around cultural pluralism and diversity. He has also worked with the Dena'ina Athabascan community in Alaska on an indigenous modernity project. As a Founding Partner at Conscious Full-Spectrum Finance Institute, Sushant brings a whole system transformation approach to social finance. He is also a Founder and Managing Partner at Humanitas Smart Planet Systems, a venture capital firm investing in climate tech and social tech. Additionally, Sushant serves as an adjunct faculty member at National University, California, where he teaches leadership and sustainable change courses. He is passionate about scaling transformative technologies globally to meet the challenges of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. His insights and experiences will provide readers with a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities inherent in navigating cultural divides.

Other Authors Include:

Featured

Vernice Solimar, PhD

Vernice Solimar was founder and chair of the Integral Psychology M.A. program, and former chair of Consciousness and Transformative Studies at John F. Kennedy University. With Dr. Monica Sharma, former Director of Leadership Training for Developing Countries at the UN, Vernice founded and directed the Leadership for Personal and Social Transformation certificate at JFKU. Vernice is a founding member of Ken Wilber's Integral Institute, and has taught courses and workshops on the Evolution of Consciousness and Culture in the USA, South America, Puerto Rico, Taiwan and Uganda among others.

Dr. Susanne Cook-Greuter

Dr. Susanne Cook-Greuter is the creator of the MAP instrument and its assessment methodology. Dr. Cook-Greuter is known worldwide for her seminal work in adult development theory and is a keynote speaker at conferences internationally. She has charted new territory in defining mature adult development.

Karen Evanoff

Karen Evanoff is Dena’ina Athabascan from Nondalton, Alaska. Karen has a degree in Anthropology and currently works for Lake Clark National Park as the Cultural Anthropologist. Majority of her work involves working with Alaskan Native people on projects or programs relating to cultural preservation and revitalization. Karen’s work involves looking outside the box for systems and providing input for change that includes indigenous voice, perspective and input into work that directly effects them. She is currently studying a new method to research that involves an integral or holistic approach thereby working from a broader framework for research.

Nomali Perera, MA, PCC

Nomali Perera, MA, PCC, has been in the field of leadership development coaching, facilitation and teaching since 2007. Nomali is a trained facilitator of the Immunity to Change™ process, a Master Coach at Life XT and a certified Integral Master Coach through Integral Coaching Canada. Nomali has also been a professional consultant in people development and training in Brazil and Mexico. She currently lives in Boulder, Colorado.

Dr. Akasha Pete Saunders

Akasha Pete Saunders is a seasoned pilgrim, educator, and developmental coach specializing in diversity, inclusion, and equity. With a focus on spiritual development and human consciousness, he empowers individuals and organizations through constructive approaches. Known for his expertise in working with diverse men, Akasha designs transformative workshops, including the Braveheart Men's Retreats, to cultivate awareness, inclusive masculinities, and leadership skills. He is also dedicated to supporting fathers and strengthening father-child bonds, having founded a fatherhood organization in Bermuda. With a background in banking and communication consulting, Akasha serves as an adjunct faculty at St. George's University and holds advanced degrees in Human Development. As a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), he embraces partnership and intimate conversations with groups. Based in Grenada, Bermuda, and the U.S., Akasha's adventures are shared with his partner, their son, and their beloved cockapoo.

In an era marked by profound cultural shifts and global interconnectedness, Embracing Wholeness In Diversity: Towards Thriving Human Futures emerges as a timely exploration of cultural pluralism and diversity.