Dena Merriam

Dena Merriam is the founder and convener of Global Peace Initiative of Women, an organization chaired by a multi-faith group of women spiritual leaders. Its mission is to enable women, men, and young adults to facilitate healing and reconciliation in areas of conflict and post-conflict, and to bring spiritual resources to help address critical global problems. Dena began working in the interfaith movement in the late 1990s when she was Vice Chair of the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders at the United Nations. Later, she was one of the founders of the Contemplative Alliance. A long-time student of Paramahansa Yogananda and a Kriya Yoga practitioner, she serves on the boards of the Interfaith Center of New York, AIM for Seva and Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association. We spoke about the role of women in spiritual leadership, the intersection of spirituality and social action and more. Learn more about Dena Merriam here.