Anastasia Rosen-Jones, Executive Director and founder of the two entwined nonprofits: New Horizons Support Network and Small "Zones of Peace,” and Sue deVeer, fellow co-founder of the latter, also sponsors of this program, introduce in this segment the foundational principles upon which Black Bear Mountain Village builds its model small "zone of peace." Sue leads into the program discussion with a reading of Murat Yagan's Bus Ride Story Adventure. Murat, who died in 2013 at age 98, was known to be the last living Elder of the Abkhazians, an ancient tribal people from the Steppes of the Caucasus Mountains. Through Murat’s teachings, guidance and support the innovative mainstream therapeutic community, New Horizons Support Network, established originally by Anastasia, has now become a more readily accessible community development experiential education and training curriculum and living adventure.

We dedicate today's program to the loving memory of Murat Yagan and the many gifts he left behind.