Griever: Ken Levy
Educator: Kei Okada
Moderator: Adam Larson

This presentation will shed light on how one’s relationships with deceased loved ones can be enhanced by evoking their spiritual presence or by exploring spiritual and symbolic connections with them through metaphorical, inter-sensory images and meanings shared with them.
The format used for this workshop includes 15 minutes of an individual describing his experience dealing after his wife died followed by 15 minutes with a grief and loss educator discussing common challenges men face. The workshop will conclude with 15 minutes for Q and A.

The panelists for this workshop are:

– Educator: Kei Okada, MDiv, BCC. Kei was born in New York and raised in Kanazawa, Japan. His journey led him from art schools and dance theatre in New York City to biblical language study at Union Theological Seminary, and then to a career in hospice and palliative care chaplaincy. He has led spiritual care programs, taught and is now writing a book about meaningful end-of-life dialogue.

– Life Experience Contributor: Ken Levy joined the NWO Board following the loss of his wife of 18 years to a rare and aggressive type of breast cancer. He became an advocate for inflammatory breast cancer awareness, led a statewide proclamation in New York and works as a journalist.

– Panel Moderator: Adam Larson is a father and technology professional. He serves on the NWO Board and navigated intense grief after losing his wife, balancing single parenthood and a tech career while supporting others.