Canada •
Alberta
2025

Damion Jones

Ron Hering Award – 2025

“I create a caring world by supporting and understanding others.”

Damion runs a non-profit local shelter to provide a safe non-judgmental space to do productive programming and eat lunch for local indigenous people. He is also an addictions worker at a treatment center in Maskwacis and offers free life coaching sessions. Damion is also an artist, musician and content creator.

Screenshot

USA •
Mid Atlantic
2025

Damian Popkin

Ron Hering Award – 2025

“I co-create a world of safety and abundance by loving fiercely.”

Damian demonstrates a fierce commitment to serving and has a great and selfless love for the people he serves. He leads from stewardship and organizing Warriors of Color, to being the first to help build an MKP response to natural disasters. Although he would be a success in any career, Popkin has chosen a humble path: Vice principal of an elementary school in one of Washington’s most challenged neighborhoods. One February Popkin put the word out to local MKP Warriors. He needed men to step up for the Valentine’s Day Father-Daughter dance. Who connects Warriors with tiny princesses? Damian Popkin. More recently, when faced with a cruel reality, Popkin has not wrung his hands. Inspired by peaceful resistance movements like the Montgomery Bus Boycott of the 1950s, Damian organized his community to protect the safety and welfare of the students that attend his school — and their families. The ad hoc, but well-organized effort has erased the incidence of families being forcibly separated at the school. 

USA •
Heartland
2025

Tom Anderson

Ron Hering Award – 2025

“I create a compassionate and connected world by honoring myself and serving with wisdom and heart.”

The common theme in Tom’s life has been to learn and grow, then teach and serve. His years of service to others in their personal quest for meaning and purpose began long ago growing up in a family where service was an assumed part of one’s life. His parents modeled the importance and value of serving in the community. In his twenties, Tom served in his local community by being the youngest ever President of a Civitan Club and the Chair of the Income Development Committee for the American Cancer Society of Palm Beach County.  Tom’s inner journey started in his 30’s getting involved in Unity Church. In 2006, he participated in Wilderness Quest, where he became a Quest Guide for over 15-years in Colorado. This inspiring his book Your Place in the World: Creating a Life of Vision, Meaning, and Purpose. Looking for a community of men, Tom attended the NWTA in 2013, soon thereafter serving as Weekend Registrar, Area Steward, Area I-Group Coordinator, and later, the National I-Group Council Chair. Tom’s demonstration of service is tremendously visible in his profession to development affordable housing. He has worked to create housing for those who might not otherwise have it for over 13 years, supporting the creation of thousands of multifamily housing units in over 10 states. He is currently the Chief Development Officer for a regional development and property management company based in Charlotte, NC.

USA •
New England Area
2025

BC Chaney

Ron Hering Award – 2025

“As a world leader I create sacred circles for both men and women to hear and speak the truth of their souls and for that I am responsible.”

BC Chaney’s service journey began after leaving home at sixteen to escape trauma. He has been in recovery since 1986 and has maintained sobriety for 39 years. Early on, he ran the Framingham Homeless Shelter for two years. In 1989, he attended the Sterling Men’s Weekend to address anger issues. Throughout the 1990s, he participated in John Lee workshops, Arizona “Face the Fire” events, and emotional release gatherings in Colorado and Philadelphia. After his November 1998 NWTA, BC embraced his calling. In 2001 BC participated in co-ed trauma healing groups. This deep experience was very transformative and inspiring for him to expand his essence name to “Greywolf, New Eyes and Ears!” Over several decades, BC has impacted thousands of men. A retired domestic violence group leader, he still offers pro-bono support and prison outreach.

Switzerland • Swiss-German Speaking Region
2025

Urs Blumer

Ron Hering Award – 2025

He fights for what he believes is right and takes care of lost brothers. Urs, one of our sweat lodge leaders and one of the most active men in the european LKS community. In our opinion, Urs lost a lot of his truth cause MKP had to break with lots of our rituals of the sweat lodge. Urs was and still is fighting for what he believes is important and right. In our vision, that’s how he fights for his mission. Urs still acts as a leader of the LKS community in europe and stays in touch with LKS brothers in the United States. We feel a lot of disappointment from these men and we see Urs, among other men, as an important support for these men. Urs also offers rituals to men and women in his community. 

Switzerland • Suisse-Romande
2025

Benjamin Ries

Ron Hering Award – 2025

“I create an authentic and balanced world by following my intuition.”

USA •
Philadelphia
2025

Stuart Graves Bush

Ron Hering Award – 2025

“Co-create a peaceful and thriving world by initiating, building, and nurturing communities.”

Stuart is a thriving Elder, passionate about building communities and mentoring others. His passion for environmental stewardship led him to founding the Rachel Carlson Eco Village in western PA. He is also founding Executive Director of The Open Link where he created, enhanced, and leading multiple human services programs. During his working career as a Research Director at Rohm & Haas, Stuart created minority graduate research internship programs and mentored over 100 scientists. He has been active in the MKP Philadelphia Community since his initiation in October 1995.

USA •
Florida
2025

Rich Paul

Ron Hering Award – 2025

“I co-create a world of conscious community by recognizing truth through the vehicle of love and sharing my experience for the best and highest good of all concerned.”

In his role as a mental health therapist at the Orlando Veterans Administration, Rich Paul treats veterans with addictions, PTSD, and long-term grief.  In seeking a solution to help alleviate staff shortages at the V.A., Rich took it upon himself to find database of alternate resources veterans can access to assist in their recovery. All this was done so that his patients would have the opportunity to progress in their respective therapies while waiting for their next V.A. appointment. This database has now grown to hundreds of entries. Now, senior Florida VA leadership has asked him to make it available to more than 500 mental health therapists in the Florida V.A. region.  This one innovation has helped thousands of veterans. Rich Paul is truly living a life of vision and putting that vision into action in the world through his mission of service.

USA •
Greater Carolinas
2025

Jeffrey Halbstein-Harris

Ron Hering Award – 2025

“To heal without judging those receiving my healing by modeling empathy and compassion and using all my heart, talent, and skills.”

USA •
Metro Tristate
2025

Alex Smith, Jr.

Ron Hering Award – 2025

“I create a world of healing and light by giving and sharing myself.”

Alex’s ongoing work in his community has been focused in three areas: performing arts, visual arts, and community service.  As performing arts producer and executive chairman of The Thelma HIll Performing Arts Center (THPAC) over 500 artists have been presented in performance during his tenure. Bringing these artists onto the stage has greatly enriched the culture of New York and the world, in addition to developing the careers of many performing artists. He is spearheading the production of a documentary on THPAC’s 50 plus years on the dance scene. He considers this part of his contribution to counter the movement against erasure of Black people and other people of color. His work in the visual arts area has been focused on bringing excellence to all facets of graphic, digital-graphics, and fine art expression. He is committed to the study of images and their impact on attitudes and behavior. As a fine artist his images continue to speak to the  uplift, nobility, beauty and resilience of Black people who have often been marginalized and degraded. As a former member of Bethel SDA Church in Bed-Stuy for over 60 years Alex served in various positions including assistant coordinator for Community Services and coordinator for the Homeless Sleepover Shelter program. He is also one of the founding members of The Brothahood of MKP. and designed the logo.

USA •
Upstate New York
2025

Peter Navratil

Ron Hering Award – 2025

“To co-create a world of peaceful coexistence by treating myself and others with dignity, respect and compassion.”

Courageous Lion w/Fierce Loving Heart, Peter K. Navratil, LCSW-R is a clinical social worker, cultural worker, and elder devoted to the work of healing, accountability, and right relationship. For over 45 years, he has walked alongside individuals, families, and communities, helping transform trauma into pathways of dignity and repair. As Co-Founder Emeritus of Tree of Hope Counseling, he has helped cultivate a community of care rooted in compassion and integrity. In the ManKind Project, Peter serves as a Co-Lead Elder in the Upstate New York community, tending circles where men are invited into truth, responsibility, and brotherhood. His work lives at the intersection of depth psychology, grief, and relational ethics. After the loss of his mother to impaired driving, he turned grief into service—bearing witness, speaking truth, and working toward prevention. He is the founder of Unividuation, a call beyond the self toward shared responsibility, collective healing, and the courage to live in service of life.

USA •
Southwest
2025

Chet Wright

Ron Hering Award – 2025

“I create connected relationships by reclaiming my true self.”

Chet collects, repairs, and distributes used bicycles to those in need. He has distributed over 3,500 bicycles, to Colonias outside Juarez, Mexico and to the Navajo reservation in Gallup, NM. Locally Chet provides bikes to veterans, homeless, refugees, and random people needing transportation. He works closely with local bike co-op he helped start.

USA •
Southern
California
2025

Steve Harper

Ron Hering Award – 2025

“I create a peaceful world by balancing creativity and leadership with self-care and rest.”

A TV writer, playwright, actor, and writing coach, Steve has dedicated significant time to mentoring emerging artists and speaking to students across the country about writing for TV, film, and theater, as well as sustaining a creative life. His commitment to service extends into leadership and community engagement. Steve served as a Strike Captain for the Writers Guild of America and was the Founding President of the Alumni Association for the American Repertory Theater Institute for Advanced Theater Training at Harvard, creating a platform for alumni connection and advocacy. He has also worked with individuals and families in need, mentoring foster youth through the Southern California Foster Family and Adoption Agency and participating annually in a holiday program that builds and donates gingerbread houses to families selected by DCFS. An active member of Metropolitan Community Church, an international LGBTQ-led denomination, Steve contributes to worship services and has performed as a featured soloist with the choir. Across all of these efforts, Steve’s work is rooted in helping others find voice, direction, and possibility in their lives and creative paths.

USA •
Greater
Carolinas
2025

Steve Westin

Ron Hering Award – 2025

“Healing thru love, acceptance, forgiveness, and caring.”

Steve is volunteer at his local hospice chapter, making condolences calls for lost loved ones.

Matthew Gershater

Ron Hering Award – 2025

“I create a world of peace, harmony, and joy by following through, letting go, and sharing.”

Matthew’s mission began in 1998 with Mountain Adventure Tours, which evolved into Idaho BaseCamp. This non-profit engages 1,200 youth annually across all socioeconomic backgrounds, using outdoor adventure education and stripping away distractions to help them discover their “Inner BaseCamp.” Guided by the values of Personal Responsibility, Courage, Respect, and Connection, their programs provide a compass for navigating life. His 2012 MKP initiation clarified Matt’s purpose, providing the support to expand the facilities impact. Today, Idaho Basecamp is home to the Inter-Mountain NWTA Raw Weekend and is dedicated to helping people of all ages connect with their Inner BaseCamp, true selves, and make the world a better place.

Bob Mayhew

Ron Hering Award – 2025

“Change the world one hug at a time!”

Bob joined the Land of My Grandfathers (LOMG) board in March 2021 and served through November 2025. During his tenure, he contributed hundreds of hours of hands on labor and thousands of dollars in material support to improve and care for the land. In addition Bob has stepped forward as a Ritual Elder in Training, staffing nearly every NWTA held at LOMG during his years. He offers steady mentorship to staff teams and heartfelt support to new brothers stepping into their initiation. Bob’s generosity, reliability, and devotion to service have strengthened our community, enriched our training center, and touched the lives of countless men.

Dave Manion

Ron Hering Award – 2025

“I make a better world by speaking my truth.”

Dave is a vital member of the Madison Monday Night I-Group for many years offering wisdom and support that came from his heart and spirit, his gentle soul touching many. On his move to Sheboygan, Dave was the moving force in forming a men’s group at his church. He also remains a member of Madison’s Virtual I-Group and is a Declared Elder in our greater Wisconsin Community. Over the past 25 years Dave has served humanity in many ways, bringing a light to darkness. He was a Big Brother and he traveled to Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, co-leading a group of young men to help repair damaged homes. Dave served as part of a support network for prisoners within the Dane County Jail Project. He was part of a team that traveled to the Fox Lake Correctional Institution, whose mission it was to support prisoners doing men’s work. Currently Dave serves as part of a team that brings meditation practice to men at the Kettle Moraine Correctional Facility. Dave lives his mission by action in the world. His kind words, gentle presence and thoughtful wisdom have brought light and comfort to many.

Andy Wessel

Ron Hering Award – 2025

“To tend the fire of our humanity so all of us can be safe and fully alive.”

Andy has spent the last 20 plus years making sure people have a community that feels like home and treats them with the dignity. His work began in 2004 at Noah Central working with people living on the streets of Detroit. It continued at the Douglas County Health Department in Omaha, where his efforts to improve living conditions helped many thrive. Andy experienced burnout twice and is dedicated to “fire tending” — finding ways to nurture our spiritual and emotional health so we feel safe and fully alive. 

Andy has an incredible wife, Leslie, and five kids (Nora, Jonas, Manny, Hank, and Paul) who keep him young and force him to grow up.