Rev. angel Kyodo williams

Rev. angel Kyodo williams, whose Buddhist name Kyodo means "Way of Teaching," is recognized for her work at the intersection of spirituality and social justice in the United States. Williams is an author, strategist, founder of Transformative Change, and creator of the Healing Race Portal. She is the second—and only living—Black woman to hold the most senior title in Zen Buddhism. Ordained in the Zen Peacemaker Order, she received transmission from Roshi Francisco Paco Lugovina, a Puerto Rican teacher in Soto Zen, and was the second Black woman to receive transmission in the Japanese Zen lineage.

Williams authored "Being Black: Zen and the Art of Living With Fearlessness and Grace," published by Putnam/Penguin, to introduce Black people and people of color to Buddhist principles. A musical companion to the book was produced by Waxploitation Records founder Jeff Antebi and features artists such as Blackalicious, will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Jurassic 5, and King Britt. Her subsequent work, "Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love & Liberation," co-authored with Lama Rod Owens and Jasmine Syedullah, has been influential in encouraging Buddhist and activist communities to address the impact of racial injustice and white supremacy within society and Buddhist spaces.

Williams serves as Spiritual Director of the meditation-based newDharma Community and is founder of the Center for Transformative Change in Berkeley, California. She is credited with developing fearlessMeditation, fearlessYoga, and Warrior Spirit Training. Williams established the New Dharma Meditation Center to address the spiritual needs of people of color and developed a training approach that integrates individual, community, and social transformation as spiritual practice. She coined the term Transformative Social Change to describe the application of wisdom teachings and embodied practice to issues at the intersection of race, climate, and economic justice.

Williams received the first Creating Enlightened Society Award from Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, leader of the international Shambhala Community. Her work has been covered by publications including New York Times, Boston Globe, Ms., Essence, and Buddhadharma, as well as on "On Being" with Krista Tippett. Williams is known for addressing complex issues of transformation, personal and collective liberation, and the relationship between love and justice in her writing, teaching, and public speaking.