Jolana Bishay

Jolana brings passion, warmth and sincerity to her work as a facilitator and full-time mom. As a Senior Leader with Challenge Day, she leads workshops empowering young people to connect across lines of difference, create a culture of inclusion and respect in their schools, and express more of their true, full selves. As a Group Leader with Interchange Counseling Institute, she supports a community of adults as they undergo a 10 month process of powerful personal growth and counseling training. Raising her 2 rambunctious young boys is her most challenging and rewarding job of all!

Jolana has been facilitating groups of adolescents for the last 14 years.  Her work history includes running team-building and outdoor education programs with Wilderness Outdoor Leadership Foundation, and leading 3-week therapeutic wilderness treks with SUWS.  She has also facilitated programs for Bay Area peace-building non-profits such as Mosaic Project, Soul Shoppe and Theatre of all Possibilities. Jolana holds a BA in Psychology and has spent the last six years diving deep into the subtleties of living an awakened and embodied life at the Ridwhan School with A.H. Almaas.

Jolana believes in the deep value of Rites of Passage, and has led many rituals for family members and friends during times of transition.  She comes from a mom of Lakota heritage and has been taught ceremony from a very young age.  She is thrilled to work with Stepping Stones and play, create, learn, adventure and grow with a group of awesome young women.