Our Team
David Viafora
Co-founder, Programming Director
David has organized and led mindfulness retreats for educators, physicians, families, teens, children, young adults, and other groups across North America, Europe, and Oceania. He first ordained as a monk with Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in 2005 and spent several years living in the Plum Village tradition monasteries. David is now a lay ordained member of the Order of Interbeing, and works as a licensed therapist for children, adults, and families. His forthcoming book is Conscious Communities: The Transformative Power of Sangha Building (Parallax Press, 2024). David identifies as a white-presenting Chinese-American cis man. He is the co-founder of Greatwoods Zen Center.
Some of David’s favorite things to do are drinking green tea in the woods, dancing under the stars, climbing cool trees, and watching sunsets on mountaintops.
Nick Neild
Co-founder
Nick has been practicing mindfulness since 2011 and ordained in the Order of Interbeing of the Plum Village tradition in April 2024. He has been facilitating, staffing and supporting meditation communities, tours and retreats in the U.S. and Europe. He is the author of the children's mindfulness book, "Just Bee!" which helps kids and parents learn how to practice with “distractions” while meditating. He has worked as a school teacher since 2015 and has taught students as well as staff how to practice mindfulness in and out of the classroom in addition to the normal curriculum. He is a Certified Anger Management Facilitator (CAMF-1), and has taught mindfulness to adults on parole through a substance abuse education course as well as to young adults in rehab. He moved to Charlotte, NC in August 2023 after having lived in Prague, Czech Republic for 5 years.