Our Mission

The Center for Spiritual Exchange through the De Mello Center exists to help people, as Anthony De Mello did, to realize their innate capacity to transcend a life of stress, anxiety and depression to experience their innate state of peace and happiness, anytime, anywhere, and under any circumstance.

Our Values

Embodied Awareness (Practice Over Theory)

We believe that the message of Anthony De Mello is not a philosophy to be studied, but a way of life to be practiced. We value the transition from "knowing" to "being," ensuring that our work moves beyond theoretical concepts into practical, lived application. We commit to practicing the very message we share.

Radical Authenticity and Integrity

In a crowded marketplace of spiritual voices, we remain anchored in the uncompromising truth of De Mello’s original message. We value authenticity in our leadership and our offerings, staying true to our "creative genius" even when faced with the pressure to conform or play it safe.

The Primacy of Love

The Center operates on the foundational principle that the organization must function from Love at all levels. This governs how Board and Staff interact, how both engage with our community, and how we resolve conflicts. Love is our metric for success and our protection against fear-based decision-making

Resoluteness

We do not defer truth-telling for the sake of harmony. When something must be said, decided, or confronted, it is communicated with mutual respect. At all levels we remain resolute and committed to bringing anything discordant into the open and resolving this discordancy with communication, openness, and love. We do not confuse being right with being effective. We do not let frustration turn into severity. We do not attempt to force breakthroughs.

Intentional Simplicity

We value the simplicity of the message. In a world of noise and complexity, we strive to provide "bite-sized" clarity that points directly to Great Spirit. We believe that spiritual truth does not need to be complicated to be transformative. We set priorities without diluting our focus.

Courageous Evolution (Creative Risk-Taking)

While we honor the "tried and true" legacy of Tony’s work, we refuse to rest on our laurels or become stagnant. We value the courage to take risks, to listen to outside voices, and to adapt to new technologies and generations. We choose "thrivable" growth over "survival" thinking.

Congruent Community & Stewardship

We are committed to a "generous attitude"—coming ready to give and receive. We value the connection to our community and our role as the official stewards of Tony’s legacy. We build incrementally and intentionally, ensuring that our vision remains persistent, clear, and focused.

Balance and Vitality

We recognize that we cannot pour from an empty cup. We value maintaining a work/life balance for team members in sustaining the energy and enthusiasm of the organization. We celebrate the "small wins" and the incremental progress that brings us into greater focus.

The Center's Governors

Joey Roberts, Board President, brings over 15 years of nonprofit leadership experience grounded in contemplative practice, self-awareness, and service. She has served in senior roles overseeing finance, operations, human resources, and organizational stewardship, partnering closely with boards to support mission-aligned clarity and sustainability.

With more than two decades as a business executive and 27 years in twelve-step recovery, her leadership reflects a lived understanding that awareness, simplicity, and compassionate action are the true foundations of meaningful change.

Don Joseph Goewey, Executive Director, is a leader in integrating psychology, spirituality, and neuroscience whose career spans Stanford University’s Department of Psychiatry, the Center for Attitudinal Healing, years of corporate consulting on alleviating stress, and now the Center for Spiritual Exchange. He is the published author of two books on stress and a book of poetry, and the editor of three volumes presenting the heart of Anthony De Mello’s work.

Andrew Black, PhD. With a doctorate in Theatre and Performance Studies, Andrew Black’s area of expertise is storytelling/playwriting. He consults to organizations on ways to use the power of story to achieve business results, as well as teaching storytelling and playwriting to hobbyists.

Conrad Fernandes is a leader in the public sector focused on improving outcomes through performance management, strategic development, program and people management.

Jaz Banga is CEO and co-founder of Airspace, a Silicon Valley-based company leading the development of aerial security systems for enterprise.

Karey Keith is an author, speaker, and founder of Thriving Consciously, a wellness and coaching business specializing in several wellness and healing modalities.

Richard Cuadra is a psychotherapist specializing in couples therapy, the president of the Hope Foundation in India, and former director of adult services at the Center for Attitudinal Healing.

Ziv Lautman, Ph.D
Engineering Wellness at Michael Snyder Lab
William K. Bowes Jr. SGF Fellow
Stanford University, School of Medicine