James O’Dea is a well-known figure in international social healing who has conducted healing and reconciliation dialogues for twenty years. His work as co-director of the Social Healing Project led him to Rwanda, Israel/Palestine, and Northern Ireland. He is on the extended faculty of the Institute of Noetic Sciences and is its past president, and was also the former Washington office director of Amnesty International for over ten years, testifying frequently before Congress. He was also the CEO of the Seva Foundation.

James has lectured widely on emerging worldviews, and integral approaches to social transformation. He has been a part of dialogue initiated with the Obama Administration on systems work and policy making. He and Dr Judith Thompson co-led a series of international dialogues called Compassion and Social Healing. His first book, Creative Stress: A Path For Evolving Souls Living Through Personal and Planetary Upheaval (Pioneer Press, 2010), was featured in dozens of media outlets and has been used for study by numerous book groups.

James’ second book Cultivating Peace: Becoming A 21st Century Peace Ambassador (Shift Books, June 15, 2012) has been heralded as a brilliant new roadmap for peacebuilding by thought leaders, academics, and activists. James O’Dea is also a well-known essayist, authoring the much-acclaimed “You Were Born for Such a Time” (published in The Mystery of 2012)and “Creative Atonement in a Time of Peril” (which appeared in Beyond Forgiveness). James O’Dea was the founding lead faculty person for the Shift Network’s popular Peace Ambassador Training, with hundreds of participants worldwide training to become peace ambassadors under his mentorship. His previous course with the Shift Network, “The Path of the Peacemaker,” attracted students from 24 countries. James also offers Breakthrough Intensives for emerging leaders of all ages O’Dea was recognized as “Champion of Peace, Reconciliation and Forgiveness” by the Worldwide Forgiveness Alliance.

James’ latest best-selling book The Conscious Activist – Where Activism Meets Mysticism is both a compelling narrative and a deep reflection on the demands of mystical realization and effective activism.

James is a member of the Evolutionary Leaders group founded by Deepak Chopra and Diane Williams and he is a member of the Board of Directors of The Temple of the Universe in Florida. He is an Advisory Board Member of The Peace Alliance and Kosmos Journal. He is also a member of The Wisdom Councils for the Summer of Peace and the Garden of Light.