Presenters

Hanne Strong has made significant contributions in the interdisciplinary field from the human and social sciences standpoint on environmental ethics and philosophy. As the President of the Manitou Foundation, established in 1988 and the Manitou Institute formed in 1994, she has created and facilitated the largest intentional, interfaith and ecumenical retreat center and sustainable teaching community in North America. Mrs. Strong has granted over 2000 acres of land to various spiritual, educational and environmental groups. Through the Manitou Foundation land grant program, the Baca/Crestone community now houses many of the world’s spiritual traditions and is called “A Place of the Heart”. The groups include: Spiritual Life Institute (a Carmelite monastic community), Crestone Mountain Zen Center, Haidakhandi Universal Ashram, the San Luis Valley Tibetan Project, Samten Ling Retreat Center, Yeshe Khorlo, Vajra Vidya Retreat Center and Tibetan Archives Library, Ligmincha (from the Bon tradition), White Elephant Monastery (Taoist), Shinji Shumekai of America (Shinto), Lindesfarne Dome (Celtic), Sanctuary House (Sufi) and Sage House (Native American). Mrs. Strong has been an advocate for environmental protection and restoration. Her commitment to sustainable alternative building practices has been demonstrated and implemented not only by the centers but also by individual residents within the Crestone/Baca community. Mrs. Strong has put over 1,200 acres of the foundations lands into conservation easements in order to protect and preserve the pristine mountain range, wildlife habitat and fragile eco-systems.

Education and environmental organizations include: Colorado College, Naropa University, Sri Aurobindo Learning Center, EDUCO, Earth Origin Seeds Project, Earth Restoration Corps, Crestone Healing Arts Center and Sacred Passage.

Mrs. Strong is the founder of the Earth Restoration Corps (ERC), a national and international environmental-educational program. ERC is designed to conduct and facilitate action-based learning, in partnership with local and international organizations, leading to productive and meaningful work in environmentally sustainable development. The learning is also a transformational process of character development by re-connecting with nature’s laws and drawing on people’s respective ethical, cultural, and spiritual traditions. On this foundation of moral regeneration, young adults will acquire the knowledge, motivation, and practical skills for productive work opportunities that in part incorporate the creative application of earth restoration techniques, including appropriate and energy renewable technologies. It is also envisioned as an alternative to the military service worldwide further changing humanities direction.


From 1972 to the present, she has traveled to over 100 countries and has attended numerous universities, seminars and conferences as a guest speaker on ecumenical communities, sustainability and spiritually based environmental education. Mrs. Strong has organized several conferences for children, youth and the disabled. In 1977, a conference that paralleled HABITAT, UN Conference on Human Settlements in Vancouver, B.C. Mrs. Strong created a platform for children and youth to address prevalent global issues at the United Nations Plenary. Mother Teresa convened the conference.

She has founded numerous nonprofit organizations for Native Americans, and co-founded the first nonprofit private foundation in Kenya with Sir Richard Leakey for the disabled and street children. In 1992, Mrs. Strong organized and chaired two conferences in Rio de Janeiro during the Earth Summit entitled, “Sacred Earth Gathering/Wisdom Keepers Convocation”. Speakers included scientists, religious leaders, and representatives of indigenous groups, NGO’s and statesmen from around the globe.

Over the last 25 years Mrs. Strong has worked with Native Americans throughout Canada and the United States and indigenous peoples worldwide, to assist in their efforts to preserve their spirituality, cultural values and Native lands. She has received extensive spiritual training in the form of teachings, direct transmissions and initiations from North and South American shamans, Tibetan Buddhist Lamas, Hindu masters, Sufis and other mystics.


Mrs. Strong’s mission has been the subject of featured articles in international publications, including several UN periodicals and books such as,” Voices of the Heart”; “A Compassionate Call for Responsibility and Creating Harmony”; “Conflict Resolution in Community Living” and Macleans—Canada’s Weekly Newsmagazine, news articles worldwide including: Reuters, News Week, Spirituality & Health, The Yoga Journal and Tricycle Buddhist Review. She has also authored articles on the topics of spirituality and environmental stewardship, such as “Ecological and Spiritual Revolution, published in Our Plant –The UN Environmental Program magazine for Sustainable Development. She has been interviewed on national television in the US, Brazil, France, the Philippines, Russia and Canada.

Mrs. Strong was born on July 29, 1941 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Hanne is married to Maurice F. Strong, Special advisor to the UN Secretary-General, and Under Secretary-General, of the United Nations; President of the UN University for Peace. She has two daughters, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Mrs. Strong received a degree in Design and Planning from IAS Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark. The significance of her achievements and contributions are indicated in the thousands of lives that have been impacted and transformed. Her contributions and dedication to the environment and the betterment of human conditions through her life’s work are immeasurable.