The PREP (Preparing Religious Environmental Plans) course from the Loka Initiative at the Center for Healthy Minds culminated in a weeklong “Keeping the Faith” convening in March in Madison, WI. 

Hosted by the Loka Initiative, the event brought together 35+ global faith leaders representing different religions (Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, etc.) from more than eight countries to Holy Wisdom Monastery.  

They convened at the multi-day event to immerse themselves in intensive training in media, fundraising, and campaign creation to bring their environmental visions to life. 

As part of the gathering, Loka hosted a public dialogue on University of Wisconsin–Madison’s campus between invited faith leaders and UW scientists. A panel of faith leaders took part in a cross-disciplinary exchange with UW–Madison faculty, including CHM Founder and Director Dr. Richie Davidson and Dr. Jonathan Patz, a professor at UW’s Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies.

This event offered an encounter between world religious traditions and leading scientific perspectives, focusing on our shared responsibility to the planet. 

Generously supported by the Templeton World Charity Foundation, the course launched in January 2026 and was offered by Loka as a free online training experience for faith leaders from around the world. 

To learn more about the Loka Initiative and their upcoming events, visit lokainitiative.org.