Author Talk - Norma Wong

Norma Wong will discuss her book When No Thing Works, a guide to co-creating new worlds from one in crisis. Grounded in Zen Buddhism, interconnection, and decades of community activism, When No Thing Works explores questions like: as we stand at a threshold of collective change, what leaps must we make? How can we push through discord and polarization and meet these critical changepoints collectively? And how can we step out of urgency to tend to our crises with wisdom, intention, and care?

Norma Wong (Norma Ryuko Kawelokū Wong Roshi) is a life-long resident of Hawaiʻi and a descendant of Native Hawaiians and Hakka Chinese immigrants. She has decades of experience in organizing, policy, strategy, and politics in Hawaiʻi, particularly in the area of Native Hawaiian issues, serving in the Hawaii State Legislature and as a policy lead and negotiator for Governor John Waiheʻe. Norma began her spiritual practice at the same time as her political life unfolded. She is an 86th generation Zen Master, having trained at Chozen-ji for over 40 years.