As global economics, mass media communications, and international
migration become increasingly significant facts of life in American life,
greater understanding about Asia and Asians is important, enriching, and
necessary. Founded in 1986 by Dr. Todd Lewis to address this concern, East-West Initiatives
has developed programs to inform American audiences about Asian societies,
cultures, and peoples that now constitute about one-half of the world’s
population. East-West Initiatives programs offer insights about the fundamental
factors affecting this interaction: Asian history, religious beliefs and
practices, indigenous health practices including Chinese acupuncture, human
rights concerns, and the Asian-American immigrant experience. East-West
Initiatives has worked mainly to provide stimulating presentations for
schools and other educational institutions, and by designing continuing-education
workshops for faculty.
Assembly and Class Programs
Faculty Workshops
Select List of Recent Clients
E-mail Todd Lewis
STAFF
East-West Founder and Director Todd T. Lewis is Professor of World Religions at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. He has given lectures and done workshops at public and private K-12 schools, colleges, and medical schools throughout the United States as well as directed summer Institutes funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities designed for K-12 Teachers.
East-West Consultant Joy Chen Yu Lewis was bron
and raised in Beijing and completed her education at Columbia University
and City College, New York City. She trained in China as an acupuncturist,
worked at Human Rights Watch in NY City, and is a professional interpreter for a variety
of organizations, including the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Joy presents programs on acupuncture, the immigrant experience, and contemporary Chinese
history. She also offers Chinese-English translation and interpreting
services for East-West Initiatives clients.
ASSEMBLY AND CLASS
PROGRAMS
“The Call to World Citizenship” a school-wide slide-lecture program
“The Experience of Being an Asian Immigrant in the United States ”
“Acupuncture: Theory, Practice, Demonstration”
“Passing Over to Other Faiths: The Challenge of Modern Ecumenical Dialog”
“Chinese Folk Songs: Demonstration and Discussion”
“Human Rights in China ”
“Reflections on a Himalayan Trek: Ecology, Cross-Cultural Adventure, and the Human Interaction”
“East Asian Religions: Yesterday and Today”
“The Return of Religion to China ”
“Founders of the World’s Great Religions”
“The Buddha: Looking at a Sage in Asia ’s Artistic Traditions”
FACULTY WORKSHOPS
“Asian Religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Daoism, Confucianism, Shinto, Zen”
“Asian History: India , The Himalayan Region (Nepal and Tibet)”
“Cross-Cultural Experience and Adaptation”
“Teaching About Asia ”
“Teaching About Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists”
“Designing Study-Abroad Programs”
“History of the Silk Route”
“10 Issues to Get Right in Teaching about Islam and the Religions of Asia ”
“Cultures and Religions of the Himalayan Region”
“Environment and Religion in India Today”
“Rules for Doing Comparative Religion”
Student Programs and Faculty Workshops can be combined on a single consultation; Curriculum is always adapted to a school’s specific needs.
SELECT LIST OF
RECENT CLIENTS
Superintendent’s Association, State of Massachusetts
Lawrence Academy, Mass
Concord Academy, Concord, Mass
Solebury School, New Hope, Mass
Sutton High School, Sutton, Mass
Westborough High School, Westborough, Mass
Hudson Middle School, Hudson, Mass
Charlton High School, Charlton, Mass
Shrewsbury School District, Mass
Athol High School, Athol Mass
Derry Elementary School, Derry, NH
Pinkerton Academy, NH
Primary Source, Watertown, Mass
University of Massachusetts Medical School
Fallon HMO, Central Mass
Memorial Hospital, Worcester, Mass
Planned Parenthood, Central Mass
Dawson Elementary School, Holden, Mass
Sterling Elementary School, Mass
Dougherty High School, Dougherty, Mass
Language Link, Worcester, Mass
Clark University Teacher’s Center for Global Education
Worcester Public School District
Princeton China Initiative
Tabor Academy, Marion, Mass
Sant Bani School, New Hampshire
Catholic Memorial High School, West Roxbury, Mass