Evolution University

04/21/2026

Come say “hi” and find out how Evolution Uni prepares smart, heart-engaged leaders to change the world! We will also be making Earth bracelets to wear as a reminder to do what you can, where you are, to make our community greener and cleaner (while supplies last)!

04/14/2026

Are you smarter and bigger hearted than an 8th grader? Sahasra Bodapati captured so many themes in one drawing, showing her depth and width of understanding and care for our Earth. This is why we say youth are the hope for our future, AND why we must do everything we can to make a better world possible for them.

Congratulations to our Earth Day poster Contest Winner, Sahasra Bodapati! Come out to James Weldon Johnson Park on Earth Day, April 22nd from 11am to 2pm to celebrate with our city's greenest organizations. Learn about the measures Lights out Northeast Florida is taking to help our migratory birds, find out if you're Recycling Right with Apple Rabbit Compost, discover how the Bloom Lab is planting seeds of creativity, and more!

Many thanks to our event partners, Jacksonville Environmental Protection Board, St. Johns Riverkeeper, and JEA for making this event possible.

04/14/2026

Join us for our second gathering in Jacksonville to celebrate and continue the teachings of the Venerable Buddhist Monks with a loving kindness meditation and a peace walk, featuring an Earth Day theme of Harmony with Nature. We will meet at the Mandala in the new RiversEdge Park on the South Bank downtown on the St. Johns River.

is attempting to make Peace for Earth bracelets. If they turn out, everyone will be gifted one! 🕊💚🌎

See full event details on our page.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1CZRXTi72S/

03/30/2026

It was a beautiful morning celebrating the Walk for Peace with heart activation exercises by our founder, Joni Roberts, and a loving kindness meditation in the style of Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, followed by a peaceful walk through the mandala at the new RiversEdge Park on the south bank of the St. Johns River.

The opportunity to gather allowed us to share some of our most precious learnings from the monks and how the teachings have impacted our lives. We all felt peaceful, complete, and inspired to do it again. Join us on the third Saturday of April for our second gathering.

https://www.facebook.com/share/17Bmy6aSEs/

With thanks to Gardner for the beautiful photos.

03/13/2026

Calling all peace-loving people! 🧡☮️💛


Walk for Peace Celebration & Loving Kindness Meditation

RiversEdge Park, 2010 Prudential Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32207

Event Link:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1Azcip5jn1/

In February 2026, the Venerable Theravada Buddhist Monks led by Bhikkhu Pannakara and their loyal companion, Aloka, arrived in Washington, DC, after walking 2,300 miles from Texas, touching hearts and inspiring peace, loving kindness, and compassion throughout our nation and the world.

To celebrate and continue the teachings of the Venerable Buddhist Monks, let’s gather for a loving kindness meditation and a Walk for Peace in Jacksonville. We will meet at the Mandala in the new RiversEdge Park on the South Bank downtown on the river (east of Duval County School Bldg).

1. We will gather in a circle in the mandala with the opportunity for some to share precious learnings from the monks.
2. We will do a loving kindness meditation together.
3. We will walk the mandala from the center bindu, symbolically leaving behind that which no longer serves our highest good, and through each breath, strengthening that which we wish to cultivate within and share with the world.
4. We will walk together along the riverfront to Friendship Fountain and back to the Mandala, focusing on our breath and spreading loving kindness to our community (approx 2 miles).
5. Walking barefoot is welcome, and definitely doable in the mandala.

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For those who feel inclined, donations can be made to through their website:
https://dhammacetiya.com/walk-for-peace/

11/14/2025

In these times of divisiveness and contrasts of ideologies, KINDNESS is an act of resistance.

To resist is to refuse cooperation with ideologies, systems, and behaviors that promote dominance, destruction, disconnection, and fear, harming people and the planet and diminishing peace and prosperity for all.

On World Kindness Day and the fifth anniversary of Evolution University, let’s explore:

🌎 How does leading with KINDNESS overcome dominance, destruction, disconnection, and fear? For people, for the planet?
☮️ How can leading with KINDNESS promote positivity, prosperity, and peace?
🤩 What can you do to spread more KINDNESS in your communities and companies?
🕊How can you engage with KINDNESS even when you disagree with someone?

Join the conversation by sharing your thoughts in the comments.


Evolution University MOREcompassion

10/03/2025

When I started Evolution University and put compassion as a core mindset for transforming our world, Jane Goodall was an affirmation for me. Jane Goodall transformed our understanding of chimpanzees and the entire animal kingdom by connecting empathy and compassion with science. I am convinced that through her example, we can transform business and technology, and our communities and countries in the same way.

Joni Roberts, Founder, Evolution University and MOREcompassion.

the Jane Goodall Institute
MOREcompassion Evolution University

09/22/2025

In these times of divisiveness and contrasts of ideologies, PEACE is an act of resistance.

To resist is to refuse cooperation with ideologies, systems, and behaviors that promote dominance, destruction, disconnection, and fear, harming people and the planet and diminishing peace and prosperity for all.

Let’s explore:

How does leading with PEACE overcome dominance, destruction, disconnection, and fear?
How can leading with PEACE promote positivity and prosperity?

Join the conversation by sharing your thoughts in the comments.

09/22/2025

This is a highly engaging experiential workshop that was developed for the United Nations International Day of Peace and offered by Evolution University. It's ideal for teams wanting to enhance empathy, compassion, leadership, and communication skills while working on stakeholder engagement, systems thinking, sustainability solutions, and global issues.

Feedback from participants and partners:

⭐️ "We appreciate you sharing your expertise and experience with our Youth Delegates from around the world. You were so conscientious in planning a highly interactive and engaging session for Delegates—it's not a surprise it ran 30 minutes longer, though it's much appreciated that you were willing to stay. Delegates responded to your enthusiasm and the safe space you created for them to share their ideas. You've given them tools and resources they can take with them in their journeys as changemakers, which is so valued." - Younga, Bridging the Gap Ventures

⭐️ "Thanks again! I think this workshop was fantastic for our teens." - Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens W.I.L.D. Leadership program.

⭐️ "This workshop helped me make the connection that if we work to understand ourselves, not only will we function as better citizens, but we will also have more empathy and show more compassion for others."

⭐️ "I expected to learn as part of the Peacemakers and Changemakers workshop, but I didn't expect that learning to be rooted in looking inward. It resonated with me that in giving more attention to ourselves, we learn how to give better attention to others to create a more empathetic world. I highly recommend this workshop for anyone willing to work on themselves to help others."

For more information, share a message here or email [email protected]

09/15/2025

Great to meet young people from high school to college who are building electric vehicles and bringing hope and optimism for a better future. Celebrating National Drive Electric Month at the JEA Drive Electric EVent hosted by FSCJ in Jacksonville, FL.

This was my first time setting up a solo table for my own organization Evolution University and I intentionally chose fabrics that are made of cotton or recycled materials with a focus on biodegradability. I didn’t give out plastic pens or any of that stuff that nobody needs. Succulent from my front porch. Keeping it simple. Come talk to me anytime. Joni Roberts

09/12/2025

Did you know that September is National Drive Electric Month? Join us at FSCJ Cecil Center on Saturday, September 13, where you can test drive EVs, find out about incentives, AND visit us to learn more about how Evolution University prepares heart-engaged leaders to change the world.

✅Test drives from local dealerships, including O’Steen Volvo and VW, George Moore Chevrolet, Duval Honda, Tom Bush BMW, MINI, VW and Vinfast, Duval Ford, and more

✅First Coast Electrathon car races featuring custom-built EVs
EV car show and meet and greet with local owners (including vehicles from Tesla, Ford, Chevy, Rivian and more)

✅Opportunity to learn about JEA’s EV incentives

Get more details here:

https://driveelectricmonth.org/event?eventid=4934&fbclid=IwY2xjawMxQV9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE4UXJ4MGhXZm5aMlViTE9TAR4uGH_dnUeQ1whs0SsKHffnNi9fr8dQ68oPs7otgap3W59LoG85pGJX143y2w_aem_7lbtY3DYR0T8NPn-fKo3mw