Abby Wills

Abby Wills is a contemplative educator, writer, and mother whose work bridges healing-centered practices and critical pedagogy across diverse educational settings. Born on Earth Day and raised amidst the cultural vitality of Louisiana’s Acadiana region, Abby brings both reverence for the Earth and a revolutionary spirit to her work. For decades, she has guided students, educators, and institutions in integrating contemplative practices into human development and social-emotional learning, especially within high schools serving targeted youth.

Through Shanti Generation and her latest initiative, Heartful of Peace, Abby has designed transformative curricula and media that support youth in cultivating lifelong well-being and visionary leadership. Her approach is relational, somatic, and deeply community-centered—drawing from social change theory, yoga, embodied justice practices, and her lived experiences as a caregiver and artist. She believes healing is collective and that restoring our relationship to self, each other, and the planet is vital for our survival.

As a Fellow, Abby hopes to explore how slow, sacred, and joyful work can be a foundation for liberatory education. She is eager to collaborate with a community of kindred visionaries, to deepen her own integration of arts and activism, and to support others in their healing journeys. Through this shared container, she is envisioning the next evolution of her work—rooted in care, clarity, and a profound love for life.