Who We Are
In 2021, after a historic visionary BIPOC retreat in Tarapoto, Peru, Lama Rod Owens and Spring Washam began discussing a visionary project in Georgia. In 2023, after a year and a half of discussions, Spring relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to begin working on founding The Spirit Underground Liberation Project and The Spirit Underground Church.
Founders
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Spring Washam
CO-FOUNDER / EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Spring Washam is a well-respected meditation teacher, author, and visionary leader residing in Atlanta, Georgia. Her works include the profound "A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage, and Wisdom in Any Moment" and her latest literary contribution, "The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground." As a founding teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland, CA, Spring has dedicated her life to the teachings of Buddhism, receiving extensive training under the guidance of Jack Kornfield. She is a respected member of the teacher’s council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Northern California and has delved deeply into both Theravada and Tibetan Buddhist traditions since 1999.
Spring's spiritual journey is enriched by her practices as a shamanic healer, having studied with Shipibo Maestra’s in the upper Amazon region of Peru for many years. She founded Lotus Vine Journeys, an innovative organization that seamlessly integrates indigenous healing traditions with Buddhist wisdom in the heart of South America. Since 2008, she has immersed herself in various indigenous healing modalities, sharing her knowledge and insights through workshops and classes globally. Her profound teachings and writings have been featured in numerous esteemed publications, including Lion's Roar, Tricycle, and Belief.net.
Spring Washam's presence is a beacon of spiritual awakening, offering a path of inner strength, compassion, and profound transformation to all who seek her guidance.
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Lamma Rod Owens
CO-DIRECTOR / BOARD MEMBER
Lama Rod Owens is a Black Buddhist Southern Queen, an international influencer with a Master of Divinity degree in Buddhist Studies from Harvard Divinity School, focusing on the intersection of social change, identity, and spiritual practice. Author of "The New Saints: From Broken Hearts to Spiritual Warriors" and "Love and Rage: The Path of Liberation through Anger," and co-author of "Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love, and Liberation," his teachings center on freedom, self-expression, and radical self-care. Highly sought after for talks, retreats, and workshops, his mission is showing you how to heal and free yourself.
A leading voice in a new generation of Buddhist teachers with over 11 years of experience, Lama Rod is highly respected among his peers and the communities that he serves. “It can be confusing for people to see Tantric Buddhist teachings coming from someone who’s Black and queer, southern and fat, but I love it. It's who I am,” he says. From these intersections, he creates a platform that’s very natural, engaging, and inclusive.
Applauded for his mastery in balancing weighty topics with a sense of lightness while still speaking truth to power, this Queen has been featured by CNN, Good Morning America, BBC, The Washington Post, PBS, NPR, Ebony, and more.
Staff
Bhava Jaya Cromer
Bhava Jaya serves as the Project Manager for the Spirit Underground Church and Spirit Underground Liberation Project, collaborating with co-founders Spring Washam and Lama Rod to support key initiatives and develop essential infrastructure. With experience in startups, nonprofits, and cybersecurity, Bhava excels in creating effective customer journeys through strategic planning, data security, and customer-centered technologies.
As a Nonprofit Consultant, Bhava developed strategies and managed front desk operations for Kashi Atlanta Nonprofit. He scheduled volunteers to cover front desk operations, recruited and trained new volunteers, and ensured seamless processes using the Mindbody software. Bhava also consults for Netlok, an Identity Access Management Cybersecurity company, where he manages operations and Salesforce technology to enhance customer engagement.
With over twelve years at LegalZoom and two years as an Operations Manager at Instacart, Bhava has honed strong skills in team leadership and operational strategy. Outside of work, he is a dedicated yogi with a 200-hour meditation and yoga certification committed to using technology for collaborative communication and spiritual liberation for all beings.
PROJECT MANAGER
Andrés Jaramillo
Senior Multimedia Designer with over 15 years of experience in creating and executing innovative and strategic visual projects. My career stands out for successful collaborations with various governmental and private entities.
Throughout my journey, I have effectively worked with prestigious organizations, including ORU FOGAR, the United Nations, the European Union, Cifal Unitar, UNASUR, and several Subnational Governments.
My expertise spans a wide range of multimedia disciplines, from crafting persuasive visual content to implementing effective communication strategies. I have demonstrated strong skills in utilizing advanced design tools, blending creativity with technical knowledge to produce impactful and functional visual outcomes.
MULTIMEDIA DESIGNER
Board Advisors
Dr. Robert Kargbo
API & DP DEVELOPMENT, CMC LEAD
Dr. Robert Kargbo, who is the API & DP Development, CMC Lead at the Usona Institute will share their journey from chemical synthesis to the recent Phase II clinical trial program with psilocybin. Dr. Kargbo has been instrumental in advancing this field by optimizing the chemical synthesis of psilocybin and intermediates. These discoveries enabled the large-scale manufacturing and formulation of active pharmaceutical ingredients to be fed into clinical trials. Further, hear his experience, insight, and progression in the field of other psychedelic drugs and their treatment for a variety of societal maladies.
Robert has collaborated on projects with industry and academic researchers in support of United States NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke as part of the Medicinal Chemistry for Neuro-therapeutics Program (NINDA MCNP), is an editorial member for the American Chemical Society (ACS) Medicinal Chemistry Letters academic journal and is a bi-monthly contributor to the Organic Process Research and Development (OPRD) Highlight publications. Robert has published more than 250 peer-reviewed papers, patents and books in leading scientific journals. Robert is a recipient of the Pfizer Global Research and Development Research Fellowship, the McNair Scholar Award, and so forth. He received his PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry at North Dakota University in 2008. He has lectured at the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Robert enjoys table tennis, biking, reading, and writing in his free time.
Robert recently co-authored a book: Unlock Your Entrepreneurial Potential with "The Incredible Power of Becoming Your True Self, which offers a unique perspective on blending personal potential with divine guidance.
Wesley Eugene
VISIONARY TECHNOLOGY LEADER
Wesley Eugene is a visionary technology leader with a talent for designing and deploying human-centered digital services and products. With over two decades of experience in tech, he elevates the human experience using technology with radical empathy, love, and acceptance. Wesley is a sought-after thought leader, driving transformative innovation at the intersection of technology and humanity.
In his career, Wesley has been recognized for his leadership in Technology Business Management (TBM), consistently delivering successful large-scale digital transformation projects. His approach emphasizes building inclusive, high-performing teams and fostering a culture of transparency and collaboration.