The Early Days: Building Our Foundation

In the formative years of the Arica Institute, intensive group experiences were the primary teaching method. The initial three-month trainings evolved into “”40-day”” and three-week “”Advanced”” trainings, where participants first encountered the profound wisdom and practice of Ichazo’s teachings.

As the Institute grew through the mid-1970s, teaching methods evolved, and a more specialized curriculum of focused trainings was developed. This period marked an important transition—some practices became personal journeys undertaken at home, while others remained powerful group experiences, with many integrating both individual reflection and collective energy.

Evolution and Refinement

The transformative Nine Hypergnostic Systems training incorporated the “”40-Day”” teachings which continues to be offered today as an immersive two-week residential training followed by a personalized individual practice. In 2014, The Original Arica Trainings was introduced as a 10-day residential experience, including several of the shorter trainings from earlier years.
Throughout these developments, the Arica Institute has facilitated our community’s group training experiences through licensed Sponsors who organize teams of certified teachers (profactors) and apprentices to present this Work.

Our Community

An important aspect of the Institute’s non-profit organization lies in its democratic structure and shared stewardship. Its elected Board of Directors guides the Institute in adhering to corporate bylaws and ethical standards while fulfilling legal and fiduciary responsibilities.

Behind the scenes, dedicated volunteers bring the Institute’s vision to life—coordinating teachers and Sponsors, translating books and training materials into Spanish and Portuguese, ensuring ethical compliance, building our digital presence, and sustaining our mission through fundraising initiatives.

The entire community of Arica members continues to work together towards our goal of realizing the unity of humanity – We are One.

In the decades since, I’ve regularly done group practices along with individual meditations, and helped facilitate and present numerous in-person Arica programs. For me, the most indispensable routine has been Psychocalisthenics^® (P-Cals^®), a cornerstone of daily sanity that I never want to miss.

My professional career has been rooted in academia, mostly at the University of California, Berkeley, with research and teaching in the areas of electric grids and renewable energy; see my LinkedIn page. I also authored a textbook on electric power engineering. Since 2022, I’ve been retired from the University and am working as an independent consultant on topics related to science and technology in the public interest, especially the clean energy transition.

I served on the Arica Institute Board of Directors from 2003 2008 and again since 2021, with my current term ending in 2026, and am honored to have served as President of the Institute since 2023. In that capacity, my main goal for the years ahead is to help make the Arica Work accessible to broader audiences, by supporting sponsors of in-person trainings along with increasing our capacity to reach people online.

We have two grown children and live in Olympia, Washington. I am retired after a 30-year career as a paramedic and firefighter, a role where the tools for self-observation and compassion I gained through Arica were invaluable in managing challenging situations.

Serving on the Board of Directors is deeply rewarding, not only because of the inspiring people I work with but also because it allows me to express my gratitude. I am passionate about helping make these Teachings, which have been so meaningful to me, accessible to others.

I was inspired by the work of the Arica School through my work with the Rainbow Kids and their parents. I began attending Arica trainings in (year). When I retired I was asked to run for the Board of Directors of Arica Institute and stayed on the board for one term. I then moved to an Associate position, but continued working with the Membership Team, leading the Compliance Team, and serving as the Board Secretary.

When I retired, I was asked to run for the Board of Directors of Arica Institute and stayed on the board for one term as a Director. I then moved to an Associate position, and continue working on the Membership Team, leading the Compliance Team and becoming the Board Secretary.

In my worldly career, I worked for 23 years as Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the American Academy of Achievement, which, like Arica Institute, is a nonprofit educational foundation. I retired from that position in 2015.

I am the mother of three children, and grandmother of seven. Currently residing in Northern Virginia, I am now employed as a caregiver to my special-needs granddaughter.

As Treasurer and a Board member of Arica Institute, I’ve had the opportunity to give back to our School. I am also a member of the Arica Institute Finance Committee, Compliance Team, Executive Team, and the Fundraising Team.

After decades of building our School internally, we are now shifting our orientation toward sharing Oscar Ichazo’s Teachings expansively with humanity. I’m very grateful to be a part of this mission.

I have been actively involved as an apprentice, profactor and sponsor presenting Arica Trainings since 1987 to the present day. I’m very grateful to my sisters and brothers in Chile, the USA, and the world for being able to work with Chilean teams participating in and presenting Arica Trainings during this time.

Currently I am working with sisters and brothers in the Andes Trainings sponsorship in Chile, and we presented Psychocalisthenics and the Couple for Evolution trainings last year in Santiago, Chile.

I studied Business Administration in Information Technology and worked since 1991 as an Oracle ERP software functional consultant in the areas of finance and supply chain for companies such as Kellogg’s Chile, Hyatt Hotel, Oracle Chile-Colombia-Mexico, Toyota Venezuela, Xerox Chile, Bimbo South America, ABB Chile, Laboratorios Chile (Teva Pharmaceutical), Deloitte for Sherwin Williams Chile-Peru, and other companies, projects and clients.

I have been an owner and partner in three software consulting companies in Chile since 1993 and am still working in the last one as a salesman and an Administration and Finance Manager.

I am deeply grateful to the School, Oscar, Sarah, and all sisters and brothers who have dedicated their time and life in different roles to generate, present, and practice the Arica trainings. I understand the Arica School with its breathing techniques, Integral Ethics and trainings as a jewel that orients us to contemplate the unity of the universe, life, mind, and humanity.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcelocantizano/

Careerwise, I have been a buyer and manager for a family retail business, and was an account manager for an importer of high-end German luggage and accessories. During that period, I was also a long-time volunteer for a nonprofit delivering fresh meals to those with terminal illnesses and I was one of the first few drivers delivering meals to the home-bound clients. I still volunteer when there is a fundraiser for the program. I was office manager for an acupuncture practice for over fifteen years and still work part time for the same MD acupuncturist. I was at that time a licensed acupuncturist myself and volunteered at two clinics, one for low-income seniors and one for people with HIV. For the last several years, I have worked as an Enrolled Agent, preparing tax returns and representing clients before the IRS and state agencies. I have helped countless clients interact with various tax agencies and have helped several with their audits. I also currently serve on the membership committee of a local business association and was previously their secretary/treasurer.

I have personally benefited greatly from doing the trainings, meditations and the monthly group practices of Arica. I hope that my time on the Board of the Arica Institute will serve the goal of making the Work of the School accessible to more of the public by supporting Sponsors and continuing to make the trainings of the Arica School available online.

I am married and we live in Barcelona. We are both members of the Arica School, we have three children and we have lived in Spain, Brazil and Sweden.

I worked as a Technical Teacher in Philippines and Tanzania from 1976 till 1981 for a Dutch Not-for-Profit semi-Governmental organization called SNV — Stichting Nederlandse Vrijwilligers (“Foundation of Netherlands Volunteers”).

I also worked several years in the Social Sector in the Netherlands and the last 35 years as a Manager, Director and President in a large Multinational Company.

More information regarding my professional career can be found on Linkedin.

Prior to becoming a Five Element Acupuncturist, I worked in the Irish Government, serving in the Department of Environment, dealing with housing; later, I was promoted to the Department of the Marine, dealing with marine pollution, and I finished my civil service career in the Department of Justice.

I am committed to the Arica School and the Work. I have benefited enormously from doing the Work, and serving on the Board at this delicate and complex time for humanity and the planet feels like a way of helping humanity regain balance.

I live in Dublin, Ireland, am married to Alla and we have 5 adult children. I enjoy ballroom dancing, being with my grown up children and swimming in the sea!

It has been an incredible experience to have continually passed the Work of the School when the opportunity presents itself. I feel that has been my strongest offering to the School so far.

As a Director on the Board of the Arica Institute, I serve on the Fundraising Team and the Sponsors Online Support team.

I currently work for Conde Nast which is a global media company that produces print, digital, video, and social brands.

Since that time, I have worked for all three levels of government and was fortunate to advance a number of significant local, regional and national initiatives including in the areas of innovation, social development, community planning, homelessness, education, health care, climate change, and diversity and inclusion. During this time I also volunteered on several boards.

I have recently retired from my role as Director General for the Government of Canada and become active on the Arica Institute’s Board of Directors. My interest is to support the School by leveraging my experience in strategic planning, fostering collaboration and building consensus to actualize important initiatives – such as developing the Institute’s Strategic Plan, expanding on-line trainings, and enhancing the School’s public presence.

More information regarding my professional career can be found at LinkedIn.

Nonprofit Administration
I have forty years of nonprofit administration training and experience, including governance, policies and procedures, finance, insurance, grant writing, fundraising, and long-term planning. I was Executive Director of Piccolo Theatre, Inc. in Chicago and managed their annual festival for 30 years. In 1996, I raised 4.5 million dollars to restore a hundred-year-old train station in Evanston, Illinois, and turn it into a live theatre and cultural center, the Evanston Arts Depot. I leveraged and coordinated that project into community, residential, commercial, and technology development projects valued at 500M.

Information Technology (IT)
I owned and operated an IT company that offered hardware repair, purchases, library services, and enterprise networking. I am a specialist in Google Ad Grants, having secured grants for Piccolo Theatre, Inc., The Human Process, Inc., The New York School of Tai Chi Chuan, the Tai Chi Foundation, The Women’s Visionary Congress, Planting Justice, Inc., and The Oscar Ichazo Foundation.

Past IT clients include:
• IQRA International: the most prominent Islamic publishing company in the world; in charge of hardware and software purchases, networking, and security
• East West University: publishing division & student services

Theatre
I began my professional theatre career performing in Geoffrey Buckley’s Commedia dell’ Arte Troupe at Stratford-upon-Avon, England. I acted in and produced the award-winning Cablevision sci-fi comedy series, Secret Circus. I founded Piccolo Theatre and the Piccolo Theatre School and served as Artistic Director for eighteen years. I specialized in the Commedia dell’Arte and British Panto comedic theatre traditions. I was a featured actor with The Lyric Opera of Chicago and The Chicago Symphony and performed with the American Ballet Theatre. My theatre masks have been exhibited at Spertus Museum and the Southern Ohio Cultural Museum.

I taught at Valparaiso U., Loyola U., Coventry Cathedral, Northwestern U., and the University of Chicago. At Governors State U., I taught in the Colleges of Arts and Culture, Environmental and Applied Science, Health and Recreation, and Human Psychology.

Awards

• Emmy Award for acting role in Beyond the Magic Door
• Illinois Festival Hall of Fame
• Artist of the Year Award, 2009 Mayor’s Award, City of Evanston
• Certificate of Community Leadership Achievement from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Business
• Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, two Meritorious Achievement Awards in directing, and mask design

www.johnszostek.com