About Us

 Our Values

Curiosity

All of our values are impossible without curiosity. This is our most important value. Curiosity is not about being right, it is about being present.

Learning from All

We believe lived experiences both inform and are informed by education. Lived experiences have value, just as traditional forms of education have value. Learning comes from community, education, and experience. It is not truly learning unless all three components are recognized as valuable.

We believe the journey of understanding life through death is an ongoing process that results in accountability (to yourself, family, friends, community and colleagues) and we work to nurture that mindset in ourselves and our students.

Accountability through Community

We believe being in community can be challenging, but allows us to walk in accountability to ourselves and each other. Accountability inspires us to reach out.

Flourishing

We believe a favorable environment impacts the quality of growth one can experience. Deathwork, in any form, is enhanced when its practitioners are healthy, happy and inspired.  Openness, vulnerability and rest are key to flourishing.

Equity

We have a firm commitment to creating an equitable space for all individuals, where safety and respect is paramount. We accept ourselves as we are and our learners as they are. We work to meet others where they are.

Our Motto

“In Vita Mors, In Morte Veritas” translates to: “In life there is death, in death there is truth.” The school motto was written by Cole Imperi and appears in Latin, which is a nod to the school’s roots in Thanabotany and Thanatology.

Latin is the language used when giving scientific names to plants. It’s also a nod to Thanatology, which comes from the Latin root words thanatos (death) and logia (speaking).

“In Vita Mors, In Morte Veritas”