Staff
Jiyoon Lee (She/Her)
– Center Director
– Facilitator
Email
Jiyoon (pronounced June) immigrated to the United States alone as a teenager at 16 and moved around the country many times. She holds an MFA from Notre Dame and has worked at the International Rescue Committee. Additionally, she has organized storytelling events, homeless shelters, and poetry readings. These diverse experiences include serving as a refugee resettlement legal assistant, a piano teacher, and a meditation instructor.
At the Dallas Meditation Center, Jiyoon is active in the Wake Up YES group. Specifically, she collaborates with members to enrich Tuesday night meditation with Plum Village music.
Spiritual Journey & Practice
Growing up in Korea, Jiyoon experienced a culture where meditation is part of mainstream awareness. Visiting Buddhist temples for holidays was also a common practice. As a preteen, she learned to do body scan meditation from her Taekwondo teacher. Her formal meditation practice started with her Yoga practice in 2011. Ashtanga Yoga practice was her moving meditation practice of choice, and Yoga Nidra her stillness-meditation practice.
In 2018, inspired by her late brother’s interest in Buddhism, she joined group meditations at Bohyun Zen Buddhist Temple. She practiced there until the pandemic began. During the same year, she began practicing Qigong with Michael Stallings of Sandhill Crane Chikung. Furthermore, she studied the scientific connection between mental wellness and meditation. This led her to train under Dr. Kay Colbert, LCSW, to teach mindfulness techniques.
Mindful Body Scan and Compassionate Self-talk continue to be central to her meditation practice. However, her most significant spiritual growth began when she joined the Wake Up YES group in 2019. The interfaith community and Thich Nhat Hanh’s compassionate teachings helped her grow immensely. These teachings also clarified several of her misconceptions about Buddhism. Ultimately, she realized the profound importance of a Sangha here at the center. Today, she is deeply honored to serve the community as a regular facilitator. It is truly her pleasure to share the power of meditation with the world.
Cornell Kinderknecht (He/Him)
– Director of Operations
– Meditation Teacher (Order of Interbeing)
– Facilitator
– Musician
– Fundraising team member
Email | Website
Cornell Kinderknecht is a professional musician and a software engineer. He serves our organization as a director, facilitator, webmaster, and musician. Initially, Cornell built a career as a software engineer in the high-tech industry. He spent many years developing web applications, specializing in security and privacy. He also provides website development.
Cornell has been involved with our community since our early beginnings in 2007. He has served the organization as a musician and music coordinator at gatherings and events. He manages the websites and takes care of most things technological. As an ordained member of the Order of Interbeing, he serves as a meditation teacher and facilitator. Specifically, he leads the Mindful Mondays group, focusing on practical mindfulness.
His distinguished musical career includes performing original works at Carnegie Hall, receiving a GRAMMY nomination, and earning numerous awards. He performs and teaches throughout the United States. Furthermore, he directs the annual Pacific Northwest Native American Flute Gathering. He also serves as the music director of the Dallas Recorder Society. See Cornell’s musical biography at www.cornellk.com
Mindfulness, Meditation, and Music… three things that he tries to integrate into all aspects of life. Cornell’s Dharma name given by Thich Nhat Hanh is “True Unfolding Awakening.”
James Ashcraft (He/Him)
– Information Technology Director
– Systems & Network Architect
– Volunteer & Space Portal Developer
– Digital Platform & Automation Architect
Email
James Ashcraft views information technology not merely as a collection of hardware and software, but as the vital neural network that enables human connection, cooperation, and community. He believes that information networks are the essential scaffolding of shared meaning in society. Therefore, he approaches his role as a conscious curation of the digital spaces supporting the Sangha. Consequently, he designs and maintains the platforms connecting the physical center with its digital presence, with the ultimate goal of utilizing technology as a vehicle to bring the community closer together.
Since joining the community, James has developed several custom digital tools. Specifically, he built the Volunteer Portal, Space Booking Timeline, and Donation Kiosk to streamline coordination. He also manages the website, Mailchimp newsletters, and social media automation engines. Rather than focusing solely on technical maintenance, he designs these systems to foster collaboration and trust, creating transparent platforms that empower both volunteers and staff. Ultimately, his dedication ensures a reliable digital infrastructure that connects the physical Sangha, welcomes newcomers, and allows the teachings and collective energy of the community to reach and support seekers throughout North Texas and beyond.
Photography by Dave Westbrook.