PIMC EAR Council
Ethics and Reconciliation Council at Portland Insight Meditation Center
PIMC has established a Code of Ethics for Teachers and Community Leaders and a Code of Conduct to help create a safe community. Nonetheless, we acknowledge that ethical concerns and conflict will inevitably arise within the Portland Insight Meditation Center community. The health of our community is not measured by the presence or absence of conflict, but rather by our willingness to find effective, responsible, and compassionate resolutions of interpersonal tensions when they arise.
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Because the process of reaching such a resolution is often difficult, the PIMC board, teachers and community members have created a three-step process and an independent Ethics and Reconciliation (EAR) Council to help guide us. You can read the full policy below and/or download it to view at any time.
​If you have conflict within the Sangha that you are unable to resolve or you have ethical concerns about a PIMC community member, teacher or leader, you can contact our EAR Council through the confidential request form below.
The details of PIMC’s complaint and conflict resolution process are described in the document below.
EAR Council Members
(he/him)
Joe Cartino
I’m an artist and father who’s been part of the PIMC sangha for the last three years. I’ve been a union organizer for 20 years, which has taught me the importance of active listening and interest-based problem solving. I’ve been doing Tai Chi and yoga off and on for three decades. Finding PIMC was my doorway to the dharma. I come regularly and have established a twice-daily meditation practice. I was drawn to serve on the EAR Council in order to ensure PIMC is a welcoming and safe container for spiritual growth and where people can be heard and work through the inevitable tensions that arise within any community.
(she/her)
Melani Schweder
I first discovered meditation 20 years ago in college and have explored several traditions since — Shambhala, Zen, and now Insight. I’m interested in how modern neuroscience intersects with ancient mindfulness practices, and I weave that understanding into both my personal life and my work with clients. For the past decade, I’ve worked as a mindbody coach and Reiki practitioner, supporting people living with chronic pain, fatigue, and anxiety. I’m now excited to deepen this path through graduate training in mental health counseling and to integrate my meditation experience in new ways. I’m honored to serve on the EAR Council, to take a more active role in building a thriving community, and to help create a safe, supportive space for our sangha. Outside of PIMC, I enjoy archery, climbing, hiking, reading, playing Zelda, and exploring Portland’s incredible restaurant scene.
(he/him)
Jonah Stabinski
I am a licensed clinical social worker with a practice grounded in evidence-based, mindfulness-informed care. As part of my personal development, I began formal meditation practice in the Theravadan and Insight traditions in 2024, building on mindfulness training that has informed my work as a therapist. Meditation has supported my personal life, profession, and my commitment to acting with greater clarity, humility, and care. I love to read and am rarely far from a book. I also spend a lot of time with my dog, Ollie, who is an excellent reminder to slow down and stay present. I was drawn to serving on the EAR Council because I value processes that foster greater harmony, mutual respect, and accountability within a diverse community. I am particularly interested in structures that help people navigate disagreement with integrity while keeping shared values at the center.