Our Board of Directors

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    Jesse Rentai Parrish Lewis

    he/him/his
    Vice President

    Project Director at Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service Center, Author, and Artist.
    Board member since May 2020

  • Thor Keika Cary

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    Treasurer

    Civilian Federal Service
    Board member since May 2022

  • Jessica Valle

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    Secretary/Member at Large

    Freelance Certified ASL Interpreter
    Board member since November 2021

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    President

    President

    More information coming soon

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    Accessibility Coordinator


    More information coming soon

  • Ōshin Jennings

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    Spiritual Director, Ex Oficio

A white man in his 30's with a shaved head and black glasses. He is wearing black monk robes and an okesa. He has various facial piercings and gauged ear lobes.

Taishin Michael Augustin
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Our Priests

Taishin started practicing Zen with the Santa Barbara Zen Group in 2012. He received the Bodhisattva precepts during a Jukai ceremony in 2015 at the Santa Barbara Zen Center, and again during a Shukke Tokudo ceremony in 2023 at O-An Zendo. He is a student of Ōshin Jennings, Sensei, as well as Ōshin Sensei’s Jisha.

Taishin studies Nyoho-e style sewing in the tradition of Tomoe Katagiri; organizes and leads a Recovery Dharma meeting to support those in recovery from addictions of all kinds (including himself); and writes about the Dharma, recovery, and the intersection of the two for his Substack, “A Phoenix’s Hut.”

In January 2026, Taishin entered residency at Jikoji Zen Center, where here currently serves as Ino (Temple Manager).

Our Support Team

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    Tess Wenderski, MA, NIC

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    Lead ASL Interpreter
    Member of NBZ since 2018

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    Shop Steward

    More information coming soon

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    Sustainability Director

    More information coming soon

  • Taishin is a white man in his late 30's with a shaved head, glasses, and multiple piercings. He is wearing robes and Okesa standing outside in a wooded area.

    Rev. Taishin Michael Augustin

    Teacher's Assistant / Jisha

    More information coming soon