Linda Redford is the Founder and President of Honor Kids International (HKI), a non-profit foundation with the mission to restore honor, respect and value to children across the globe. With over 25 years of experience in Psycho-Spiritual Family Counseling, suicide prevention and program development, HKI wishes to join others who share the common desire to heal society's most preventable tragedy, child abuse.
Life began for Redford as an unwanted pregnancy in 1947 on a farm in Michigan. She was born to a mother with the belief of being nothing but a “no good dirty damn Indian”. Sadly, as a consequence of her mother’s crippling behavior, and father's sex addiction, Redford gave up on life at age 12. Alcoholism, drug dependency, rape, pregnancies, homelessness and a failed marriage followed her into adulthood.
After a near death experience in 1982, life turned toward a vision of purpose never revealed. Redford needed to look no further than her own experiences to see information is passed through belief systems from one generation to another. This awareness inspired her to become a Psycho-Spiritual Family Counselor and program developer.
She studied with Cherokee teacher Ven Dyhani Ywahoo; completed five years of inner child healing under Father John Alexis; focused on Peter Levine’s trauma work, Dr. Roberto Assagioli’s transpersonal psychology and Ray Castinello’s prenatal psychology. Today, Redford is an established Ordained Minister and Psycho-Spiritual Family Counselor, specializing in healing addictions. Redford’s unconventional training ultimately led to the development of Reassociation; an ecological therapeutic framework, which integrates four philosophical models:
- The Adawee Teachings, Cherokee for Guardian of Wisdom
- Psychosynthesis, a Transpersonal Psychology created by Dr. Roberto Assagioli
- The Ancient Essence Code of Conduct, work by Dr. Edith Stauffer
- Shamanism, an earth-centered wisdom for restoring wholeness and balance
Redford has created a healthy practice for people to recognize their uniqueness by honoring the existence of all things. To honor something or someone changes the way one sees, thinks, feels, relates, and interacts. When someone or something is honored, its significance is recognized (the vital essence of life). Through the eyes of honor, the ordinary becomes extraordinary. This new awareness is the beginning of a Language of Peace. The Honor Project (HP) was then developed; a program, which re-educates and heals individuals, families and communities through a school-community-based program. The HP embarks upon positive social transformation by connecting children, parents, educators and community leaders developing a “Culture of Peace”.
By utilizing books, journaling and other interactive media the HP unites communities with a common purpose. All individual effort is invested in sustaining life-affirming principles. A Language of Peace is established. The approach and traditions used in the Teachings are derived from Native American spiritual tenets and perspectives.
The foundation of this program,The Honor Pledge, describes a potential Universal Value System, which encourages authenticity and relatedness, while challenging attitudes that stifle positive beliefs. The HP provides a framework whereby individuals learn and develop imperative intrapersonal skills needed for peaceful conflict resolution.
“A culture of peace requires a language of peace.”
