About Us

Edward Joe Holland III, PH.D.

EDWARD “JOE” HOLLAND III, PH.D. is an eco-social philosopher and radical-traditionalist Catholic theologian exploring, at the deep level of philosophical-scientific Cosmology and symbolic-mythic grounding, the correlative intellectual-spiritual breakdowns of Modern Industrial Civilization and Modern Psychologized Spirituality, as well as the intellectual-spiritual seeds of a regenerative Postmodern Ecological Civilization and of a regenerative Postmodern Ecological Spirituality.

Joe completed his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in the field of Ethics & Society, which was structured as an interdisciplinary dialogue of Theology with Philosophy and Social Science. At Chicago, he studied Theology with David Tracy, Philosophy with Paul Ricoeur, and Social Science with Gibson Winter. He was also a Fulbright Scholar in Philosophy at the Universidad Católica in Santiago, Chile during the last year of the democratic-socialist presidency of Salvador Allende, whose government was violently overthrown by the murderous military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet.

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Joe is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy & Religion at Saint Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida, and a still-active Adjunct Professor in its School of Law; Permanent Visiting Professor at the Universidad Nacional del Altiplano in Puno, Peru; President of Pax Romana / Catholic Movement for Intellectual & Cultural Affairs USA and Editor of its Pacem in Terris Press, with both based in Washington DC; Vice-Chair of Catholic Scholars for Worker Justice, based in Boston, Massachusetts; a member of the Board of Directors of the Human Rights Institute at St. Thomas University School of Law, in Miami Gardens, Florida; a member of the International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture, based in Delaware, Ohio; and a member of the International Association for Catholic Social Thought, based at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium.

Earlier, Joe served for 15 years as Research Associate at the Washington DC Center of Concern, created jointly by the international Jesuits and the US Catholic Bishops to work with

the United Nations on important global issues. Later, he taught at New York Theological Seminary in New York City and at its offshoot the Florida Center for Theological Studies in Miami, Florida, as well as at Drew University’s School of Theology. For both the Center of Concern and Pax Romana, he has served as NGO representative to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations at its headquarters in New York City.

Joe also served as founding Director of the Pallottine Institute for Lay Leadership & Research at Seton Hall University. In addition, he directed the research process for the 1976 Theology in the Americas Conference, and he co-founded the American Catholic Lay Network, the National Conference on Religion & Labor (co-sponsored by the AFL-CIO), and Catholic Scholars for Worker Justice.

Joe has published 18 books and many articles. His book with Peter Henriot SJ, Social Analysis: Linking Faith and Justice, has more than 50,000 copies in print, including 2 US editions, 5 foreign-language editions and 2 foreign English editions. He was also the consultant-writer for the 1975 document This Land is Home to Me: A Pastoral Letter on Powerlessness in Appalachia by the Catholic Bishops of the Region, and for the 1995 document At Home in the Web of Life: A Pastoral Message from the Catholic Bishops of Appalachia on Sustainable Communities.

In the United States, Joe has lectured at Georgetown, Harvard, Notre Dame, Princeton, and many other universities. Internationally, he has lectured at Institut Catholique in Paris, France; Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan; Pontifical Catholic University in São Paulo, Brazil; Pontifical Catholic University in Porto Alegre, Brazil; Universidad Mayor de San Andres in La Paz, Bolivia; and Universidad Nacional del Altiplano in Puno, Peru.

In 1986, Joe received the Boston Paulist Center’s Isaac Hecker Award for Social Justice; in 2002, the Athena Medal of Excellence from the Universidad Nacional del Altiplano in Peru; and in 2013, the Irish Echo’s Labor Award for contribution to the US labor movement.

Joe is married to Paquita Biascoechea-Martinez Holland, a native of Puerto Rico, and they have two wonderful grown children and four wonderful young grandchildren. His too infrequent hobby is sailing, especially in the beautiful green waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Vision-I see the development of a global network of regenerative ecovillages as planting seeds for an alternative global ecological civilization and also providing new living spaces for the millions of people who will become (or are already becoming) climate-change refugees from the ecological devastation increasingly inflicted upon our planetary life-system by the late-modern industrial civilization.

My role – I see my role in the Peace-on-Earth Ecovillages as a consultant and deeply interested participant.

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Raisa Rodriguez, M.A., LEED AP

Raisa Rodriguez, M.A., LEED AP was born and raised on Miami Beach, Florida, in the heart of South Beach. She is a tree hugger, sustainability steward, and a globetrotter who is in love with her planet. Raisa began working in the financial banking sector in 1995 and was the business owner of Aspire Mortgage Lenders, LLC.  During her finance profession, Raisa received awards of excellence as a top producer, including accolades from The Latino American, Who’s Who.

Mrs. Rodriguez is the daughter of a builder who has been building throughout Miami-Dade for over 30 years.  As a member of the United States Green Building Council, she has worked on renewable energy projects in Haiti, environmental business projects in Thailand and India, as well as entrepreneurial development projects in Peru. Locally, she has contributed her knowledge to ecovillage startups and microfinance groups.

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Raisa earned a master’s degree from the University of Miami concentrating in Green Sustainable Development. She graduated with honors from St. Thomas University where she received a Bachelor on Global Leadership with minors in environmental philosophy and organizational psychology.

Now, her work centers in promoting sustainable economic development by co-creating ecovillages, worldwide.  Her current role as project manager for Peace on Earth Ecovillages Corp. combines her experience in finance with her passion for the environment. In 2011, she helped co-found the 501c3, named P.U.S.H. Promoting Unity Sustainability and Hope.  A non-profit dedicated to advancing financial education and lessening the burdens of government, by providing small business owners and individuals in Miami-Dade County with the skills and opportunities needed to achieve financial independence and success.

Mrs. Rodriguez lives with her amazing children and husband in beautiful Miami Lakes, Florida. She considers herself to be a linguaphile and takes delight in managing the local French Club in her town.  Raisa’s a native Spanish speaker who enjoys practicing Portuguese and American Sign Language as well.  Her laugh is contagious, and her billiard skills are not so shabby.

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Susan Vineta, MS, MBA, DC

Susan Vineta, MS, MBA, DC, is founder of Better Energy Everyday Wellness, a concierge practice focused on Chiropractic care, nutritional consults and lifestyle modifications to provide strategies for optimized health.  A holistic wellness entrepreneur serving her community and practice members in Florida, Colorado and Virginia, Dr. Susan is a passionate advocate for the Chiropractic profession, the environment, and human rights in her community.

Before completing her Chiropractic degree she completed her MS in Environmental Management and MBA where she focused on reduction of consumer consumption, energy efficiency ratings and creating educational campaigns.  During her master’s thesis project, she interned with the City of Hollywood, Florida, to help the city achieve a Silver Seal through the Florida Green Building Coalitions Green Local Government Seal program.

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She frequents Florida’s and the U.S. capital’s policy makers looking for betterment.  Dr. Susan calls herself a Professional Volunteer, she loves to give back to the community and gives her time to several organizations, such as: Deliver the Dream, The Tony Robbins Foundation, Arsht Center, and Patriot Project.

Susan is a Distinguished Toastmaster, the highest educational level from Toastmasters International, a nonprofit educational organization that builds confidence and teaches public speaking and leadership skills.  She currently is a District 47 Leadership team, serving members across Southeast Florida and The Bahamas.

Cooking and experimenting with the cultural varieties in spices and flavors are another passion for Dr. Susan.  Although she is a plant-based trained chef, she credits her love for cooking to her grandmother’s traditional recipes.

Currently, she is collaborating to manifest her vision of co-creating a sustainable holistic wellness boutique center within Peace on Earth Ecovillages.  Her mission is to provide a sanctuary with access to world-class healers for residents and guests to be educated and guided to peace, joy, love and better energy every day.

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The Vision of Peace-on-Earth Ecovillage

An affordable, beautiful, convivial, safe and spiritual community co-creating an ecologically sustainable way of life.
An ecologically sustainable community fostering healthy low-impact/high-quality lifestyles, community gardens, organic horticulture, permaculture, bioregional sensitivity, ecological design, sustainable water systems, eco-friendly modular homes with solar-energy and healthy indoor environmental quality.
A nature-oriented community with woods and gardens for meditation and strolling. A central plaza for gathering and events an outdoor playground for children to climb, run, and laugh. A swimming pool for relaxation, exercise, and sunning. A gazebo with benches for resting and watching sunsets.
A wellness and learning community with a community recreation and education center including a state-of-the-art wellness center offering programs in art, crafts, education, health, music, exercise, meditation, spirituality, theatre and more.
A social community for individuals and families of every age from young workers to retirees and for people of all cultures, races and spiritual traditions.
A creative community welcoming activist, caregivers, craft-workers, educators, environmentalists, healers, yogi’s, professionals, spiritual persons, trades people, agriculturists, farmers and students.
A working community encouraging small businesses, place-based livelihoods and mentoring programs.
A democratic community that seeks to be safe, respectful and peaceful with self-governance working toward deliberative decisions that attempt to heal conflict and promote consensus.