There are 1,000 people, groups and movements that could be listed here. Yana's influences have been wide ranging. Here's a few that most strongly color her work today.
Yana's ecologist father, Dr. James Ludwig, whose work was her earliest introduction to deep activism, and extensive time spent in the natural world starting as a kid following him around in the field.
Starhawk's visionary books on earth-based spirituality, especially The Fifth Sacred Thing.
Audre Lorde and Kimberle Crenshaw's articulations of intersectionality.
Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, the Solidarity Collective, and the Foundation for Intentional Community. Living in community of various kinds for decades has been Yana's biggest influence.
The Global Ecovillage Network's Gaia Education curriculum.
The indigenous wisdom of Grandmother Keewaydinoquay, Standing Rock, and especially the work of Dr. Viola Cordova as articulated in How It Is.
Ken Wilber's work on integral spiral dynamics.
Living with chronic lyme disease and a thousand lessons learned navigating the US healthcare system.
Therapy.
Joanna Macy's Work That Reconnects.
The writing of Naomi Klein, especially This Changes Everything.
Matt Stannard's professional work on class and classism, and his steady articulation of what non-coercion in relationships looks like.
The Movement for Black Lives.
Vu Le's brilliant blog Nonprofit AF.
The work of many organizations in the New Economy Coalition, and particularly AORTA (the Anti-oppression Resource and Training Alliance).
Socialist comrades everywhere who understand that people and communities can only thrive when they are materially supported, and capitalism is a system that demands some people stay poor and struggling for the benefit of others.
My son, Jibran Ludwig, who is constantly bringing me new insights as a community-raised, kick-ass zillennial.
Dozens of clients and students who have brought their own spins and backgrounds to shift the work moving forward.