COLLABORATORS

Photo by Sylvia Eugenia Ruiz

Specialties: Graphic design, web design, infographics and illustration, confectionery.

I value:  Honesty, respect, and creativity.

I collaborate with Primordial because: Working with women I feel comfortable with is wonderful, it's a beautiful community, and being part of it is something I learn a lot from.

Positions/Affiliations/Responsibilities/Passions: Mother, wife, sister, daughter, creator of children's brand Oh Genial! Ilustración + cosas de niños, and Aurora•Sabores y recuerdos, along with my sisters. Comprehensive designer by the School of Design of the National Institute of Fine Arts of Mexico city, children's illustrator.

ALEJANDRA AGUIRRE

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

MATTHEW HIRSHBERG 

ADVISOR

Specialties: Quantitative research, adolescent development, teaching, well-being.  

I value: Honesty, authenticity, open-mindedness, courage, and collaboration. 

I collaborate with Primordial because: Meditation practices can reduce suffering for everyone, but access to certain traditions has been limited in America by a number of factors. Primordial is doing the important work of bringing these valuable practices and perspectives in a culturally informed way to their community.

Positions/Affiliations/Responsibilities/Passions: Father, husband, friend, walker on the path, postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Healthy Minds.

FERNANDA LEPORACE

OUTREACH AND SPECIAL PROJECTS

Specialties: Visual arts, curriculum development in the area of early childhood education, socio-emotional learning for educators, play and nature-based learning. Crafts. Bilingualism. Contemplative practices. Coaching in the area of family child care and business practices.

I value:  Respect for life, art, culture, empathy, differences; inclusion, social equity, loyalty, health and well-being, love, friendship, every step that life gives me, the land that sustains me...

I collaborate with Primordial because: I believe there is a collective need for connection and healing in our community. Primordial brings us a gift arising from respect and love for the being. As an immigrant and Latina, I experienced firsthand the need for an organization that would be a beacon for my ship in the midst of the storm. I collaborate because of the qualities of the human beings who make up the Primordial team and because I was invited and treated with love and respect from day one.

Positions/Affiliations/Responsibilities/Passions: Mother, sister, daughter, friend, inhabitant, and passenger. Bilingual Advisor at WECA-WEESSN.. I love the sea and certain boats. Living beings, stones, color. I am passionate about camping, traveling, knowing, experiencing, learning, exploring, sharing. Affiliations include: PRIMORDIAL!, NAEYC, WECA, Fairshare CSA Coalition, Willy Street Coop, Wisconsin Public Radio, The Registry, Inc, NAFCC.

HEIDY JIMENEZ

OUTREACH AND SPECIAL PROJECTS

Specialties: Early Childhood Education, English, Spanish and signs for babies. Classroom management, social emotional development, advocacy, teaching, adult presentations and training, community outreach.

I value:  LIFE, family, mental health, time, empathy, emotional intelligence, identity, culture, challenges, values, the way of expression and living of each person.

I collaborate with Primordial because: I admire what Primordial does in society and I want the community to have the opportunity to learn about self-care, discover another way to find balance in their lives and receive extra support through Primordial and also because I like to help, collaborate and see others stand out. I have an altruistic soul.

Positions/Affiliations/Responsibilities/Passions: Woman and ally. Owner of a New Era Learning Care Family Child Care and worked as a Bilingual Consultant and Translator for WEESSN a WECA Shared Services Program, I am a CNA Certified in the State of Wisconsin, certified by Sign2Me Northlight Childcare Advantage Program (NCAP) in child care sign language, sign language student at the Diversity Academy for Interpreters LLC. I am passionate about caring for others, spending time with my family and my dog ​​Luna, learning from life experiences. Looking for the best version of myself.

brooks fuentes

NEWSLETTER CURATOR & COMMUNICATION CONTRACTOR

Specialties: Community building, design, marketing, writing, and events. I speak English and Spanish.

I value: Empathy, community, adventure, humor, creativity, and the perspective of a beginner’s mind.

I collaborate with Primordial because: I love to foster spaces for the BIPOC community to connect and heal. I value this opportunity to bring mindfulness practices to more people.

Positions/Affiliations/Responsibilities/Passions: Community weaver for breast cancer and AYA (adolescent and young adult) survivors, patient outreach specialist at Breast Friends, co-founder and facilitator of the young survivor social group Yew Club, wife, daughter, sister, friend, passionate about the healing power of nature, outdoor adventurer, newsletter curator and communication contractor at Primordial.

SARAH SHORT

ADVISOR

Specialties: Early child brain development, neuroscience, MRI, poverty, early intervention, mindfulness, and well-being.

I value:  Resilience, mindfulness, science, diversity, and collaboration. 

I collaborate with Primordial because: I want to continue to be a part of work that brings accessible, culturally relevant mindfulness curriculums to Latinx adults and youth by building long-term relationships and partnerships with community organizations serving the Latinx population.

Positions/Affiliations/Responsibilities/Passions: Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology at UW – Madison, Affiliate faculty at Center for Healthy Minds, Mindfulness For All project committee member, advisor, daughter, and new mom.

SHARON TORIBIO

 AUDIOVISUAL ARTIST

Specialties: Editing and filmmaking, camera.

I value: Order, empathy, awake consciousness, communication, and friendship. 

I collaborate with Primordial because: It’s a project that works with mindfulness in a professional, loving, and healthy way, and as a collaborator, I always learn and appreciate the creative freedom that is given to me.

Positions/Affiliations/Responsibilities/Passions: Audiovisual artist, professional editor, creative, books, horror films, my dogs and kitty.

monika pantha

COLLABORATOR

Specialties: Outreach, planning events, literature research, communication languages (English, Nepali).

I value: Teamwork, open-mindedness, curiosity, honesty, and challenge.

I collaborate with Primordial because: Mindfulness empowers individuals, I believe it is a big piece of the puzzle to overall well-being. I also love the opportunity to learn from such an amazing community.

Positions/Affiliations/Responsibilities/Passions: Daughter, friend, Undergraduate student at UW Madison, CNA at UW Health, runner, research assistant, collaborator, President of Nepali Student Association-UW.