When I consider the scope of my career and vocation, I see a quilt composed of many humble actions based in a belief for the need to care … collectively. It takes a village and I have been to many in my various guises. I have been blessed to walk enough paths to understand the diversity of our living, our day to day struggles in the streets of things, and our aspirations to be well, together, with those we love.
Canvasser, Progressive Turnout Project Fall, 2024
Activity: Knocked door-to-door to turn out the vote for a electoral push project in “swing” states; managed turf via mobile apps; and cross-trained
Policy Intern, Caring Across Generations Spring & Summer Semester, 2023
Activity: MPH Practicum placement with influential national caregiver advocacy and policy organization; wrote policy briefs; summarized legislative committee reports; maintained campaign organizational documents; provided caregiver legislative testimony; and documented experience in MPH portfolio
Public Health Radio Reporter, KUNM Radio September, 2021 – December, 2022
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Activity: As a public health reporter, covered a year of COVID’s impact in New Mexico; reported on public health systems; emphasized health inequities of COVID; and highlighted the voice of people with immune system compromises and their caregivers
COVID-19 Health Educator & Contact Tracer August, 2020 – August, 2021
Emergency Response Division, New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH), Santa Fe, NM
Activity: Helped NMDOH implement the state’s first ever pandemic epidemiological response to COVID; tested and researched technical programs to transfer COVID case data from NM data systems to the CDC; interviewed persons confirmed positive for COVID-19 and their exposed contacts; maintained HIPAA-compliant working conditions and accurate notes for each interaction; provided feedback and enhancement suggestions for program protocol and development; participated in Special Projects, Task Forces, and other DOH activities; and proficiently used Salesforce platforms and other NMDOH databases (New Mexico’s Electronic Disease Surveillance System [NM-EDSS] & New Mexico’s Indicator Based Information System [NMIBIS] for case data
Licensed Massage Therapist 2004 – present
Self-Employed and Independent Contractor, Albuquerque, NM
Activity: For 20 years, provided therapeutic bodywork and consultation to clients, organizations, and students in private practice and contracted venues; refined practice for people with chronic illness, limited means, and trauma survival; and analyzed the role of alternative health in the context of public health emergencies
* Betty’s Bath & Day Spa, Albuquerque, NM 2015 – 2020
Activity: Premium therapeutic massage and spa treatments
* University of New Mexico Hospital, Albuquerque, NM 2012 – 2017
Pediatric Infusion Unit Family Services
Activity: Therapeutic massage for staff and family members of children receiving infusion treatment
* University of New Mexico Hospital, Albuquerque, NM 2007 – 2016
Arts-in-Medicine Program (4 years in UNMH Cancer Center Infusion Unit)
Activity: Therapeutic massage for healthcare staff and infusion patients; catering of touch therapy in an oncology setting; and collaboration with program artists and unit staff
* PNM LIFE Program, Albuquerque, NM 2006 – 2013
Activity: Therapeutic massage for NM utility company employees who received the care as a workplace benefit; collaborated with other therapists to contract coverage weekly; and cross-trained other therapists on work in such a professional environment
* Jemez Springs Bath House, Jemez Springs, NM 2005 – 2006
Activity: Therapeutic massage in a historic bath house
Massage Therapy Instructor 2007 – 2015
Carrington College, Albuquerque, NM
Activity: Taught state-approved curriculum to prospective LMT candidates including: Anatomy & Physiology; Pathology; Professional & Business Ethics; Swedish Massage; Client Assessment; Client Documentation; and 1st Aid/CPR; participated in curriculum development and review; (During this time, Massage Instructors were required to carry a state license in addition to the LMT; this second license, LMTI, required an additional 16 hours of continuing education every 2 years—32 hours of continuing education every 2 years were required to maintain both licenses)
Member Services Manager , ArtZmosphere, Belize City, Belize 2021 – 2023 Activity: Managed membership list to stabilize the funding of a multi-cultural, international arts space space in Belize during COVID
Host & DJ, Community Radio 1992 – 2021
KUNM, Albuquerque, NM – Afternoon Freeform, Fresh, Spoken Word, Overnight Freeform (2004 – 2021); Albuquerque Slam’s Beer and Poetry, DJ, (2007-2011); KGNU, Boulder, CO – Spoken Word, Overnight Freeform (1996 – 2004); WOMR, Provincetown, MA – Morning Freeform (1999); WMCR, McDaniel College (nee Western Maryland College) Afternoon Host (1992-1994)
Activity: Programmed, edited, and hosted weekly music programs; produced interviews with musicians; collaborated with other DJs to improve programming; promoted community radio to the community; participated in fundraising; and recruited new talent to join community radio
Actor & Sound Design, Community Theater 2004 – 2010
Omni Rootz, Albuquerque, NM
Activity: Supported and acted in the only Black Community Theater space in Albuquerque rooted the traditions of Augusto Boal, Zora Neale Hurston, and Audre Lorde; Starred in Melanin by Terry Gomez; The Shining Town by Owen Vincent Dodson; Les Blancs by Lorraine Hansberry; sound design for plays and events produced by the theater; and organized dialogues about race, gentrification, and historical trauma under the banner White History Week
Community Organizer
White History Week, Out ch’Yonda live arts, Albuquerque, NM 2009 – 2010
Activity: Facilitated sessions with a Black Theater on anti-racist alliances, inequities of gentrification, the role of white people in ending racism, and how to somatically ground organizing practice
Traditional Support Caravan, Boulder, CO 1996-2002
Activity: Organized material aid (bulk food and supplies) for Diné people impacted by coal mining dispossessions; coordinated canvassing and fundraising events; purchased bulk supplies; organized an annual vehicle caravan to transport supplies from Boulder to the Dinétah for the winter; and trained caravan members in cross-cultural protocols
Food Not Bombs (food for the unhoused), Baltimore, MD 1992 – 1995
Activity: Organized food distribution to the unhoused; cooked at scale for weekly distributions of grocery store excess products; grassroots collaboration with the unhoused and activists; and educated the unhoused on their civil rights
Committee to Free Eddie Conway, Baltimore, MD 1993 – 1994
Activity: Organized events and political education to free a Black Panther Party member in Baltimore from unjust incarceration; canvassed neighborhoods with committee information; and recruited peers to the cause.
Maryland Public Interest Research Group 1990 – 1991
Washington DC & Baltimore, MD
Activity: Canvassed and organized support and fundraising for legislation to improve the Clean Water Act; managed and cross-trained peers out on turf; and learned to deliver campaign messages succinctly
Recycling Program, McDaniel College, MD 1992- 1995; Calvert High School, MD, 1990
Activity: In High School, began program; in college, picked up management of program; both were rooted in the student organization, Students for Environmental Action; emptied and transported containers; educated peers; and lobbied legislative and administrative bodies to support recycling programs
Teaching Experience
COVID-19 Health Educator 2020 – 2021
Emergency Response Division, New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH), Santa Fe, NM
Activity: Promoted health and wellness for all New Mexicans, by providing contact tracing services, resources and guidance for New Mexicans effected by Covid-19; and provided health education on isolation, quarantine and Covid-19 safety guidelines
Beginning 1 Assistant Trainer in Chicago, IL 2014 – 2016
administered by Somatic Experiencing International, Broomfield CO
Activity: Provided active learning support at the training to participants and logistic support to the training Coordinator and Faculty which included capacity to facilitate triads of practice, translation of theory, and discussion on the integration of learned skills
Massage Therapy & General Education Instructor 2007 – 2015
Carrington College, Albuquerque, NM
Awards: Ron Taylor Award: excellence in teaching profession, two times, 2010, 2013
Activity: Taught state-approved curriculum to prospective LMT candidates; maintained state level teacher’s license requiring double the continuing education hours; and participated in curriculum development and review
First Aid/CPR Instructor, Carrington College, Albuquerque, NM 2009 – 2011
American Heart Association (AHA), Roswell, NM
Activity: Taught AHA approved curriculum to massage therapist, physical trainer, and other allied health professionals at Carrington College; administered standardized tests; and validated applied skills
Somatic Therapist (LMT), Client education, Albuquerque, NM 2004 – 2024
Activity: Assessed and developed treatment plans in consort with patients; developed ongoing education towards those with chronic illness, disabilities, and/or trauma; provided client education about the anatomy and physiology of various diagnoses; communicated with patient’s medical team; integrated private practice lessons into classroom applications as an instructor; and informed peers of opportunities to deepen their collaboration with other health professionals
Substitute Teacher, Secondary Education 1995 -1996
Carroll County Public Schools, MD
Activity: Secondary school ad hoc classroom management; capacity to integrate provided lessons into student engagement to secure favored status as a requested substitute teacher; and compared school ecologies across a typical rural/suburban school district