Participants will learn the foundations of Curanderismo and how to help their families heal from the traumas of our world with open heartedness and limpias (traditional spiritual cleansing). We ask participants to bring pictures of any family members in need that aren’t present. We also encourage you to bring any healing tools they may already have and use: holy water, flowers, rosemary, mint, lemons, limes, copal, sage, sweet grass, cedar. Information will be presented by Dr. Monica Lucero DOM.

Dr. Monica Lucero DOM (she/her) is a Doctor of Oriental medicine and Traditional Medicine Practitioner. Native New Mexican of Nahuatl, Spanish, Apache and Diné ancestry. Dr. Monica is the owner of Red Root Acupuncture & Herbs, an herbal apothecary, community healing space and Zen center north of Old Town. Raised with the traditions of curanderismo, she walks in the footsteps of her grandmothers; weaving together her Indigenous medicines with Traditional Chinese Medicine. Both NADA and POCA certified, Dr. Lucero believes in making traditional medicines available, affordable and culturally relevant to the community she serves. Dr. Lucero teaches Traditional Chinese Medicine at ASHA (Albuquerque School of Healing Arts). She also teaches for the Tribal Canoe Journey Herbalists Indigenous herbal pathways, sharing her knowledge of Mexican, Chinese, Western and Indigenous herbal medicines. As a ceremonial birth-worker Dr. Monica serves our community’s birthing families, while also serving on the board of CWI-Changing Woman Initiative, an indigenous organization revitalizing traditional birth in Indian Country. It brings Dr. Monica great joy to be able to care for our local community and works tirelessly to preserve and help make traditional medicines accessible. 

Financial Literacy

Motivation and Inspiration

Vanessa Martell Kuca has over two decades of dedicated service within our nation's Nuclear Security Enterprise, working for the National Laboratories to safeguard our country's security programs. Born to Salvadoran immigrants in San Francisco, CA, Vanessa was raised in Northern California's East Bay before relocating to Albuquerque in 2005 to join Sandia National Laboratories. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a Master of Science in Information Security and Assurance from Carnegie Mellon University. Alongside her husband Michal, Vanessa has cultivated a real estate portfolio comprising 86 units, all contributing to the revitalization of Albuquerque's distressed properties, ensuring clean, safe, and well-maintained homes for residents. Her passion extends to recognizing the pivotal role of national laboratories in safeguarding our nation's security amidst a dynamic global landscape. As a wife, mother, and daughter, Vanessa's mission is ensuring harmony (balance and sometimes integration) across personal and professional pursuits