Meet Our Team

Hablo español, trabajo con niños y adultos. Guatemalan native with 13 years of experience working with all ages. My work is always centered on the person’s needs and personal goals, I’m trained in Stand Tray Therapy, and my therapeutic orientation is more experiential with existential influences.

I have a special interest in working with immigrant communities from around the world, helping them with cultural shock adaptation, and understanding the role their mental health plays in their life.

Bio coming soon!

Hello, I am an Act Six Scholar and I recently graduated Bethany Lutheran College. I am a recent graduate, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree with an emphasis in Computer Science. During my 4 years at Bethany, I have invested my time in making meaningful relationships and learning new transferable skills such leadership, being adaptable, and being dependable. I was born and raised in California. Growing up as a Hmong America, I want to give back to my Hmong community and serve others outside of that. I understand that there is a significant disparity between the elders and the youth. I want to build something that will bridge the gap between the two while inspiring the youth to pursue higher education, showing them, they too have an opportunity. And so, as an Act Six Scholar, and a recent graduate at Bethany Lutheran College, I aspire to motivate others by setting an example, to be a role model by being a lifelong learner and being a good communicator so that I can build more and better meaningful relationships, while being accountable and committed.

Meryl is a dedicated Administrative Coordinator with a strong background in customer service, project management, and data research. With her expertise, she supports the smooth operation of Roots Wellness Center by handling administrative tasks, managing client intake and referrals, and helping to promote a trauma-informed and anti-oppressive environment. Meryl is passionate about providing behind-the-scenes support that enables the team to focus on offering the highest quality care for those navigating mental health challenges.

Outside of work, Meryl loves spending time with kids, hiking, and reading books that explore new ideas. Whether it’s making memories with the little ones or enjoying the outdoors, she believes in the power of self-care to nourish both the mind and body.

Sara has been living in the Twin Cities area her whole life. She has experience with children and families through relationship-based and cross-cultural work. Her educational background is in Developmental Psychology and Spanish Studies and recently graduated with a Master of Social Work degree from Augsburg University. She is multilingual in Vietnamese and Spanish and passionate about learning new words from different languages and learning about other cultural practices and trying new foods! Sara wants to continue her career to provide culturally responsive care and advocacy work that focuses on social justice and anti-oppressive practices to holistically support others.

Careene was born and raised in the Philippines before immigrating to the United States as a teen in 2013. Her experiences of working with families, especially children and youth, include time as a youth camp counselor, school staff, housing case manager, and as a behavioral health specialist in a PRTF. As a lifelong servant leader, she values empowerment, inclusion, and cultural humility. At work, Careene strives to provide an honest, collaborative, strengths-based approach and will work to meet clients where they are at. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, cooking/baking, dancing, going to the gym, and spending time with loved ones. Some of her passions include celebrating languages, advocating for safety and preparedness through self-defense/gun safety classes, and SA/DV prevention and awareness.

Careene is currently in graduate school and hopes to receive her MSW (Clinical Social Work/Military Behavioral Health) from the University of Kentucky in December 2024.

Tara is originally from Minnesota and served 4 years in the Marine Corps after high school before separating from Active Duty in 2015. She then became a holistic health coach and trauma-informed yoga teacher, serving the military and veteran community surrounding Ft. Campbell, Kentucky where her spouse was stationed with the 101st Airborne Division. During this time, Tara also served as the Nashville Platoon Leader for The Mission Continues and was a Clay Hunt Fellow with Team Rubicon, deploying to cities across the United States to engage in Asset Based Community Development and Disaster Response operations. Tara and her family moved “home” to the Twin Cities area in 2022, where Tara completed her MSW and trauma certification at Walden University. Tara brings her varied lived experiences into her work and utilizes a trauma-informed, holistic, and person-centered approach in alignment with the Neurodevelopmental Model of Therapeutics.

Theresa was born and raised in Minnesota. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Metropolitan State University. Her professional journey has been shaped by her experiences supporting adults navigating homelessness and substance addiction. Theresa utilizes a person-centered and holistic approach when working with clients. Theresa actively advocates for marginalized groups and strives to dismantle systems of oppression. In her free time Theresa enjoys watching movies, spending time her family, and reading. 

Originally from Nairobi, Kenya, Mureithi has been living in Minnesota since 2002. He has worked for more than 15 years in social services and education. He is accomplished in areas of research, program design and evaluation. Mureithi takes a person-centered approach- trying to understand clients within their family, community, and cultural contexts- with a particular interest on how intersectional identities influence a person’s self-identity.

Mureithi has a Master’s degree in Community Psychology from Metropolitan State University, and an MA in Counseling Psychology from the University of Saint Thomas.

Betty is a native of St. Paul, Minnesota, and grew up in Frogtown. She completed her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Minnesota, majoring in sociology. She is pursuing her Master’s degree in clinical social work at St. Kate’s to serve her community more efficiently as a future social worker. She hopes to work with families and children and help them improve their social skills in their community. Betty has had various jobs that helped mold her and her expertise around working with the BIPOC and Asian American community. She hopes to bring her experiences to better use as a Family Support Specialist at Roots Wellness Center.

Asha is a trans-racial adoptee from India who received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the College of St. Benedict. She has always held a value for honoring people’s journeys and stories. After working in the healthcare field for almost 20 years, she decided to go back to school to become a therapist. She recently earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Kentucky. As a therapist, her desire is to walk alongside people, offer support and honor their stories as they navigate life’s challenges. She believes that each client comes to therapy with unique experiences and recognizes the importance of meeting clients where they are at. Asha works to build an authentic therapeutic relationship and utilizes a multifaceted and individualized, client-centered, trauma-informed approach designed to fit each client’s unique needs and goals. Because of her personal story, she is passionate about working with and advocating for underserved BIPOC communities. When she is not working, she and her husband can be found watching their two boys play soccer or their daughter swim. In the rest of her free time, she enjoys volunteering as a Board member for their soccer club, reading and hanging out with friends.

Joanne Hodgeman is a single mother of three, a social worker, and a foster care survivor. Joanne has been advocating in the child welfare arena since she was a teenager in foster care. Joanne recently completed grad school and obtained a masters in social work. Joanne intends to use her education and lived experiences to continue to advocate in child welfare with primary focus areas that include; family preservation, abolition, and liberation for all.

Larrissa is from all over the Midwest including Illinois, Iowa, and now Minnesota. She completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Studies at Iowa State University and her passion is rooted in social justice for children and families while advocating for systemic change. Larrissa moved to Minnesota three and a half years ago and recently completed a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Larrissa holds the professional license of LGSW and is working towards her clinical licensure. She believes in upholding the dignity and worth of those she works alongside and puts an importance on meeting individuals where they are at. Larrissa’s previous experience encompasses working with youth in foster care and juvenile systems, individuals, couples, and families seeking mental health counseling, and assisting those experiencing homelessness access resources and stable housing. Larrissa places high importance in human relationships while working with her community and strives to continue to learn from others each day.  

Clo (They/She) is a Minnesota native originally from rural, south-eastern Minnesota. After living through family and self-experiences of crisis, they pursued a degree in Social Work. Recently graduating from Winona State University with a Bachelor of Social Work, focusing in Women Gender and Sexuality Studies as well as Child Advocacy. For the last 5 years while completing their degree Clo worked as a childcare provider, primarily working with infants and their families. Their past experiences serving others also includes Direct Support Provider, and Social Work intern in the White Bear Lake school district. Clo holds the professional licensure of LSW which they use to honor, uplift, and advocate for those they work with and for. Through their role as Family Support Specialist here at Roots Clo aims to joyfully assist families and their members reach their goals and strengthen their connections with themselves, their families, and their communities.

I started my spiritual Yoga path seven years ago, but my healing journey began with my mother. My mother, like my ancestors, was rooted in holistic healing and energy from the earth and its most natural form. I want to share and reclaim ancestral knowledge and remember the way of healing that has existed for thousands of years. Through Yoga, I created a space to heal and with it, I want to provide others with that space to heal.

I have certification for RYT-200 and will be receiving my RYT-500 certification at the end of June. I have Yoga certification specialties in anxiety, depression, eating disorders, body image, trauma, and chemical dependency. Currently, I’m in my graduate program for Marriage and Family Therapy at UW-Stout. In creating balance in my life, I enjoy doing yoga, meditation, biking, swimming, paddle boarding, and walking with nature.

A fun fact about me, I’ve been biking year-round for nine years now!

Hello! My name is Bertie. I am Dakota, native of Minnesota. I am pursuing my bachelor’s in social work with a minor in Chemical Dependency Counseling at St. Catherine’s University, and I plan to continue education for my master’s degree. I am currently licensed through the Board of Hypnotherapy, in the Krasner method. I value Social Justice and diversity. I emphasize use of harm-reduction and trauma-informed practice. My career objective is to listen, empathize, and assist in community resources, as well as holistic healing. A fun fact is I love outdoors and golf!

I am born and raised in St. Paul. I have worked in the healthcare industry for over 15 years. Primarily focused on Certified Peer Recovery Support, Intake and Financial Coordinator.
This continues to provide me the opportunity to grow personally and professionally. When not working I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, on the beach, out hiking, walking and looking for agates.

Katy began her social work career by working in post-adoption services, reuniting birth parents and their adopted children. This work was personal and incredibly rewarding due to her own separation from her birth mother and trans-racial adoption.

Katy obtained her B.A. in Sociology at Northern Illinois University in 2006 and completed her MSW as a Title IV-E Child Welfare Scholar from the University of Minnesota in 2009. Her professional experience has been in ARMHS services, Case Management, therapist in private practice, Program Director of CTSS and ARMHS, and later as founder and CEO of Minnesota CarePartner in 2013.

Her life commitment is centered around advocacy for racial justice and the liberation of Black and Brown people, and actively working to dismantle systems of oppression through collective protest.

Judi has lived in Minnesota all her life and loves to be outdoors especially in the fall when the trees are changing colors. Judi is a mother of three children, two cats and one dog. She is a housing first advocate and believes that clients cannot begin their healing journey before their basic day to day needs are met. She is committed to helping her clients seek permanent housing and access to any resources that will help them to meet their needs as well as pursue their dreams. She has worked in the Substance use field since 2015 and has taking on many roles including CD Tech, Intake specialist, Withdrawal assistance counselor, Harm reduction counselor, Lead counselor, Clinical Supervisor, Admissions counselor and now Treatment Director at Roots Wellness Center! She is an advocate of harm reduction approaches to recovery and believes that clients are the ultimate experts in what they need to heal and build the lives they want. Judi loves to travel and believes that immersing in different cultural surroundings can bring about a more open-minded approach to all areas of life. Judi is passionate about social justice and she is a lifelong learner of how to decolonize our thinking and social systems.

Richard “Chi” Johnson has been teaching TaiChi and Yoga around the TwinCities for the past 18 years, drawing upon the wisdom of both traditions as well as a first-principles mindset which allows a strong interdisciplinary approach to wellness. These pillars of his personal practice took hold in 2004 while pursuing a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Minnesota, and proved to be a profound sounding-board for the other studies undertaken during this time as well. An ongoing interest in physics, psychology, athletics, music, and political science (among other subjects) continues to infuse his work with new ideas and avenues of outreach. Despite ample classical training, he is a classic non-conformist and enjoys upending misconceptions and preconceived notions about Yoga and TaiChi.

Bio coming up….

Selena has been a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) with working in the field for almost three years. Selena has a strong dedication to helping individuals through addiction and recovery. Having lived in the surrounding areas near the cities in Minnesota, she understands the diverse needs of the community and is committed to providing compassionate, person-centered care. As a proud Filipino-American, Selena integrates a culturally sensitive approach to counseling, utilizing her mixed heritage and personal experiences to offer a holistic, supportive environment. Her interest in holistic care was sparked by her Filipino grandmother, who first introduced her to the healing properties of coconut oil for treating stomach pain. This early exposure to alternative medicine ignited her interest in exploring wellness practices that supports the mind, body, and spirit. Driven by a desire to empower others, Selena is committed to supporting her clients with authenticity and compassion to their healing journey.

Lauren grew up in a small town in Georgia and moved to Minneapolis to attend the University of Minnesota for her undergraduate degree in Child Psychology. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Integrative Behavioral Health at the University of Minnesota, focusing on harm reduction. Lauren has worked in early childhood education, community and youth programming in Minneapolis, and social services, before becoming an LADC.

As an LADC, Lauren centers the voice of her clients by focusing on holistic, trauma-informed care for addiction and honoring their lived experiences. She believes in a strengths-based approach and walking alongside individuals as they build their skills and celebrating emotional growth. Growing up in an underserved community drives her to want to increase accessibility to services for all individuals, and work to create a more equitable environment. When she isn’t at Roots or the U, she is often hiking up north, crocheting, or planning her next camping trip.

My name is Desiree Smith. My role at “Roots Wellness Center” is the Adult Targeted Case Manager. I was raised in St. Paul, Minnesota until 12 years of age. I lived on the West Coast, between Northern California and Southern Oregon, for the rest of my adolescent years and adulthood. I migrated back to Minnesota in “2018”, to join my family on their journey to open a group home for adults with psychiatric disabilities. I extended my services to the state of Minnesota, where I served as a Behavior Specialist. I provided several rehabilitation techniques to individuals experiencing crisis. I see a clear path here at “Roots Wellness Center”, with room for growth as I continue to serve with passion. I find my work rewarding as I get to witness direct results from all my efforts. I am passionate about creating a positive impact on society and the environment, as I continue to navigate through life with an adult child, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 16.

Chaltu Omar is a proud first-generation Oromo with a deep commitment to serving individuals and communities in need. Originally from Minneapolis, MN, Chaltu has dedicated herself to supporting others through her work in mental health and social services. Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW), Chaltu is focused on advancing her knowledge and skills to better serve her clients. As an ARMHS Intern with Roots Wellness Center, she assists clients in building life skills, managing mental health challenges, and fostering independence. Chaltu’s professional philosophy is rooted in the belief that every individual has the capacity for resilience and self-determination. She is particularly passionate about addressing mental health disparities in marginalized communities and creating spaces where clients feel seen, heard, and supported. When she is not studying or working, Chaltu loves spending time with her family and exploring new experiences through her children’s eyes.

I was born in Guadalajara Mexico and immigrated to the US in the 90s and have lived in Minneapolis since 1997. My Professional background is in technology sales and project management.

I really enjoy making new relationships and working towards closing gaps in everyday life with the technology we have available.

Koya Siebie is a biologist from Atlanta, Georgia. She earned her degree from Georgia State University and relocated to Minnesota in 2019 to further her healthcare career. Her transition into birth work began in 2019 with the birth of her goddaughter and she has since completed training with Enlightened Mama.

She is currently pursuing her Master of Public Health at Saint Mary’s University, and Evidence Based Childbirth education certification with Holistic Continuum. Koya’s passion for birth work and accessibility for all led to the creation of Birthin’ Black LLC; a collective of birth workers who emphasize fighting disparities in minority groups.

Birthin’ Black services persons of all races, abilities, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic backgrounds. I aim to provide my clients with adequate education, advocacy, and preparation for their birthing experience.

I was born in Portugal, grew up in Brazil, and moved to the twin cities in ’98. Professionally I’ve worked in childcare, cosmetology, teaching, mentoring, and volunteering in my community. My greatest challenge and accomplishment has been raising my son.

Bio coming up…

Nicole is a native of Minnesota. Nicole has been working in the mental health field for over 15 years.

Nicole works with adults and provides supportive services focused on increasing independence and self-confidence for all.

Benjamin is a native of Brooklyn Park, MN. He currently resides in rural Pine City where he provides both individual/family CTSS services to surrounding communities within a 50-mile radius for the last 12yrs.

During this time he’s established himself within the tri County area (Isanti, Chisago, Kanabec ) as the preferred Practitioner. Benjamin also contributes his time, resources, and energy to developing social skills groups within the communities he serves.

Courtney has been working with Roots Wellness Center for six years as a Mental Health Practitioner providing home- and community-based services to clients with mental illness. Along with this experience, she has an extensive background in delivering quality care to clients in the home health/group home setting as a Direct Support Professional. The types of clientele that would receive her care had a wide variety of health issues which include both mental and physical needs.

Courtney continues to find reward in assisting her clients at RWC. She will continue to gain knowledge in the field of mental health and offer her professional services throughout the north metro/metro areas. Language or Cultural Specialty: English

Daniel received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota. Daniel spent time working with children ages 2-6 with a diagnosis of ASD before joining the Roots Wellness Center team as a Mental Health Practitioner. Daniel currently works in CTSS, promoting healthy development of clients and families