Rooted in ancestral wisdom, we address the unique challenges faced by marginalized and system-impacted populations, committing to healing, community-building, and cultivating bold leadership.
Guided by commitment
We embrace the sacred journey of birthwork, supporting expecting mothers through every phase of their pregnancy. Our holistic approach to birthwork encompasses physical, emotional, and spiritual support, ensuring that each mother experiences childbirth as a positive and empowering milestone.
Commitment to inclusivity
We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive community where individuals from all walks of life feel valued and empowered. Our commitment to healing extends beyond traditional boundaries, embracing diverse cultural practices and honoring the inherent wisdom of each person we serve.
Meet the Team
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![Erika Salas]()
Erika Salas
CO-FOUNDER • BIRTHWORKER
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![Dennis Gereritz]()
Dennis Gereritz
CO-FOUNDER • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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![Yadaris Otero Sánchez]()
Yadaris Otero Sánchez
LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST
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![Charlie Palaguachi]()
Charlie Palaguachi
REHABILITATION AND REINTEGRATION COORDINATOR
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![Santiago Alonso González]()
Santiago Alonso González
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
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![Luz Barbosa]()
Luz Barbosa
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
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![Joel LaFrance]()
Joel LaFrance
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
FOUNDER
Erika Salas
Erika, a mother of three wonderful young adults, embodies a spirit of service that has defined her life's journey. Hailing from Costa Rica, she arrived in the USA at the age of 17, carrying with her the cultural richness and resilience that would shape her path. Throughout her life, Erika has worn many hats – a teacher, an Ayurvedic practitioner, a birth worker – each role a testament to her dedication to nurturing and empowering others. For fourteen years, Erika poured her heart and soul into Little Cricket Academy, a holistic preschool and daycare she owned and ran.
What inspired Erika to embark on this journey with COPAL was a transformative encounter her son had with a mentor. At 15 years old, her son was struggling, teetering on the edge of a life marked by bad choices and missed opportunities. This mentor's intervention changed everything – her son found purpose, stayed off the streets, and flourished academically. Witnessing this profound impact ignited a fire within Erika, compelling her to extend that same lifeline to others through COPAL.
Through her involvement with COPAL, Erika hopes to empower individuals to reclaim their narratives, find their voices, and contribute meaningfully to their communities. She sees COPAL's work as a beacon of hope for system-impacted individuals, offering pathways to redemption, healing, and opportunity.
FOUNDER
Dennis Gereritz
As an helper, an activist and grassroots organizer, Dennis leads COPAL—Cultivating Opportunity, Peace, and Leadership. His journey to start this non-profit spans over two decades, during which he’s worn multiple hats. He has been a dedicated teacher for almost two decades and a part of his school's Restorative Justice team. As a youth, Dennis made many mistakes, so he knows the value or another chance, of a conversation with an elder.
Nurturing youth leadership is his passion. Mentorship and education allow young individuals to become resilient, visionary leaders within their communities. Dennis is a mestizo, his blood is the Americas, thus he honors diverse cultural practices and recognizes the inherent wisdom of each person. The COPAL community fosters inclusivity, valuing and empowering everyone.
From bustling inner cities to the serene Amazon rainforest, Dennis has connected with diverse communities. His experiences in the Andes and Alaska have deepened his understanding of resilience and adaptation. Dennis stands for immigrant rights and works with formerly incarcerated individuals. Their stories fuel his passion for justice and empowerment.
Join Dennis in weaving these threads of connection, compassion, and leadership. Together, we can create a tapestry of positive change—one community at a time.
LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST
Yadaris Otero Sánchez
Yadaris Otero Sánchez has been working with children since 2011, following a life-changing experience. It became her passion and life mission to be of service to children because of the creative, inspirational, emotional, and spiritual rewards it brings. The latter drives her to affiliate with COPAL in order to help and support in facilitating spaces for children and young adults where they can learn to apprehend useful skills and knowledge. In her experience and practice, Yadaris believes that ceremonial practices and teachings, such as Native American or indigenous, can help restore, nourish, and replenish harmonious relationships and well-being with self and others while building community and a sense of belonging.
In her thirteen years of experience, Yadaris has learned to acquire listening and observational skills; she also knows to slow down, to be compassionate, to be patient, and to hold space while being creative. She enjoys sharing art, music, dance, playing guitar, and singing, but her connection with the drum is her gift, and she sees herself holding "círculos de canto" (song circles) for women. Yadaris also finds deep spiritual connection and fulfillment through ceremonial practices. In both Mexico and New York, she participates in the sacred Moondance, a four-night dance ceremony known as Danza de Luna, nurturing her soul and enriching her understanding of holistic well-being. Additionally, she embraces the teachings of the Native American Church (NAC), integrating their wisdom into her approach to nurturing others' emotional and spiritual development. These experiences have profoundly shaped her journey and inform her compassionate approach to guiding and supporting children and young adults.
REHABILITATION AND REINTEGRATION COORDINATOR
Charlie Palaguachi
Charlie Palaguachi, a 36-year-old native of Brooklyn, New York, was raised in the vibrant city while carrying the cultural heritage of his parents, who hail from the Native South American Kichwa nation, specifically the province of Cañari in Ecuador. Their roots trace back to the ancient Incan Empire, instilling in Charlie a profound sense of identity and connection to his ancestry.
Despite this rich cultural background, Charlie's adolescence was marked by a series of missteps and wrong choices that led him down a perilous path of incarceration and gang involvement. Spending much of his formative years in and out of jail, he acknowledges the turbulent nature of his upbringing, shaped by the consequences of his decisions.
However, amidst the darkness, Charlie found a guiding light in a spiritual journey that transformed his life fundamentally. This awakening led him to recognize the true essence of life—its fragility, its sanctity, and the importance of gratitude for every moment bestowed upon him.
Determined to break the cycle of adversity and offer guidance to the next generation, Charlie made a solemn vow to himself. Drawing from his own experiences and lessons learned, he resolved to reach out to at-risk youth, empathizing with their struggles and providing a listening ear and understanding heart. Through effective communication, he endeavors to forge bonds of trust and mutual respect, imparting invaluable wisdom garnered from his own trials and tribulations.
Charlie's most profound revelation came during his 3 1/2 years of incarceration in the New York State penitentiary—a period marked by deprivation of liberty and the harsh realities of confinement. It was a time of reckoning, where he confronted the consequences of his actions and grappled with the loss of his teenage years. Yet, it was also a transformative phase, fueling his resolve to make a positive impact on the lives of others.
TRANSLATOR AND INTER TRIBAL RELATIONS
Santiago Alonso González
Santiago graduated business school at the University Anahuac, Mexico City in 2015. He has served the Wixárika Nation over the past 10 years through legal and spiritual matters. In the years of 2013-2016 he also assisted them in the renovation of their sacred sites, alters, and holy places. Now, Santiago serves as a main translator and bridge between the Wixárika Nation and the modern world on behalf of this project and the preservation of land, medicine, and culture in Wirikuta.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
Luz Barbosa
Luz Barbosa, the founder of Stella Lucchi, is a passionate advocate for sustainability and cultural empowerment. Her journey began in 2012 when she created her first piece of upcycled jewelry as a means of coping with personal hardships. This therapeutic process evolved into Stella Lucchi, a thriving business that transforms old materials into beautiful new creations, promoting sustainability, creativity, and mindful living.
Inspired by COPAL's commitment to community empowerment and KAHP LEGADO AFRICANO's efforts in cultural revival, Luz sees a strong synergy between her work and their missions. Her expertise in sustainable fashion and creative entrepreneurship enables her to bridge creativity and community empowerment within COPAL. Luz designs and leads workshops on upcycling and sustainable practices, collaborates on initiatives supporting system-impacted individuals, and fosters partnerships aligned with COPAL's goals.
One of the most meaningful moments in Luz's journey was creating her first piece of upcycled jewelry, turning pain into purpose. This experience taught her the power of creativity and finding beauty in what others might discard. Through her involvement with COPAL and KAHP LEGADO AFRICANO, Luz hopes to empower individuals by sharing skills and mindset to see potential in the discarded, fostering resilience, and celebrating cultural identity.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
Joel LaFrance
Joel LaFrance, a Kanienkehaka (Mohawk) from Akwesasne, moved to Ithaca at 11 and ventured to the West Coast at 19. Raised in a Traditional Longhouse environment by a Wolf Clan chief father, Joel was immersed in the Ceremonial Ways of the Haudenosaunee people, participating in various societies and singing groups. Lacrosse has been a lifelong passion for Joel, leading him to roles as a player, coach, and mentor.
Growing up with Indigenous roots in a spiritual yet economically challenged setting, Joel understands the importance of using his life experiences to help others. Witnessing systematic oppression and street life in California, he offers spiritual guidance to at-risk individuals, drawing from his journey back to his "Original Instructions" from The Creator.
As a Sundancer, Joel conducts Sweatlodge Ceremonies to aid in detoxification and the decolonization of mind, spirit, and body. His experience coaching youth lacrosse has made him a relatable mentor, understanding the struggles beyond the sport.
Personal tragedies led Joel to seek a mentor and reconnect with his cultural roots, adopting a disciplined life guided by ceremony and protocol. He believes decolonization doesn't mean rejecting the modern world but rather honoring ancestral struggles, learning one's language and songs, and asserting the rights and freedoms of Indigenous peoples. Joel is dedicated to helping others reclaim their cultural identity and live authentically as the Original People of Turtle Island.