Grace Sesma

Experience

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  Curanderismo, the Healing Art of Mexico

  Jan 1993 - now

  Cultural Practitioner | Educator | Consultant

  As a cultural practitioner and educator Grace provides culturally relevant psychological, spiritual counsel and support to Mexican/Chicano/Native and Non-Native individuals through private sessions in her clinical practice. In the workplace she works with individuals and organizations who are affected by problems arising from cultural differences. Grace shares knowledge of traditional concepts and beliefs, protocols, spirituality, and healing practices; Advises on how aspects of traditional cultures can be compatible with requirements of the contemporary workplace; and, provides opportunities for management and staff to become knowledgeable about, and sensitive to, the historical experiences of Indigenous peoples of Mexico, United States, and Canada, and their contemporary situation as well as the vision they have for themselves and their community.She is the founder of MANA of Imperial Valley which promotes advocacy and leadership of Latinas and is a 1993 Fellow of the National Hispana Leadership Institute, a collaborative leadership project with Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Grace is an approved provider of traditional health services for the Sycuan Inter-Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Center in San Diego, California and is a consultant/trainer with TribalSTAR.An engaging speaker, she has lectured on Curanderismo (Traditional Mexican Medicine) at Children's Hospital-Denver, CO, UCSD Medical Anthropology Department, the 2010 ISSSEM Conference (the leading interdisciplinary organization in the country for the study of the basic sciences and medical and therapeutic applications of subtle energies), Great River Acupuncture Conference, SDSU, University of Florida, Iskotew Elders Teaching Lodge (Ottawa, Canada), and many other institutions. She travels extensively and offers presentations on indigenous cultural traditions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Show less

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  Tribal STAR, Academy for Professional Excellence

  Jan 2015 - now

  Consultant/Trainer

  Tribal STAR provides training to child welfare social workers, court personnel, attorneys, judges, tribes, Indian services agencies, and ICWA advocates. Our team provides 15 training days to 5 southern counties of California (San Diego, Riverside, Orange, San Bernardino, and Imperial), working with leadership and community to identify training priorities. Additionally we host educational Forums to elevate social work practice, an annual Judges’ Dinner for state and tribal court judges (in collaboration with Casey Family Programs), and an annual Celebration (where we honor improvements in our region). We work with state agencies: the California Department of Social Services, California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC), and the Judicial Council). We promote national efforts to improve outcomes for Indian children and families and are an official partner of the National Capacity Building Resource Center for Tribes (Children’s Bureau), and collaborate with the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. Show less