In 2013 a group of women came together to study with Atava Garcia-Swiecicki, who was offering a class called "The Curandera's Toolkit." Within the class a smaller core group instantly connected in a powerful way. The women, all with a strong calling to reclaim ancestral and indigenous healing modalities, birthed the idea of a mobile clinic that would go to the people. This mobile clinic would offer healing traditions that were familiar and effective based on plants, spirit, and community. In August of 2013, we purchased the Oakland Free Clnic Trailer from Jamie Menzel, who was headed northbound. Curanderas sin Fronteras is an East Bay grassroots women’s collective dedicated to serving the health and well-being of our communities through traditional medicine. We draw from our respective indigenous healing traditions, which includes the use of herbs, limpias (energy cleanse), platicas (talks), and massage to promote wellness. We aim to serve at risk populations while also providing space for new learning. Our services are donation-based and no one is turned away for lack of funds. Aside from our own family traditions and individual training, member’s of the collective draw from a particular curandera lineage that includes: Dona Enriqueta from Oaxaca, Estela Roman from Temixco, and Atava Garcia-Swiecicki. If you would like to provide a donation to make services available to more people, please contact Sandra M. Pacheco at drsandrapacheco@hotmail.com. Soon we will also have a list of "wish items" that we could use to ensure smooth operations! Members of our collective are:
Gavy Castillo
Karrin Chiefetz
Berenice Dimas
Diana Garcia
Atava Garcia-Swiecicki (advisor)
Napaquetzalli Martinez
Sandra M. Pacheco
Angelica Rodriguez
Lilia Roman
Marcela Sabin
Alma Viva
Operations staff: Jeff Franklin
