Hola, I’m Criss!

Im a Human-centered Leadership and Wellness Latinx-focused Consultant

and Author of Pertenæcer©

 

With purpose and passion I aim to create, develop and support spaces where people make meaningful connections and feel like they belong.

I was born in Venezuela to Colombian parents. We migrated to the US when I was 15 years old, and I have spent most of my adult life living around the US, LatAm, and Spain. My husband and I currently reside in Dallas. Professionally, I spent over a decade in corporate America working in hispanic television sales, production, and operations. In 2016, after much inner work and reflection, I fully transitioned into a career that allowed me to spread culturally-attuned mindfulness around the world – initially running my own business and now solely through consulting. 

In addition to having a Master’s Degree in Mindfulness Studies from Lesley University, I am a certified facilitator for the renown program Search Inside Yourself, a leadership program developed at Google. I am also a self-published author of “PERTENÆCER: Eight-Week Mindfulness and Meditation Training and Practices for Latinx Immigrants in the United States ©”, and co-author

of “Building a more Diverse and Inclusive Science: Mindfulness-based Approaches for Latinx Individuals,” which was published in the Mindfulness Journal. I am also a Mindfulness Mentor having been trained by the renowned teachers Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield.

In my offline time, I enjoy practicing meditation, reading, traveling, walking in nature, doing yoga, rollerblading, and playing tennis.

What do I mean by Latinx-focused?

This means that I LOVE focusing my work and working with professionals who identify as Latino, Latina, Latine, Latinx, Hispanic, South American, Central American, Spanish, Argentinian, Bolivian, Chilean, Cuban, Colombian, Ecuadorian, Guatemalan, Salvarian, Costa Rican, Venezuelan, Peruvian, Panamanian, Dominican, Uruguayan, Nicaraguan, Honduran, etc…

It also takes into consideration cultural attunement. this is a two-way process of cultural exchange — meaning cultures are equal contributors to the process. Conscious or unconscious cultural-friendly adaptations are added to content to purposefully create spaces and initiatives that have embedded diverse cultural values.

What does human-centered leadership and skill-building training include?

People and teams:

1. Learn to build trust and create psychologically safe workspaces
2. Learn to recognize and align meaning and purpose between people and the organization
3. Learn how to cultivate a mindset that allows the growth and development of people
4. Learn how to empathize and take action accordingly

What is the role of wellness in all of this?

The goal is to impact the dimensions of:
1. Mental: Engaging the world through learning, problem-solving, creativity, etc.
2. Emotional: Being aware of, accepting, and expressing our feelings, and understanding the feelings of others.
3. Spiritual: Searching for meaning and a higher purpose in human existence.

MY OFFERINGS

These may be eligible for your work’s wellness stipend!

WORKSHOPS

  • Keynotes
  • Half-Day Workshops
  • Full-day Workshops

View Available Workshops

CUSTOM

  • Mindfulness and meditation practices
  • Wellness spaces

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TEAMS I HAVE WORKED WITH

Being facilitated by Criss Cuervo was such a treat! She masterfully held the balance of providing incredibly informative content while also ensuring participants had the necessary space to make meaning of what was being shared. Criss is warm, knowledgeable, approachable, dependable, and clear-sighted in her facilitation. I hope to be able to learn from her again in the future!

Her sharing of personal experiences, humbleness, proactive listening, compassion when analyzing somebody’s personal situation, and try providing potential remedies.

Criss was a compassionate, kind, and responsive facilitator. She shared with our team meditation and mindfulness techniques that brought us closer and helped us do our work with greater ease. I’d highly recommender her as a facilitator to other teams looking strengthen their relationships and learn how to do their work more effectively!

The calmness and openness with all the participants. Criss made us feel all welcome and nurtured. The examples of personal and professional life are always great to make the experience more vivid. The mix between the 2 teachers was great. Criss availability to stay longer to answer our questions/doubts.

Understanding of BIPOC experiences and yet not making white students feel excluded from the learning experience. Sharing personal stories and vulnerabilities. Did not sound like a guest lecturer like at workshops in companies. Sounded like “one of us.” Listening, empathy, compassion, love.

It opened my eyes to more ways Latin culture views impact mental health work and ways to weave culture into mindfulness activities.

Criss provided me with careful and patient guidance as I embarked on my career transition. Thanks to her support, I now feel more confident and empowered to make a positive impact on the mental and emotional well-being of my Latine community.

I thoroughly enjoyed each class, almost as if it were face-to-face. I congratulate you and, above all, I thank you for your love and dedication.