My name is Berenice Dimas

I was born in Tenochtitlan (what is now known as Mexico City) and grew up on Tongva Gabrielino Kizh Lands (El Monte, CA in the San Gabriel Valley). My family is native to the lands of Michoacan, Guanajuato, and the Valley of Toluca in Mexico.

Before anything, I share my deep gratitude to the ancestors for all their wisdom and what they continuously share with me. I'm grateful for the legacy that was passed down to me. Gracias a todo lo sagrado que me cuida, guía y protege por el permiso de saber y compartir su conocimiento.

The work that I offer in the community is a manifestation of this legacy, one that is deeply connected to earth medicines. My ancestors were healers, farmers, herbalists, birth keepers (although they did not always use these words to describe who they were). Being in relationship with the earth is simply a way of life in my family lineage. My ancestors also traveled, traded, and shared plant medicines with many people. What I share in community is a reflection of the relationship I have with my ancestors, the earth, the plants, and  what I have been able to cultivate within myself. It is constantly evolving. It also incorporates lessons I’ve learned through my lived experience in this body, in this realm, in this moment in time. From teachers, elders, tias/ aunties, mentors, family, and friends along the way. Both seen and unseen.

background

contributions

  • B.A. in Women & Gender Studies, B.A. in Ethnic Studies, and a Minor in Latin American Studies from California State University Fullerton.
  • M.A. in Multicultural Women’s and Gender Studies at Texas Woman's University. My thesis focused on the metaphysics of holistic transformation in Queer Chicana/x literature.
  • High School Teacher in the East Oakland for 5 years. Transitioned into district wide mediation, restorative, and transformative justice work in the SF Bay Area.
  • Practitoner of Mexican Traditional Medicine. Offering Limpias and Sobadas in the community since 2012.
  • Certified Full-spectrum birthworker (doula) since 2014 centering ceremony and indigenous birthing practices.
  • Founder and Community Based Herbal Educator at Hood Herbalism since 2016.
  • Student Midwife currently supporting families in Kumeyaay Tipai Lands (San Diego, CA).
  • Featured in: LA Times, NY Times, Healthline, Ofrenda Magazine, Fierce by Mitú, Remezcla, Hip Latina, Voyage LA, Refinery 29, the Mercado Poco a Poco Blog, Wildly Rooted Podcast, KQED, KPFK's Feminist Magazine and Dash Radio’s Heal & Hip Hop Show.
  • Facilitated workshops at the Women of Color Herbal Symposium (2016), the Portland Plant Medicine Gathering (2017), the Women of Color Herbal and Healing Retreat (2018), New Earth Mystery School (2018, 2019 & 2022), Root Work Herbals' People's Medicine School (2020), Nizhoni Institute of Midwifery (2020), at community spaces, K-12 schools, and universities across Turtle Island.
  • Practitioner for the Healing Clinic Collective in Oakland, CA from 2013-2016 and helped organize the 2015 Youth and Young Adult Healing Clinic.
  • Healer for the New Seneca Village 2023-Present
  • Contributor to: Fleshing The Spirit: Spirituality and Activism in Chicana, Latina, and Indigenous Women's Lives edited by Elisa Facio and Irene Lara.
  • Contributor to: Voices From the Ancestors and Beyond: Chicanx/ Latinx Decolonized Spiritual Expressions, edited by Lara Medina & Martha R. Gonzalez.
  • Contributor to: The Curanderx Toolkit: Reclaiming Ancestral Latinx Plant Medicine and Rituals for Healing by Atava Garcia Swiecicki.

Interested in having Berenice as a speaker at an upcoming event? Complete the form below to begin the conversation!

speaker request form

background

  • B.A. in Women & Gender Studies, B.A. in Ethnic Studies, and a Minor in Latin American Studies from California State University Fullerton.
  • M.A. in Multicultural Women’s and Gender Studies at Texas Woman's University. My thesis focused on the metaphysics of holistic transformation in queer Chicana literature.
  • Was a High School Teacher and then transitioned into district wide mediation, restorative, and transformative justice work.
  • Currently enrolled in Midwifery School
  • Founder and Community Based Herbal Educator at Hood Herbalism.
  • Full-spectrum birthworker (doula) centering ceremony and indigenous birthing practices.

contributions

  • Featured in: LA Times, NY Times, Healthline, Ofrenda Magazine, Fierce by Mitú, Remezcla, Hip Latina, Voyage LA, Refinery 29, the Mercado Poco a Poco Blog, Wildly Rooted Podcast, KQED, KPFK's Feminist Magazine and Dash Radio’s Heal & Hip Hop Show.
  • Facilitated workshops at the Women of Color Herbal Symposium (2016), the Portland Plant Medicine Gathering (2017), the Women of Color Herbal and Healing Retreat (2018), New Earth Mystery School (2018, 2019 & 2022), Root Work Herbals' People's Medicine School (2020), Nizhoni Institute of Midwifery (2020), at community spaces, K-12 schools, and universities across the country.
  • Practitioner for the Healing Clinic Collective in Oakland, CA from 2013-2016 and helped organize the 2015 Youth and Young Adult Healing Clinic.
  • Contributor to: Fleshing The Spirit: Spirituality and Activism in Chicana, Latina, and Indigenous Women's Lives edited by Elisa Facio and Irene Lara.
  • Contributor to: Voices From the Ancestors and Beyond: Chicanx/ Latinx Decolonized Spiritual Expressions, edited by Lara Medina & Martha R. Gonzalez.
  • Contributor to: The Curanderx Toolkit: Reclaiming Ancestral Latinx Plant Medicine and Rituals for Healing by Atava Garcia Swiecicki.

Interested in having Berenice as a speaker at an upcoming event? Complete the form below to begin the conversation!

speaker request form