The Happehatchee Center is run by volunteers! If you would like to be part of this great team, please fill out our Volunteer Application.
Board of Directors
The Happehatchee Board of Directors was established in 2006 when the Happehatchee Center was incorporated. Board members are passionate, unpaid volunteers dedicated to the sustainability of the Center as a sanctuary for peace and healing.
Genelle G. Grant, President
Genelle G. Grant, Ed.D. has worked in universities in Puerto Rico, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, New Hampshire, Boston, and Florida. Her areas of expertise are: reproductive health education, community organizing, TV and radio production, art instruction and murals painting, and educational methods and materials development for teachers. Currently, she travels frequently to Guatemala and works with the Guatemala Ministry of Education, women’s cooperatives, indigenous rights organizations, and with the vocational college created by Nobel Laureate Dr. Rigoberta Menchu Tum.
Since 1992 Dr. Grant has advocated for migrant farm worker families and for the Maya people who live in SW Florida. She is the founder and director of the GRACE Project (Guatemalan Rural Adult and Children’s Education), which delivers faculty development and reproductive health workshops in Guatemala and in Southwest Florida. She has created projects to prevent and identify human trafficking situations as well as therapy groups for survivors of trafficking.
Genelle has practiced Yoga and meditation since 1972 and has been a joyful drummer in Ubaka Hill’s Drumsong Orchestra.
www.thegraceproject.org www.leyesparalapaz.com www.lawsforpeace.com
Since 1992 Dr. Grant has advocated for migrant farm worker families and for the Maya people who live in SW Florida. She is the founder and director of the GRACE Project (Guatemalan Rural Adult and Children’s Education), which delivers faculty development and reproductive health workshops in Guatemala and in Southwest Florida. She has created projects to prevent and identify human trafficking situations as well as therapy groups for survivors of trafficking.
Genelle has practiced Yoga and meditation since 1972 and has been a joyful drummer in Ubaka Hill’s Drumsong Orchestra.
www.thegraceproject.org www.leyesparalapaz.com www.lawsforpeace.com
Ruth Fotovat, Vice President
Ruth has been involved with Happehatchee Center for decades and was a close friend and confidant of our founder, Ellen Peterson. She worked in publishing, banking, has owned several companies and is now retired from the State of Florida. Ms. Fotovat has degrees from City College of New York and her B.A. from Florida International University. Ruth Fotovat was appointed by Ellen Peterson to the Happehatchee Board in 2008 and is our Secretary. She has been on the boards of several non-profits, but none were as much fun as Happehatchee. Ruth accompanied Ellen to many demonstrations and marches. The two women often drummed together, and you’ll very likely see her at our drumming circles.
Richard Shine, Secretary
Richard first met Ellen Peterson, the Happehatchee Center's founder, 25 years ago and has volunteered in various capacities at the Happehatchee Center since its inception. Richard's career in intergovernmental relations, project implementation, and program management spans 41 years at local, regional, state, national, and Caribbean levels involving the public and private sectors, including 25 years with the Florida Department of Transportation. His professional experience includes local government comprehensive planning; multi-modal, regional, and state strategic planning; bicycle and pedestrian planning, design, and integration; safety and systems management; environmental considerations, and livable/walkable community development and connectivity. Richard is the Happehatchee Center's delegate for the Village of Estero's Local Government Comprehensive Plan process, and other relevant planning endeavors.
Richard first met Ellen Peterson, the Happehatchee Center's founder, 25 years ago and has volunteered in various capacities at the Happehatchee Center since its inception. Richard's career in intergovernmental relations, project implementation, and program management spans 41 years at local, regional, state, national, and Caribbean levels involving the public and private sectors, including 25 years with the Florida Department of Transportation. His professional experience includes local government comprehensive planning; multi-modal, regional, and state strategic planning; bicycle and pedestrian planning, design, and integration; safety and systems management; environmental considerations, and livable/walkable community development and connectivity. Richard is the Happehatchee Center's delegate for the Village of Estero's Local Government Comprehensive Plan process, and other relevant planning endeavors.
Mary Cline Goldbitz, Member of the Board, Faculty Coordinator
Mary is back to teach yoga at Happehatchee and is now serving on the Happehatchee Board of Directors. She is currently a mediator and a yoga teacher. She practiced law for over 25 years, with federal judges and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.Most of her legal practice focused on domestic violence victims and families in crisis. Prior to her legal career, Mary worked as a social worker and for many community organizations. Mary lives with her husband Peter, two dogs, and occasionally one of their three wonderful adult sons. She enjoys hiking and being in nature, gardening, learning about medicinal herbs and making music. Mary is a member of the Maine Bar (inactive) and also the Yoga Alliance.
Mary is back to teach yoga at Happehatchee and is now serving on the Happehatchee Board of Directors. She is currently a mediator and a yoga teacher. She practiced law for over 25 years, with federal judges and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.Most of her legal practice focused on domestic violence victims and families in crisis. Prior to her legal career, Mary worked as a social worker and for many community organizations. Mary lives with her husband Peter, two dogs, and occasionally one of their three wonderful adult sons. She enjoys hiking and being in nature, gardening, learning about medicinal herbs and making music. Mary is a member of the Maine Bar (inactive) and also the Yoga Alliance.
Marta Matías Sicaján, Member of the Board and Faculty
Marta is an international speaker for the rights of indigenous women. She is the Founder of the School for Special Education in Santa Eulalia, Guatemala, and the owner of the two businesses in SWFL: Maya Art Jewelry and Maya Cleaning, Inc. Ms. Sicaján is a translator in the Lee and Collier County Court systems for the Maya Q’anjobal and Maya Acateco languages. She is a teacher for the GRACE Project in SW Florida and Guatemala, Founder and Director of the folkloric dance group “Espíritu Maya,” and has performed with the group at the Florida Folk Festival. Marta is on the Board of Directors of La Asociación Maya del Suroeste de la Florida (Maya Association of SWFL) and is President of the Fort Myers Chapter of Hearts United for Guatemala. Marta served on the Happehatchee Center Advisory Committee for five years. In the photograph, Marta is in the middle holding a ‘Tun’ (Maya drum) made from Happehatchee Bamboo.
Marta is an international speaker for the rights of indigenous women. She is the Founder of the School for Special Education in Santa Eulalia, Guatemala, and the owner of the two businesses in SWFL: Maya Art Jewelry and Maya Cleaning, Inc. Ms. Sicaján is a translator in the Lee and Collier County Court systems for the Maya Q’anjobal and Maya Acateco languages. She is a teacher for the GRACE Project in SW Florida and Guatemala, Founder and Director of the folkloric dance group “Espíritu Maya,” and has performed with the group at the Florida Folk Festival. Marta is on the Board of Directors of La Asociación Maya del Suroeste de la Florida (Maya Association of SWFL) and is President of the Fort Myers Chapter of Hearts United for Guatemala. Marta served on the Happehatchee Center Advisory Committee for five years. In the photograph, Marta is in the middle holding a ‘Tun’ (Maya drum) made from Happehatchee Bamboo.
Staff
Patty Hughes, Office Manager
Patty Hughes, Office Manager
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Patty moved to Estero FL in October 2014 from Fayetteville, NY; a small village near Syracuse. After 30 + years in corporate accounting/finance, it was time to semi-retire and be near family. In addition to Happehatchee, Patty works part-time at Lowe’s Estero in the outside garden department as a cashier. Patty enjoys gardening, helping animals in need, volunteering at local animal shelters, spending time with family and friends, especially her newly born grandson. Patty is enjoying her work at the Happehatchee Center and being part of such a beautiful community dedicated to the preservation of and promoting peace. |
Holley Rauen, Librarian Archivist
Holley Rauen is a retired midwife and public health nurse, a seasoned social justice and environmental advocate and community organizer. She is currently working on the Ellen Peterson Legacy Project, which will be permanently preserved in the FGCU Library of Special Digital Archives. Holley is the co-founder the SWFL Pachamama Alliance Community. Her mission is to build and nurture a community of enlightened evolutionary activists in SWFL. Holley guides Pachamama Awakening the Dreamer Symposia, Drawdown workshops, Om Circles for World Peace, and Sacred Water Ceremonies in the SW Florida community. She is a volunteer Calusa Waterkeeper Ranger in Fort Myers. Holley organized and taught women’s health classes and human trafficking prevention with the Lee County Health Department and the GRACE project in SWFL and Guatemala. Holley is available for weddings, memorials, and other rites of passage, when she is not traveling.
Happehatchee Faculty
Edric "Eddie" Brathwaite, Yoga Instructor, Caretaker
Eddie considers himself “a guy from the beach”. Eddie grew up in St.Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, where he spent a lot of time at his grandparents' place. As Eddie puts it,” I have always been a free spirit trying to find my way to improve or help our experience in this realm be more conscious.”Eddie started his journey off with martial arts and dance, ballet, modern jazz , stilt dancing, Ji-jitsu, Seibukan, Win- chun, and, Ninjitsu. “Movement has always been a big part of my life,” he says. Eddie is also a trained massage therapist, having studied deep tissue Reiki, Russian, hot stones and Shiatsu. Eddie’s own journey to yoga happened as a result of an injury. At some point, he realized his past life was no more. He attributes yoga and swimming to saving his life. His goals for his students are simple. “With Yoga, my main goal is to keep you out of your head and in the moment,” he states and adds, “I love yoga. It’s my calling, it’s my life.”
Katheryn Pizzino, Yoga Teacher
"My journey started after a near fatal bus accident. The benefits of yoga have changed my life physically and spiritually. I am humbled and grateful to help my students connect the mind body and spirit to set the tone for their day!"
Tara A Mina, Yoga Teacher
Tara A Mina RYT, CPED is a Certified Yoga Teacher and Pedorthist specializing in Youth Yoga, Hatha, Iyengar Yoga & Board Member of Mindful Life Academy. She began teaching yoga in 2006 when she introduced to her preschool class to Yoga. This quickly grew into her little Yogi program, spanning from 3 yrs to 15-year-olds. Since then, many have referred to her as Yoga Mama. As a hobby, she makes handcrafted Shungite Soap. (Yoga Mama Soap Shop) Tara often uses essential oil aromatherapy and crystal bowls in her gentle yoga classes. Her classes are challenging yet relaxing.
Yuan Chang, Dance Instructor
Yuan Chang is a passion driven, conscious millennial that has one mission in life- to do incredible art and inspire others to do the same. She is the cofounder of the Peanut Butter Palace, an intentional community in suburban Orlando. She's spent the last six years delving into group creativity, food forestry, community education, fermentation, and communal living. Dancing is one of the many ways she expresses herself and has taught regular classes at UCF and at the cooperative. She also is a musician, web designer, and culinary enthusiast.
Denise Exler
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Denise Exler is a Licensed Spiritual Healer, Intuitive Coach, and Shamanic Channel. She believes that we are all beautiful energetic light beings who came to this world to live life to its fullest. Once we remember Who We Are and what we are capable of, then magic begins to unfold in our lives. Denise has facilitated numerous healing circles in both Canada and the United States, assisting others to remember WHO they are. She has completed studies in Shamanic Healing, Reiki, and Body Regeneration, and is certified in Foot Reflexology, Raindrop Technique and Aromatherapy. As the founder of Sacred Healing Drum, Denise is dedicated to helping others connect to their divine guidance creating empowerment to heal within. She is currently following her dream of creating a spiritual wellness center near Parry Sound, Canada. For more information, go to: www.sacredhealingdrum.com or contact using sacredhealingdrum@gmail.com. |
Gloria Reilly, Yoga Instructor
Gloria teaches Kundalini Yoga and Meditation as taught by Yogi Bhajan. Her spiritual name is Gian (wisdom) Kirin (light), and you can find her on Facebook at Gian Kirin Yoga.
She completed her training at the Sat Nam Wellness Center and Institute of Kundalini Yoga, joining a close network of Kundalini Yogis worldwide. Her dedication stems from seeing the benefits of integrating the lifestyle of Kundalini Yoga into her own daily life. Gloria’s goal is to share the tools she has learned to guide people to their self- initiated process of healing and growth. Her joyful, reverent sharing of the teachings helps students live beyond the stressors of daily life by gently challenging the body and elevating the spirit to empower our innate ability to rise above any setback. Her classes incorporate movement (asana), breath (pranayama), and sacred sound (mantra). A favorite Yogi Bhajan quote that guides her is: “You are the master of your destiny, you are the prediction of your horoscope, you are the leader of your day, you are the light of your life.
Jessie Jimenez, Yoga Instructor
Jessie Jimenez is a Wellness Facilitator with certifications in Yoga and fitness.
Originally from Venezuela, she came to USA at the age of 7. Always athletic and in shape, in 2002 a series of surgeries change her life for the worse. Ten years ago in the quest to find relief she discovered her spiritual path and changed her life forever. Now in the name of a better, happier and peaceful life Jessie shares the love and humble teachings she learned that have brought so much joy to life.
Jessie is owner of the Wellnessfacilitator.com. "Happehatchee gives me the opportunity to share the peace that can only come by sharing immense amounts of love, humility and the earnest wish to be the best person I can be so I can lead by example."