Introducing Rose Felix Cratsley, 2024 Advancing Social Equity Initiative Facilitator
The Aprendamos Family of Services organization, in partnership with the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico, is proud to partner with Rose Felix Cratsley from Ivy Child International on the 2024 Advancing Social Equity Initiative.
Rose is a Wellbeing and Equity Specialist, an Innovator, and the Founder of Ivy Child International. Founded in 2011, Ivy Child International is a non-profit that broadens access to mindfulness and healing education programs for systems of education and care. As an entirely BIPOC-led organization, Ivy Child centers advancing equity and social justice, with a special focus on often overlooked populations. Ivy Child International was honored by the Department of Health as an “Essential Agent of Change.”
Rose is also a featured TEDx speaker on “Unlocking Children’s Potential Through Mindfulness” and was honored among the 2022 “10 of the Powerful Women Leading the Mindfulness Movement” by Mindful Magazine.
In leading the 2024 Advancing Social Equity Initiative program, Rose brings together the alumni from the 2022 and 2023 cohorts to participate in an Alumni Work Group. This will allow the four nonprofit alumni groups from Jardín de los Niños, CAFéNM, Play Sharity, and Bold Futures to continue to strengthen their sustainability practices, build collaborative networks, and amplify their long-term impact.
Rose leads our inaugural Nuestra Juventud: Creating Communities of Hope Youth Fellowship participants through a one-of-a-kind, trust-based philanthropy program to foster a spirit of philanthropy, leadership, and community engagement among youth from historically marginalized communities.
The program will provide opportunities for young individuals to develop leadership skills, empathy, and an authentic sense of social responsibility.
When asked about the impact the Advancing Social Equity Initiative can make in Southern New Mexico, Rose said, “We center, value, and invest in our youth who are proximate to the challenges because we believe they hold the solutions. Youth making a difference in our communities, please know that we see you, we hear you, and we are with you. We are committed together to support your vision, strengthen trust, and make our community better for each and every one of us. This initiative was born out of love, respect, resilience, determination, and courage. Join us as we come together in hope and power with a special focus and collective goal: to engage with our community and philanthropy differently by equipping our youth with access to break the cycle of systemic oppression, and to become agents of change in our communities.”
For more information on the Advancing Social Equity Initiative or the Nuestra Juventud: Creating Communities of Hope Youth Fellowship, please contact Laura Elmquist, Aprendamos Family of Services Culture, Equity, and Belonging Champion, at lelmquist@aitkids.com.
