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Dr. Marianela Medrano was born in the Dominican Republic and has lived in Connecticut, USA, since 1990. She is a poet and writer of nonfiction and fiction. She holds a PhD in psychology. Her work appears in anthologies and magazines in Latin America, Europe, and the United States. Her poetry has been translated into Italian and French.    She cares deeply for the Earth and dreams of a healthy planet. Her research focuses on Afro-Taino peoples, the impact of historical trauma, and the spiritual roots of these traditions. Dr. Medrano’s work is also centered around building and supporting Ecodharma initiatives.   She is a certified Mindfulness meditation teacher and leads efforts to build libraries and writing workshops for children in her native country.In 2023, Dr. Medrano received a grant from the Bess Family Foundation, which she is using to investigate mindfulness as a vehicle to advance ecological initiatives focused on interspecies care in the Dominican Republic.   Dr. Medrano has lectured in many countries, including Spain, India, Colombia, El Salvador, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. She has worked with various populations and on various mental health issues, including drug and alcohol addiction, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and family/marriage counseling.   Dr. Medrano’s books include Oficio de Vivir (Buho,1986), Los Alegres Ojos de la Tristeza (Buho,1987), Regando Esencias/The Scent of Waiting (Alcance,1998), Curada de Espantos (Torremozas, 2002), Diosas de la Yuca (Torremozas, 2011), Prietica (Alfaguara, 2013), and Rooting (Owlfeather Collective, 2017).    Some of her articles can be found in the Journal of Poetry Therapy (Taylor & Francis), the Sandplay Therapy Journal, and Sisters of Caliban, among others.