OUR TEAM

Zayda Vallejo

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Zayda Vallejo, M.Litt., is co-founder of the Center for Relational Mindfulness & Cultural Literacy, co-director of The HeartWell Institute, adjunct faculty member at Harvard University Cambridge Health Alliance Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, adjunct faculty at the Mindfulness Center at Brown University, UCSD Center for Mindfulness, and Mindful Kids Miami. From 2007 to 2018 Zayda trained professionals who aspired to teach the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program at the University of Massachusetts Medical School Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Healthcare, and Society. Zayda currently conducts mentoring of mindfulness professionals, mindfulness trainings and retreats for different mindfulness organizations. Zayda teaches the Mindfulness Immersion (MI), a 4 day, 7-hour per day, mindfulness-based trauma informed experiential program based on the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction framework, honing in the cultivating of deep listening skills and compassion. This training can be presented as a consecutive four day or customized according to the needs of organizations. It is available in English and Spanish. In 2015, she co-authored with Rev. Dr. Lisa Fortuna a manual for mental health clinicians “Treating Co-occurring Adolescent PTSD and Addiction: Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Adolescents with Trauma and Substance-Abuse Disorders”, published by New Harbinger. In 2008, she co-authored with Dr. Hortensia Amaro “Moment-by-Moment in Women's Recovery: A Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention Program,” published by SAMHSA and Northeastern University. Zayda is second author of the Mindfulness Training for Primary Care (MTPC) curriculum developed by Harvard University Cambridge Health Alliance Center for Mindfulness and Compassion. Zayda was born in Colombia, South America - completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Loyola University in Chicago and an M.Litt in Political Economics at Oxford University in England. She holds a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Certification from Kripalu School of Yoga. She has been practicing meditation and yoga since 1978.



Co-Founder & Faculty

Bob Lenhardt

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Billie has been supporting the community of Worcester, MA as a Social Worker since 2009. She found her passion for cultural exploration and advocacy at a young age, growing up in an immigrant Greek family in Chicago, IL. In 2009, Billie moved to Worcester and started working with YOU INC, supporting youth and families as a Therapeutic Mentor. This role inspired her to pursue a career in mental health. She went on to study at the Boston College School of Social Work and completed her Masters Degree in 2012. Upon graduating, Billie transitioned from community based Social Work roles into Medical Social Work. The following years working with the VNA of Boston and Reliant Medical Group brought great emphasis on how deeply ones physical health and mental wellbeing are fundamentally linked. This led to Billie’s exploration of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and its positive impact on a patients' mental and physical health. She began studying and practicing MBSR at UMASS Medical School in 2018. Since then, Billie has been dedicated to incorporating Mindfulness into her clinical work and personal growth. In 2019, she started working with the HeartWell Institute promoting access to contemplative practices and educational programs surrounding mental and physical health. As Program Director, Billie is committed to cultivating a supportive community surrounding individuals personal growth and our collective wellbeing.



Co-Founder & Faculty

Billie Kasapakis

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Billie has been supporting the community of Worcester, MA as a Social Worker since 2009. She found her passion for cultural exploration and advocacy at a young age, growing up in an immigrant Greek family in Chicago, IL. In 2009, Billie moved to Worcester and started working with YOU INC, supporting youth and families as a Therapeutic Mentor. This role inspired her to pursue a career in mental health. She went on to study at the Boston College School of Social Work and completed her Masters Degree in 2012. Upon graduating, Billie transitioned from community based Social Work roles into Medical Social Work. The following years working with the VNA of Boston and Reliant Medical Group brought great emphasis on how deeply ones physical health and mental wellbeing are fundamentally linked. This led to Billie’s exploration of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and its positive impact on a patients' mental and physical health. She began studying and practicing MBSR at UMASS Medical School in 2018. Since then, Billie has been dedicated to incorporating Mindfulness into her clinical work and personal growth. In 2019, she started working with the HeartWell Institute promoting access to contemplative practices and educational programs surrounding mental and physical health. As Program Director, Billie is committed to cultivating a supportive community surrounding individuals personal growth and our collective wellbeing.



Program Director

Juan Carreon Granados

Special Events Coordinator

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Juan-José Carreón Granados was born in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, México. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (1965-1969) at the FacultaId de Ingeniería, FI, at National University, UNAM, Mexico; where he was full professor of Intelligent Systems (1999-2019). He has a Master’s degree in Latin American Studies at Political and Social Sciences Faculty, UNAM, where he has been professor of Social History, and he has been Head of the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences at FI, UNAM. Juan-José has directed more than a hundred theses, has participated in hundreds of academic update activities, received numerous awards, participated in special chairs at congresses, in five editorial committees, five evaluation committees, and two reviewing committees, attended several dozen relevant national and international invitations. He has participated in hundreds of academic update activities, received numerous awards, participated in special chairs at congresses, and attended several dozen relevant invitations. He has been a shareholder and advisor to numerous companies, and to more than a dozen research and interest groups, on issues related to information and communication technologies, as well as the social impact of technology. He has published more than 2,100 articles, in addition to having participated in hundreds of academic, technological and business events.



Delia Calixtro

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Juan-José Carreón Granados was born in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, México. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (1965-1969) at the FacultaId de Ingeniería, FI, at National University, UNAM, Mexico; where he was full professor of Intelligent Systems (1999-2019). He has a Master’s degree in Latin American Studies at Political and Social Sciences Faculty, UNAM, where he has been professor of Social History, and he has been Head of the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences at FI, UNAM. Juan-José has directed more than a hundred theses, has participated in hundreds of academic update activities, received numerous awards, participated in special chairs at congresses, in five editorial committees, five evaluation committees, and two reviewing committees, attended several dozen relevant national and international invitations. He has participated in hundreds of academic update activities, received numerous awards, participated in special chairs at congresses, and attended several dozen relevant invitations. He has been a shareholder and advisor to numerous companies, and to more than a dozen research and interest groups, on issues related to information and communication technologies, as well as the social impact of technology. He has published more than 2,100 articles, in addition to having participated in hundreds of academic, technological and business events.



Faculty

Zixiang Wang

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Juan-José Carreón Granados was born in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, México. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (1965-1969) at the FacultaId de Ingeniería, FI, at National University, UNAM, Mexico; where he was full professor of Intelligent Systems (1999-2019). He has a Master’s degree in Latin American Studies at Political and Social Sciences Faculty, UNAM, where he has been professor of Social History, and he has been Head of the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences at FI, UNAM. Juan-José has directed more than a hundred theses, has participated in hundreds of academic update activities, received numerous awards, participated in special chairs at congresses, in five editorial committees, five evaluation committees, and two reviewing committees, attended several dozen relevant national and international invitations. He has participated in hundreds of academic update activities, received numerous awards, participated in special chairs at congresses, and attended several dozen relevant invitations. He has been a shareholder and advisor to numerous companies, and to more than a dozen research and interest groups, on issues related to information and communication technologies, as well as the social impact of technology. He has published more than 2,100 articles, in addition to having participated in hundreds of academic, technological and business events.



Website Manager

The HeartWell Institute

1015 Pleasant St, Worcester, MA 01602

774-243-6800 | info@heartwellinstitute.com

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