Madaly Alcala

(they/them)

Big-Hearted Facilitator

Madaly Alcala is a trauma-informed and heart-led Soul Shoppe facilitator. They are committed to helping communities heal through land-based, socio-emotional and spiritual practices. Madaly is passionate about dismantling systems of injustice by inspiring young people to connect with their hearts and become leaders in their communities. 

For two years, Madaly taught mindfulness to over 1,000 elementary students in Richmond, San Pablo and Oakland. Madaly also brings mindfulness and alternative healing modalities to middle and high school youth in partnership with another youth justice oriented non-profit in the bay. 

Madaly is a curanderx (mexican medicine person), addiction recovery coach, reiki energy healer, ancestral alchemist and environmental justice advocate. They hold space for folks in the forms of ceremony and 1:1 coaching. Madaly is also a cacao facilitator and enjoys sharing this heart opening plant medicine with children and elders alike. They are a pro at helping people hold big experiences like grief, fear and transition. Madaly has a degree from UC Berkeley in Society & Environment, with an emphasis in Sustainability & Social Justice, as well as certifications in recovery coaching, reiki, mindfulness and trauma-informed care and ceremonial facilitation.

Madaly’s ancestors are of the indigenous Chichimec, Nahua-Otomi, & Purepecha people as well as Spanish ancestry. Madaly is on a deep journey of self-love through decolonization work.

With a beaming heart, Madaly is ecstatic to facilitate at your school!

Shaun Warren

(he/him)

Big-Hearted Facilitator

Shaun is an NLP Certified Mindset & Manifestation Coach, Motivational Speaker, Hip-Hop Artist, Sound Healer, Wellness Warrior and full-time single father. He was born and raised in Renton, WA, received his Bachelor’s degree in finance from Hampton University and has been living in the Bay Area, CA for the last 11 years.

Shaun has 10 years of training and facilitation experience at large tech companies, including Google and Roku. After spending 10 years working for large tech companies, he left his corporate tech career. Since then, he’s been fully focused on fulfilling his life’s purpose.

He’s on a mission to break generational spells and curses by raising the vibrations of the words we use in order to manifest more freedom and liberation for ourselves and our future generations. This past year, he’s been teaching martial arts to his 6-year-old daughter and her peers.

Dara Ackerman

(she/her)

Big-Hearted Facilitator

Dara grew up performing in music, theater and dance. She also played the role of peacemaker quite a bit between friends and family members but had trouble speaking up for herself. All of this informs her theatrical facilitation style and why she loves to help cultivate empathy, ally-ship and communication skills in young people.

“I love this work. The incredibly insightful content, the amazingly fun yet surprisingly deep facilitation style we are trained in… As I empower students to become leaders in caring and love for each other, I become increasingly empowered in my own life.”

In her mid-20s, Dara moved to India to study meditation and do service work in the Tibetan exile community. While studying with the Dalai Lama, her heart caught fire with a desire for peace in the world.

When she moved back to the Bay and discovered Soul Shoppe, she learned she could channel this fire into training thousands of young people to be Peacemakers in their own schools, at home and beyond.

“I feel so lucky to have found my way here. Honestly, this is the work of my heart and fills me with happiness beyond description every day. I like to write songs about it all too… and I can be found performing in a wild art-nerd-rock band on the weekends.”

Rhyan Ramirez

(he/him)

Big-Hearted Facilitator

Rhyan has over 15 years of experience working with teens in his community in many capacities, from peer and young adult leader to youth minister. He’s also a youth motivational speaker, working to help teens understand the value of having healthy relationships in their lives.

Rhyan combines his personal experiences with his passion for helping kids have healthy relationships with their friends, parents, relatives and with themselves. “Aim for the heart and the head will follow,” he says. “I consider myself to be a heart first person, allowing me to connect with the hearts of my students before their minds. I believe that our heart muscle should be just as strong as our brain muscle.”

Monica Doherty

Big-Hearted Facilitator

Monica dreams of living in a world that’s supportive of all people living happily, equitably and peacefully; a world in which all people not only feel safe, loved and celebrated for their unique selves but where they actually ARE safe, loved and celebrated in their lives.

She believes deeply in the Soul Shoppe lessons and experiences and the depth of inclusivity and belonging they can cultivate. For nearly two decades, she’s witnessed the powerful impact of this work and is committed to creating a peaceful, fun and happy life together!

Monica’s a Bay Area native and has produced socio-emotional programs with Challenge Day and The Be the Change Movement for over 14 years, taught dance and theatre at various performing arts academies and facilitated I.BE.Me youth empowerment workshops.

She leverages that experience with her educational background in Sociology, Ethnics Studies, Inclusive and Social Justice Performance and Nonprofit Management, which inform her commitment to equity, accessibility and liberation.

Often sought out for her peacemaking nature in personal relationships, she’s grateful to be sharing her heart with Soul Shoppe.

“My fun and happy life includes going on adventures with my spouse, traveling near and far, dancing and singing my way around the world, being curious and learning new things, performing in musical theatre productions, dressing up in costumes any time of the year, connecting and laughing with family and friends, being a ‘guidemother’ to five amazing young people and playing and snuggling with my nephew. When I asked him what he thought I should say in my bio for Soul Shoppe, he said ‘You love kids. That’s all.’ It’s true!”