My ancestral roots in Coatepec Costales and my upbringing in Yakama, Washington, inspired the vision for Ollin Cafetzin.
Cynthia is a quiet leader who guides Ollin with care. Her approach, rooted in humility, comes from her social work background, which includes providing narrative therapy to youth, working with migrant communities, and developing socio-emotional curricula for adults.
Ollin is an extension of her– infused with her Chicana identity, imagination, and educational programming to engage people across generations with Ollin’s mission.
Inspired by the principles of Indigenous resistance and the teachings of her Nahuatl-speaking parents and political movements, Cynthia embodies these values in her community work. Raised in the Yakama Valley and surrounded by agriculture for most of her life, she understands the systems of exploitation and capitalism that are present in work settings. As her team prepares to open Ollin’s doors, Cynthia is committed to cultivating a culture of dignity for her employees and customers.
She is reviving and reimagining practices to nourish the mind, body, and soul, infusing them with the flavors of collectivism.