Erik Hernandez will be the keynote speaker at Rooted: A Wellness Summit. The event is presented by the Oxnard Performing Arts Center Nonprofit (OPAC), in partnership with Raising Mami Alchemy, Inc.
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Oxnard Performing Arts Center Nonprofit (OPAC), in partnership with Raising Mami Alchemy, Inc., will present Rooted: A Wellness Summit on Sunday, May 3, 2026. This immersive, full-day experience brings together mental health professionals, cultural practitioners, and wellness educators to explore holistic approaches to healing that center community, culture, and accessibility.
The event’s keynote speaker is Erik Hernandez, a proud member of the Lumbee Tribe and Native American hoop dancer with over 20 years of experience. He’s performed as a lead in Cirque du Soleil’s Totem and spoken at TEDx, using his work to challenge stereotypes and share ancestral wisdom. He brings his story to the screen as the writer and director of Courage, a short film inspired by his journey learning hoop dance from his Uncle Terry.
Designed as an alternative to traditional wellness conferences, Rooted activates the entire Oxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center with concurrent programming across four thematic tracks: Remember, Regulate, Reflect, and Integrate. Attendees are invited to move freely between sessions and engage with a diverse range of offerings—from breathwork and yoga to mental health workshops, cultural healing practices, and community dialogue.
“During Mental Health Month, it’s critical that we expand the conversation around what healing can look like,” said Ana Maria Lugo, co-founder of Raising Mami Alchemy and co-creator of the summit. “This work is not about replacing therapy—it’s about complementing it. We’re creating spaces where science-informed wellness meets culturally rooted practices that resonate with our community.”
Lugo, a wellness educator and 9/11 survivor, has introduced nervous system regulation tools to more than 10,000 youth across Ventura County. Her work—alongside OPAC—focuses on bridging gaps in access to mental health resources, particularly for underserved and bilingual communities.
A Diverse Collective of Wellness Leaders and Practitioners
Throughout the day, participants can engage in a multidisciplinary journey featuring keynote sessions, guided ceremonies, and hands-on learning—ranging from breathwork and yoga to an interactive apothecary garden exploring plant-based healing. This diverse programming is led by an exceptional lineup of facilitators, including psychologists, traditional healers, and community leaders, who blend cultural traditions with evidence-informed practices. By bridging mental health education with somatic experiences like cacao ceremonies, Rooted offers a holistic approach to wellness that is as culturally grounded as it is professionally expert.
Featured sessions and facilitators include:
• Ancestral & Cultural Healing: Practices such as limpias, cacao ceremonies, and drumming as tools for grounding, remembrance, and connection
• Somatic & Nervous System Regulation: Breathwork, fascia release, and embodied movement designed to support stress reduction and physical awareness
• Mental Health & Education: Workshops and panels focused on social-emotional learning (SEL), community care, and accessible mental health strategies
• Women’s Empowerment & Economic Wellness: Conversations at the intersection of financial sustainability, identity, and wellbeing
• Creative & Expressive Practices: Art-making, dance, and sound as pathways for reflection and integration
Participants will hear from a wide range of local and regional leaders whose work spans classrooms, clinics, cultural spaces, and grassroots community settings—offering both professional expertise and lived experience.
“The Rooted summit reflects OPAC’s ongoing commitment to Arts as Wellness,” said Carolyn Merino Mullin, Executive Director of OPAC. “This event not only provides meaningful tools for personal wellbeing, but also directly supports our ability to offer free, bilingual wellness programming year-round—from school-based services to community offerings like our Ándale series.”
Proceeds from the summit will help sustain OPAC’s community wellness initiatives, which provide accessible programming to youth, families, and historically underserved populations throughout Ventura County. This event is made possible thanks to support from New Dawn Counseling & Consulting, Gold Coast Health Plan, and Rancho Corral.
Rooted: A Wellness Summit will take place Sunday, May 3 from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM at Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, in Oxnard. Ticket are available now at: RootedWellnessSummit.com.
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