Our KinshipGlow Team

Yvette Cárdenas, MSW, LCSW is the Administrative Director and Co-Founder of KinshipGlow. Along with her partners, she shapes and approves business strategies, develops budgets and proposals, forms community partnerships, reviews results and sets the overall direction of the business.

Yvette has more than 15 years of experience working in the social services field. Her training, education and experience have taught her that resilience and emotional wellness play an essential role in quality of life, success and happiness. Hence, she advocates for and helps develop programs that build resilience, teach culturally relevant and culturally sustaining emotional wellness practices that support the prosperity of women, girls and communities of color.

Her rich work experience includes leadership roles, direct social work practice, psychotherapy, facilitating bilingual workshops, consulting, teaching and field instruction at organizations such as the UCLA Spanish Speaking Psychosocial Clinic, UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA Extension, and Olive View-UCLA Medical Center.

Yvette holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work and a B.A. in sociology from California State University, Los Angeles. She has attended trainings in traditional Latino/Chicano mental health, healing and spiritual practices. She incorporates some of those ancestral practices in her own self-care. She was raised in a bilingual home speaking both English and Spanish.

As a child, she moved to Jalisco, Mexico for two years where she lived with her grandparents and aunt and attended elementary school. They were instrumental in instilling her love for traditional Mexican cooking, regional music, ballet folklorico, singing, jaripeos, charreadas, horses, nature/the outdoors, sewing, crafting and family. In the US, Yvette grew up in Los Angeles and in the San Fernando Valley. She now lives in the Santa Clarita Valley with her husband and two very adventurous boys. In her free time, Yvette loves spending quality time with her family, traveling, camping, bike riding and eating delicious food. She incorporates self-care in her daily life through running, meditation, reading, sewing, crafting and cooking.

Alejandra Marasco, MSW, LCSW, PPSCS - Alejandra is bilingual (English/Spanish), has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Social Work from California State University, Northridge and is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of California. She is also a certified Lean Sig Sigma Green Belt, trained in Mindfulness Practice and taken courses in Indigenous Latino and ancient healing practices.

Alejandra is a self-care and mindfulness educator and a psychotherapist. She has over 15 years of experience working with families in non-profits, hospitals and schools. She is a Mindful Schools Certified Mindfulness Instructor, has been trained in the Mindful Schools curriculum and successfully completed the mindful teacher year-long certification program and teaching practicum.

As the Program Director at KinshipGlow, she is responsible for guiding the direction of client services offered and programming. This includes research, planning, coordinating, scheduling and implementing workshops, classes, and social services that will ensure successful outcomes. She leads workshop planning and development and ensures that workshops are culturally responsive, culturally sustaining and evidence based.

Early in her career Alejandra began to facilitate numerous support groups focusing on stress reduction, depression and anxiety for Latino audiences. Her passion is teaching self-care, meditation, mindfulness and reconnecting with ancestral wellness practices. Alejandra found that most of her clients had never heard of or practiced self-care, mindfulness or meditation and wanted to bring awareness of these beneficial practices. The combination of her profession, culture and passion is evident in her work with clients. She believes everyone should have access to these services in their community.

Alejandra has led professional development training for social workers, doctors, nurses, educators, elementary age students and their parents both in English and Spanish. She empowers others with knowledge of the mind/body/spirit/heart/culture connection and deepens their connection to culturally sustaining practices and to the self.

Alejandra grew up in the Northeast San Fernando Valley. She is a wife and mom of three young children. When she's not working, she loves spending time with her family, meditating, practicing self-care, reconnecting with ancestral healing practices, dancing, traveling, cooking/trying new foods, enjoying nature, gardening and being mindful of every moment.

Norma Cárdenas, CHt - Norma is a Certified Hypnotherapist, Certified PMS Meditation Teacher, Certified Social & Emotional Facilitator and Add Heart Facilitator. Her education includes an AOS Degree in Mind, Body Psychology.

Norma has been the owner of Essence Marketing, LLC since 2008. As a business owner Norma has built a unique network through nurturing relationships, earning trust and embracing collaborations. This included volunteering in the Northeast San Fernando Valley where she grew up and raised her family of four with her husband Tony. She worked on the Cesar Millan Foundation Board, Fenton Elementary Board, Youth Speaks Collective Board, and volunteered at Bert Corona Elementary School, Vena Elementary School and Canterbury Elementary School.

As the Director of Marketing at KinshipGlow, Norma is responsible for creating, implementing and measuring the success of a comprehensive marketing, communications and public relations program that enhances KinshipGlow’s image. She guides business marketing, communications, public relations activities and materials including publications, social media, media relations and client acquisition. Overall she ensures that KinshipGlow’s philosophy, mission and vision are pertinent and practiced throughout all business activities.

In her role as workshop facilitator, Norma uses various skills as a Certified Hypnotherapist to help her connect with her clients and guide them in their healing journey. Addressing mental health and stress reduction needs requires active listening and unbiased objectivity. She has experience in developing group workshops, such as Tapping/EFT, breathing techniques, mindfulness meditations and reducing stress through hypnotherapy. Her professionalism is seen throughout the process, as she takes advance preparations for creating psychologically safe environments. She is consistent in creating focus and building trust amongst the groups she facilitates.