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Meet the Weaving Braids of Belonging Team

Updated: Apr 12, 2023

Weaving Braids of Belonging is a unique and dynamic arts-based Equity, Diversity and Inclusion program for human resource and EDI managers and employees to learn ways to use creativity to explore and embody EDI principles through arts, movement, and mindfulness practices. Hear more about this exciting new program HERE


We are pleased to be working with a diverse, international faculty and invite you to meet them below!


Tasha Beeds


Creative Artist, Poet, and Community Engaged Water/Land Activist from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan


Tasha Beeds is an Indigenous scholar of nêhiyaw, Metis and Barbadian ancestry from the Treaty 6 territory of Saskatchewan. She is a creative artist, poet, community engaged Water/Land activist, Water Walker and Mide-kwe from Minweyweywigaan Lodge of Roseau River First Nations/Wiikwemkoong Unceded Reserve. Her creative and academic work carries messages, which mirror Indigenous ideas of relationality. She asserts that Indigenous ways of knowing and being are surviving, are valued, and need to be shared to help not only Indigenous people, but also all of Creation.






Bonface Beti


WHEAT Expressive Arts for Social Change & Peacebuilding Director, International Artist, Peacebuilder, and Educator from Nairobi, Kenya


Bonface Njeresa Beti is an international artist-peacebuilder and educator who applies theatre-based interventions with individuals and communities to create a story of peace. He integrates and applies embodied expressive tools into larger social justice issues as a language for social justice, decolonization, and structural transformation. He completed his undergraduate psychological counseling and theatre studies in Kenya and holds a MA degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Manitoba, Canada, and is currently working on his PhD at the same University. He is currently admitted to the European Graduate School in Switzerland where he’s pursuing an advanced certificate to join PhD studies in Expressive Arts and Conflict Transformation.






Morris H. Ervin Jr.


Educator, Racial Empathy Specialist, Wellness Coach and Youth Development Professional from Cleveland, Ohio


Morris H. Ervin Jr. founder of Mansa Consulting; is an educator, speaker, coach, and youth development professional. Mr. Ervin has over 20 years experience pioneering social and emotional mentoring programs, leadership seminars, mindfulness retreats and community engagement initiatives. As a Social Studies Teacher in the early 2000’s; Morris created and designed a new innovative African American History Course/Curriculum that challenged the public school system by implementing a unique style of teaching and learning in the classroom called Nonviolent Communication. Morris H Ervin Jr. currently speaks on Non-violence, and Youth Development internationally, while teaching an embodied style of mindfulness called Soulful Meditation.






Tereza Gomes


Mindfulness Teacher and Family Therapist from Winnipeg, Manitoba


Tereza Gomes has been employed as a Family Therapist at New Directions for Children, Youth, Adults and Families since 1995 and has been teaching Mindfulness since 1998. Tereza teaches in the Marriage and Family Therapy Program at the University of Winnipeg and supervised Counselling Practicums through the University of Manitoba. She studied with Movement teachers Gabrielle Roth and Emilie Conrad and is currently in a 2-year Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training Certification Program with Jack Kornfield, Tara Brach, and Konda Mason. Tereza has designed and led Mindfulness based groups like. “Restoring yourself, Re-storying yourself and Restoring your Self “, (an art- meditation series), “Delighting in Movement, Overcoming Inertia, (a movement series), and “Sitting with Yourself, Sitting with Your Client”. Tereza has a Master’s degree in Counselling and a Master`s degree in Psychology.






Amanda K Gross


Anti-Racist Organizer, Artist, and Yoga Instructor from Asheville, North Carolina


Amanda K Gross is an anti-racist organizer and artist. She blogs about the interconnectedness of racism, patriarchy, capitalism, and white womanhood at MistressSyndrome.com and is currently working on a full-length book on that same theme. A certified yoga instructor trained by YogaRoots On Location‘s Anti-Racist Raja Yoga School, Amanda has taught Anti-racist Raja Yoga classes at Pittsburgh Mennonite Church, at the Kingsley Association, and, since the pandemic, weekly classes online. In addition, she holds an M.A. in Conflict Transformation from Eastern Mennonite University’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding and is in the midst of doctoral studies in Expressive Arts Therapy at the European Graduate School in Saas-Fee, Switzerland.






Christina Manchulenko


Métis Movement Specialist , Yoga Instructor and Tamalpa Life Art Graduate from Winnipeg, Manitoba


Christina Manchulenko is a Manitoba born Métis artist, educator and world traveler. Since 2002, she has served in public, private and international school systems as a classroom teacher, inclusion specialist, positive behavior support specialist, learning support specialist, mentor and professional development facilitator. After receiving her certificate in advanced expressive arts therapy from WHEAT Institute, Christina moved on to pursue a specialty in movement-based expressive arts therapy with the internationally renowned Tamalpa Institute. She holds a professional registration with ISMETA and now serves as teacher apprentice for Tamalpa Institute. Christina’s holistic approach to well-being and love of learning and movement inspired her to complete her qualification as a 500 hr Master of Yoga with the internationally renowned Sivananda Organization.







Tayler Schenkeveld


WHEAT Rivers of Solidarity Research Navigator, Practicum Support, Supervisor, and Métis Art Therapist from Calgary, Alberta


Tayler is a Métis woman and professionally trained Art Therapist practicing in Calgary, AB. In 2015, she completed her Bachelor of Arts with a major in Native Studies. She then carried on to receive a masters-level diploma from the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute. It was there that Tayler developed her unique approach to art therapy. She works from an Indigenous and relational lens, often integrating traditional healing ways and art forms into the sessions, such as using storytelling, beadwork, smudging, and even attending ceremony with her clients. Tayler strives to create safe and sacred space for all peoples to heal and grow.






Watch a Recording of our Pop-Up Information Session about our new Weaving Braids of Belonging program!


Register now to move beyond the billboard through embodied, creative, and relational exploration of what it means to practice Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.


WHEAT Registrar, Stephanie Scott: info@wheatinstitute.com

WHEAT Office: 431-887-2787


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