Our Team
Damithia Nieves (she/they)
Co-Director
Damithia practices mindfulness to remember wholeness and connection again and again and again. A quote she loves is “All that you touch you change, all that you change, changes you”. From The Parable of the Sower, by Octavia Butler. Damithia has a background in art/design and youth work and holds a 500 hour level Yoga Teacher Certification, CFTE Trauma Sensitive Yoga Certification and is a registered Children’s Yoga Teacher. Teachers in Mindfulness Meditation include, Reverend Angel Kyodo Williams, Brent Morton, Ki McGraw and Llama Rod Owens. They are in the current cohort of the iBme Mindfulness Teacher Certification program. Some of their super powers are stillness, curiosity and problem solving. Damithia would like you to know “the world to me is like a constantly unfolding flower, everyday there is some new experience to be had or something familiar to see in a new way and mindfulness helps me to stay present to the beauty and wonder of those moments”. |
Kara-Lee Ruotolo (she/her)
Co-Director
Kara-Lee practices mindfulness in order to be her most authentic and healthy self. Her favorite mindfulness quote is “Be aware of the contact between your feet and the earth. Walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet.” by Thich Nhat Hanh. Kara-Lee has a Masters in Education and Mental Health Counseling from Seattle University. She is a Certified Mindfulness Teacher (Mindful Schools and Growing Up Mindful) and a Certified Kids and Family Yoga Teacher. KaraLee’s super power is connecting people with others and reflecting their own light back to them. She can hardly refrain from dancing when she hears the fiddle or bagpipes. Her Nova Scotia roots run deep and she has memories of performing the Scottish fling in a tartan when just a wee one. What Kara-Lee wants you to know is “Swimming in open water for a long period of time is a favorite way to practice being in the moment.” |
Nicole Sirivansanti (she/her)
Co-Director
Nicole practices mindfulness in order to see truth, develop clarity and live with ease. A recent inspiring mindfulness quote is from Norma Wong, "We run into wholeness, not away from brokenness. This is radical mending and reconciliation." Nicole has a Masters in Public Health from University of California, Berkeley, and is currently a student at the Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine. Nicole's super power is nurturing calm and serenity. Her happy place is on the water paddleboarding, or in the water (warm water only) scuba diving with underwater creatures. What she wants you to know is "Mindfulness opens up a whole new universe to explore, to rest in, and to be. And it's open to everyone, no matter who, no matter when." |
FACILITATORS
Tai Mattox (she/her)
Facilitator
Tai practices mindfulness in order to better manage her emotions and find equanimity amidst the highs and lows of life. Her favorite mindfulness quote is “trees will do that; make you stop and breathe.” by Mariah Carey. Tai has a BS from Cornell University and is a Certified Meditation Instructor (Chopra Center) and RYT200 Yoga Teacher. She is a certified and licensed vibrational sound therapy practitioner. Tai’s super power is conveying challenging information with grace and guiding others to slow down. The Manhattan’s “Kiss and Say Goodbye” and Crystal Gales “You Light Up My Life” are two of her favorite Karaoke staples. She is a great back-up singer if you ever need one. What Tai wants you to know is “I am passionate about helping people slow down and take time for themselves. Mindfulness is an excellent way to do that.” |
Trudi Knight (she/her)
Facilitator
Trudi practices mindfulness to cherish all that life offers daily. Every experience is a gift even when it takes time and effort to unwrap it. Her favorite quote and mantra is one from Norman Lear, “This too I get to experience.” Trudi is a retired pediatric occupational therapist with an emphasis on sensory integration. She is a 500 RYT and a certified children’s and family yoga teacher. She is also a Level 2 reiki practitioner. Trudi’s super power is curiosity and enthusiasm for life long learning. Her happy place is with her children and granddaughters. She is grateful and inspired by her opportunities to travel to nearby and faraway lands. |
Tara Thomas (she/her)
Facilitator
Tara practices mindfulness because it helps her to access mental clarity, and to communicate and act more thoughtfully. A quote that guides her: "Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects”, from the Dalai Lama. Tara trained with the Center for Mind-Body Medicine’s Advanced Program, a model used around the globe for helping children and adults to heal trauma, reduce stress and promote self-care and resiliency. She is a clinical herbalist, MS Herbal Medicine, Tai Sophia Institute, BS Environmental Studies and Education, Middlebury College. Her superpowers are: calmness, collaborating for the greater good, being perennially fascinated. Happiness is snuggling her pup, laughing with family, and being enchanted by a tide pool. She says: “Shout-out to the guiding lights at Holistic Life Foundation in my hometown of Baltimore…leading the way with love, showing the world how mindfulness empowers kids and changes communities. So motivating and inspiring!” |
Space Between also has other facilitators, teachers, and contractors who work with us to teach and lead workshops and support our administrative tasks. We are grateful to the entire Space Between team for their contributions to our work and service to students, educators, and families.