Who We Are
Founder & President
Veronica Nieves M.Sc.
Veronica Nieves is the Founder and President. A proud U.S. military veteran, Veronica brings a deep understanding of resilience, identity, and the invisible weight many carry.
With a professional background in cybersecurity, compliance, and emergency management, Veronica spent years leading in high-stakes environments where trust, safety, and clear communication matter. Today, she channels that same discipline into designing ethical, supportive programs that help participants reconnect with themselves through art.
Veronica’s work is strengthened by continued training in expressive and therapeutic arts practices and years of community-based volunteer service. Through Raíces, she develops welcoming, non-clinical experiences that combine art-making, reflection, and grounding tools helping people build self-awareness, regulate stress, and find meaning in their stories.
She founded Raíces to bridge the gap between emotional wellness and accessible creative support so participants feel seen, supported, and empowered, one creative step at a time.
Vice President
Victoria Otaño M.D.
We’re proud to introduce Dr. Victoria Otano, a board-certified family medicine physician with Bayfront Health Medical Group.
Dr. Otano provides inclusive, compassionate care with expertise in:
Primary care for all ages
LGBTQ+ and HIV care
PrEP and HRT
Preventive screenings & chronic condition management
Fluent in both English and Spanish, Dr. Otano is passionate about health equity and breaking down barriers in underserved communities. She also mentors future Latino physicians and advocates for representation in healthcare.
We’re honored to have her as part of our mission to build healthier, more inclusive communities!
Advisory Board Member
Heather McCarty
Heather brings diverse experience developing programming and curriculum in leadership, management, diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a people-centered approach to strategy through learning. Her professional background includes Vice President of Programs at The Mission Continues, where she served for over eight years, Director of Learning and Development with Teach For America, independent global consulting, learning center director, and high school teacher at the former Cleveland Junior Naval ROTC High School in St. Louis, MO.
In addition to her work in leadership development, Heather has maintained a lifelong commitment to the arts. A former professional dancer, she spent years immersed in training, performance, and all aspects of the dance world, bringing an artist’s discipline and creativity to her approach in education and program design. She continues this dedication as board president for a local nonprofit in St. Louis that supports dancers and the dance community associated with her oldest daughter's training studio.
Heather holds a degree from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and has obtained numerous certifications in coaching and learning, including an advanced behavior studies certification in DISC and designation as a DISC Human Behavior Speaking Specialist. She lives in St. Louis with her husband, a Marine Corps veteran and artist, and their two teenage daughters.
Art Therapy Facilitator
Kendra Cox M.Sc.
Kendra's therapeutic career spans over 15 years, encompassing a wide range of experiences in diverse settings across locations such as Florida and Philadelphia. During this time she has witnessed firsthand the systemic barriers and limited resources that impede growth for individuals grappling with childhood trauma, domestic violence, substance use disorders, and mental health challenges. While Kendra initially viewed the legal system as a simple mechanism for justice, her undergraduate studies in criminal justice profoundly shifted this perspective. She shared how she came to understand criminal behavior not as isolated acts, but as a result of complex social and psychological factors. This new understanding, coupled with a foundation in constitutional and criminal law, ignited a passion for advocating more informed and humane approaches within the criminal justice system.
Her early career included working in a juvenile treatment facility with youth aged 11-18 facing complex behavioral needs, including sex offenses, aggression, truancy, and theft. This experience underscored the power of specialized interventions and the potential for positive change in at-risk youth. However, she soon realized that a traditional criminal justice path didn't fully align with her deeper purpose. This led her to outpatient counseling and, ultimately, to pursue a Master of Science in Psychology to gain a more profound understanding of human behavior.
For the remainder of her career, Kendra has remained dedicated to the therapeutic field, working in various roles such as outpatient counseling for mental health and substance use disorders, mobile therapy for elementary-aged youth with family-based services, trauma-informed therapy in schools for students primarily with emotional disturbance diagnosis, and holds her current position as a behavioral healthcare manager within the healthcare system where she supports patients with mental health and and substance use disorders. This role takes an integrated approach working closely with their medical providers. Beyond her direct roles, Kendra has actively pursued initiatives that reflect her commitment to advocacy and healing. This includes launching a podcast focused on inner work and healing, assisting in CME planning for physicians on the impact of stigma on substance use disorder care, developing and delivering training to educational systems on supporting LGBTQIA+ youth during tragedy, and actively participating in DEI ambassador meetings. These endeavors are not just her passion; they are her purpose.
Art Therapy Facilitator
Kristle Helmuth
Kristle Helmuth is a veteran, surviving spouse, nonprofit leader, and graduate student pursuing a Master of Social Work at Florida State University. With lived experience across the military lifecycle as a service member, spouse, caregiver, and survivor, Kristle brings both personal insight and professional dedication to her work supporting military-connected families.
She is currently employed as a Survivor Outreach Coordinator where she provides long-term case management for families of the fallen. Additionally, she volunteers time facilitating support groups and workshops for a variety of populations. Her work centers on resiliency through nontraditional healing modalities, including creative expression, peer support, and holistic engagement.
While much of Kristle’s experience has been rooted in serving military families, her passion extends to helping all individuals heal and thrive. She believes deeply in the power of nontraditional approaches to foster connection, restore hope, and create space for transformation beyond trauma.
Kristle’s mission is to walk alongside those navigating loss and life transitions ensuring they feel seen, supported, and empowered every step of the way.
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Art That Speaks When Words Cannot.