Dr. Amínata (Amíkolé) Maraesa
Dr. Amínata (Amíkolé) Maraesa – Honorary Director of Grant Sourcing
Amíkolé is an E-RYT 200, herbalist, Ph.D. Medical Anthropologist, and entrepreneur. Amíkolé is from New York City where she teaches group and private classes informed by her training in vinyasa, traditional hot, yin, trauma-informed, and children’s yoga. She has apprenticed 28+ years in the Wise Woman herbal tradition with Lata Kennedy at Flower Power NYC and conducts herbal workshops and private consultations. Under the brand name Dr. Amíkolé’s, she created a line of all-natural handcrafted shea butter skincare products that have been sold internationally for nearly two decades. Amíkolé’s doctorate degree from NYU and subsequent academic publications are based on her longstanding research focus on childbirth and midwifery in Toledo, Belize. She teaches courses on the politics of reproduction, gender, globalization and identity, visual anthropology, and more at Fordham University. Her documentary film, Woman to Woman: Doula Assisted Childbirth, is distributed by DER.In 2018, Amíkolé combined her passions and interests to found Mango Meditation Healing Arts Center in Punta Gorda, Belize where she facilitates health and wellness services and training for the Belizean public and guests. Amíkolé currently serves as vice chair of the Board at Sixth Street Community Center on the Lower East Side, NYC and is Honorary Director of Grant Sourcing for Rhythm of Change, Belize. Amíkolé has four children, four cats, three dogs, a hamster, and a goldfish. She is committed to spreading awareness of therapeutic practices to empower and inspire happiness.