Meet the Team
Reencuentro Taíno Conference would not be possible without the help of an incredible team of coordinators, writers, graphic designers, event producers, and countless volunteers who have shared their skills, time, and expertise to create an incredible event. Jajóm (thank you)!
Committee Members
Priscilla Colón
Conference Director
As a writer, artist, teacher, and language nerd at heart, Priscilla Colón has shared her passion for education, working on language programs for more than 20 years. As Co-founder and Creative of Casa Areyto, her mission is to promote the Taíno language and culture via online videos, live events, and children’s books. In June 2024, Priscilla was appointed Co-chair of Ad-hoc Group 1: Provision of Education and Domains for Indigenous Languages for UNESCO'S International Decade of Indigenous Languages.
Eliezer Colón
Technology Team
Born and raised in Borikén (Puerto Rico), Ely has fond memories of his grandfather's farm where he learned to care for animals and identify traditionally Indigenous crops and the different uses of herbs. As Co-founder of Casa Areyto, Ely continues to use his love of land to nurture his own kunúku (veggie garden) in southern New Hampshire. He also enjoys creating handmade jewelry inspired by Taíno Indigenous pieces and sharing information about his Indigenous roots with the public at local events.
Sayalí Robles
Sponsors Team
Sayalí Robles is an Afro-Taíno artisan and member of the South Portland Human Rights Commission of Maine. She also has a background in social work and mediation. Sayalí enjoys walking in the woods and growing food in her garden. For Sayalí, connecting to the earth and working the soil allows nature to embrace you while providing a healing space in difficult times in your life. Sayalí enjoys hearing the stories of her ancestors and finding ways to celebrate and honor them. She is also a mother to two children, whom she calls her Sun and Moon. Her sons are great teachers, and she learns much from them.
Zayda Rivera
Production Manager
Zayda Rivera has been a professional writer for the past 20 years. In 2016, she launched 3L Communiqué (3LC), an event production and public relations business that has produced high-profile, black-tie and awards galas, celebrity speaking engagements, and conferences with attendees ranging in the hundreds to thousands. In 2019, Zayda launched Mindful Living with Z, a spiritual wellness company, offering support to those seeking a deeper connection with theDivine and healing.
Kelly Valentin
Writing Team
Kelly Valentin is a dedicated psychology researcher with a lifelong commitment to reconnecting with her Taíno heritage and deep pride in her Borikén roots. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the City University of New York. As a researcher, she focuses on advocating for evidence-based improvements in mental health care and resources for diverse populations, including Indigenous communities. Her upbringing and cultural background significantly shape her advocacy work, research, and communication style. Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Kelly enjoys candle making, gardening, admiring her plants, dancing to salsa music in the kitchen, and spending time with her loved ones.
Design Team
Dorca Musseb
Taíno Artist & Animator
Dorca Musseb is an Emmy Award winning and twice more nominated Motion Designer and Animator based in New York. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts in NYC, Dorca co-founded the NYC chapter of Panimation with Emily Suvanvej, a vibrant community of women, trans, and non-binary friends working with animation and motion graphics. Having heritage from both Kiskéya (Dominican Republic) and Borikén (Puerto Rico), Dorca continues to explore her roots and is currently learning the language through Hiwatahia Taíno language courses as well as other sources like Casa Areyto. She joined the Sacred Taíno Healing community and volunteers on Reencuentro Taíno Conference. Dorca has an avid interest in Taíno mythology and spirituality and hopes to continue to learn more about those topics.
Carmen Serrano Luna
Taíno Artist and Founder
SerraLuna Art
Born in Hatillo, Puerto Rico, Carmen’s greatest influence was her art teacher, Norberto Ruiz Nieves, who introduced her to Puerto Rican artists of times past like Francisco Oller and Oscar Colón Delgado. As a self-taught artist, Carmen gained practical experience, learning through trial and error, and studying the works of Oller, Colón-Delgado, Frida Khalo, Diego Rivera, and many others. In addition to working primarily with acrylic, charcoal, and graphite, Carmen also holds a diploma in digital design from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.
Vic Rodríguez
Taíno Artist and
Psychology Student
Coming from a very large Puerto Rican family, Vic Rodríguez has always been proud of their roots. They have an extensive passion for art, design, and learning about people in all ways possible. The past few years allowed them to explore and learn about their Taíno heritage, which has greatly influenced not only their personal identity but where they see their role in the world. Their experiences growing up and learning about their culture have greatly influenced their current study of Psychology at UMass Dartmouth. They plan to use this degree to pursue a career in counseling, focusing on communities of color and decolonizing views surrounding mental health issues. Their passions for art and design are not forgotten, however, as their culture inspires their art pieces and crafting hobbies.
Madison Lanza
Taíno Artist and Spiritualist
Born to a Puerto Rican mother and a Polish father, Madison Lanza studied graphic design and pursued a degree in Digital Media Technology from Fulton Montgomery Community College. She is inspired by the work of Van Gogh, Aaron Draplin, and Diego Rivera. While growing up, Madison’s grandparents, who helped to raise her, explained that she is Indigenous. But she wasn’t able to learn a lot about her Taíno roots, as her grandmother succumbed to dementia. To honor her grandparents, Madison has made it her personal mission to learn the history of her family and about her Taíno roots. Through her art, she expresses herself and her culture.
Giovanny López
Taíno Graphic Designer and Illustrator
Giovanny López received a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Liberty University.His work includes illustrations, as wellas website and promotional ads for businesses. Both of his parents are Puerto Rican though he never quite felt like he was part of a community. In his quest to reconnect to his Taíno roots, Giovanny is using his illustration and design skills to help us bring the Reencuentro Taíno Conference to life.
Richard Smith
Founder and Designer
11:22 Creative
Richard Smith is an alumnus of the State University of New York where he graduated with a degree in Visual Art and Communication. It was during his final year in college that he met the love of his life, Linda, who, as it turns out, recently discovered she is Cuban Taino; the synchronicity of life abounds. As an author, speaker, graphic artist, and content creator, Richard Smith has utilized his skills as a human origins advocate since the early nineties, which includes a wide spectrum of topics, ranging from ancient astronauts and official first contact to human rights and cultural genocide. As the founder of 11:22 Creative, he brings 20 years of graphic design and customer service experience, which means you get the relationship, understanding, and perspective you've been looking for.
Board of Advisors
Lorie Roule
Senior Executive
Transparent Language, Inc.
As a Senior Executive at a language learning technology company,Lorie Roule is dedicated to inspiring a love of languages. As a retired federal government executive, she has extensive experience in foreign language learning and linguistic services within the U.S. Intelligence Community. Her areas of expertise are linguistic services management, talent and leadership development, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. In 2015, she was the recipient of a Presidential Rank Award for leading change to promote gender equity.
Stephanie Witkowski
Executive Director
7000 Languages
Stephanie Witkowski has over 10 years of experience in both language revitalization and the nonprofit sector. She holds an MA in Linguistics from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa with an emphasis on Language Documentation and Conservation, and has worked with speakers of multiple under-documented languages, including native languages of California, the Pacific, and Russia.
Vivionne Grace Keli
Author, Speaker,
and Chaplain
Vivionne Keli is an author and advocate for people suffering from adverse childhood experiences. She uses her M.S. in Psychology, her skills as a chaplain, and her own personal experience of healing to lead adults into recovery. For over two decades, Vivionne has collaborated with social services and the US court system to work with at-risk youth and families as a certified behavior intervention specialist, counselor, mentor, and spiritual advisor. She wrote Awaken the Silence When Silence Isn't Golden and the Emotional Triage Workbook. As the founder and speaker of Emotional Triage Seminars & Workshops, Vivionne has received national recognition as a dynamic speaker and leader within her community. Vivionne and her husband recently relocated to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, where she enjoys walks on the beach, writing, and working with colleagues in the film and television industries.