🌿 Rooted in Collaboration: Honoring the Hands that Built RINT

At Rooted in Nature Therapy, we believe that healing — like growth — is a collective process. Every branch, every root, every bloom in our journey has been touched by the hands and hearts of community. This post honors those who have played a fundamental role in shaping the infrastructure, spirit, and story of RINT.

🌱 Laying the Groundwork

In the early stages of building RINT, Jessica Muratalla served as our first Virtual Assistant — guiding the formal registration process and helping bring the vision into structure. Her diligence helped set the foundation so RINT could grow into the formal business it is today.

✨ Storytelling, Voice, and Message

Deep gratitude to Yesenia Bautista and Ohsay for your active listening, honest reflections, and encouragement as RINT took shape. Through countless conversations and brainstorms, you helped refine our voice — clarifying our messaging, storytelling, and brand essence. Your insight was instrumental in grounding our language in authenticity and care.

☕ Bringing the Vision to Life

Thank you to Kita Zuleta from Cafesito con Jefas for your care and skill in transforming our vision into a living website — a digital home that embodies our values and community. Your thoughtful design and encouragement helped RINT’s online presence feel just as grounded and heart-centered as the work we do within the community.

🌻 Guidance and Growth

A special acknowledgment to Raynelle Rino of Rino Consulting Solutions, whose mentorship continues to be pivotal in this next chapter. As a fellow FirstGen entrepreneur and coach, Raynelle’s current guidance has helped nurture not just the business strategy behind RINT, but also the sustainability and sovereignty of the person behind it. Her support has created space to grow with intention, clarity, and confidence as Rooted in Nature Therapy evolves.

🎨 Creative Partnership & Representation

Representation matters — and the artistry behind RINT’s imagery has helped bring that vision to life. Deep appreciation to Luis Cornejo of Queer Magic Entertainment LLC and his creative team, including Yaquelin Hernández (@lavidaphotographica), for capturing the essence of Rooted in Nature Therapy through intentional styling, photography, and storytelling. Your work mirrors the vibrancy, warmth, and spirit of our community.

💼 Small Business Support & Mentorship

Heartfelt thanks to Catherine Grooms, Executive Director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at College of the Canyons, for her unwavering support and expertise. Her guidance has been a steady root system — grounding RINT’s growth in sound strategy and confidence as we expand.

💚 Family, Community, and the Lands that Hold Us

To my family and compañero de vida — the original inspirators — thank you for planting the earliest seeds of creativity, faith and heart. To my friends, for always hyping me up and reminding me that joy and encouragement are central. To my colleagues, who continually show up with generosity and a willingness to join in this adventure in any way they can — thank you for believing in the vision.

To the Public Lands where I live, work, and play — thank you for holding me, guiding me, and reminding me that healing and stewardship go hand in hand. These spaces continue to teach me how to listen, restore, and reconnect.

And to my Elders and Ancestors — including my father, Melitón F. López, my brother Jonathan H. López, and my great-grandmother Angela — I feel your presence in every milestone, every breeze, every sunrise. Thank you for cheering me on from the heavens, reminding me that I am never alone in this work.

🌿 In Gratitude

Every step of this journey — from registering Rooted in Nature Therapy to building its digital home and strengthening its community reach — has been an act of collaboration. Each person named here has helped weave the threads that sustain RINT’s mission: to nurture with Nature for the care of People + Planet.

To every collaborator, coach, creative, and loved one who has lent their time, brilliance, and belief — gracias de corazón.