Who We Are
Executive Directors
Dr. Camilla Alfred has dedicated her life and research to holistic healing, especially as it relates to colon therapy. She is a Naturopathic Doctor, Colon Hydrotherapist and Vegan/Vegetarian Chef. Dr. Alfred completed her studies at Trinity College of Natural Health. Her humble beginnings were under the instruction and advisory care of Grand Master Natural Healer Alvena M. Fulton, ND, PhD. Dr. Fulton, known as “Dietitian to the Stars,” aided the health and natural healing of many people including: Dick Gregory and Roberta Flack. Dr. Alfred is an ordained Minister in Chicago, IL. Her personal journey with disease and obesity birthed the Heal Thyself Colonic Ministry, which has helped hundreds to better health. Dr. Alfred is the Co-Executive Director of South Side Liberation Center.
Joshua Bee Alafia’s meditation practice began in 1989 when his mother gave him a mantra to work with. This sparked a rich journey into different styles from the Hawaiian Shamanic, Hindu, Sufi, Dzogchen, Taoist, and Vipassana traditions. Wanting to bring Vipassana practice to the youth, he began teaching mindfulness practice to incarcerated, court involved and system vulnerable youth through New York’s Lineage Project in 2010. Initially he had reservations in taking the teachers journey, but his mentor Gina Sharpe encouraged him to apply for a scholarship Community Dharma Leaders training through Spirit Rock Meditation Center, and he was accepted and graduated in 2012. He has also taught in the corporate setting, at MNDFL, New York Insight, the Brooklyn Zen Center, East Bay Meditation Center, public schools and universities, and recently taught his first 10 day retreat entitled Liberating the Heart, Dismantling Oppression, with Arinna Weisman, Phoenix Soleil and Lyn Fine in Joshua Tree at Dhamma Dena Retreat Center. He currently teaches mindfulness meditation with South Side Insight Meditation Circle and Taoist Meditation with Immortal Arts Chicago. Alafia is the Co-Executive Director of South Side Liberation Center.
Teachers
Deidra Somerville, PhD, MSW, works as an initiated priest of Oshun for 19 years and has studied as a diviner and ritual practitioner under the apprenticeship of master diviners and elders in several branches of Yoruba and Edo spiritual systems. She provides divination counseling through use of cowrie shell divination, a practice that is used by many cultures. Her specific study and practice derives from the Afro-Cuban Lukumi tradition.
Hina is a certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, and a certified Holistic Health Coach. She is also a mother of two. She got her two-year meditation teacher certification from Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. She holds a master’s in health and wellness coaching from the Maryland University of Integrative Health. She truly believes that there is no separating the mind, body and spirit—or really, any one of us from each other. She was born in India, and has never not known meditation in one form or another. This familiarity sustained her resistance to the practice, and she has since seen the error of her ways. She has been a regular practitioner for over 4 years, and finds that these practices allow an inner sense of peace, compassion, and acceptance for all. As the Dalai Lama said, “If every 8 year old in the world is taught meditation, we will eliminate violence from the world within one generation.”
Dominique Sade is a social entrepreneur, writer, coach, workshop facilitator, and public speaker. Her work is dedicated towards empowering individuals to reclaim their rights to vital health. She encourages individuals to take care of their overall well-being - not as a trend but rather, as a living protest. She believes that being mindful of our well-being is a radical act of love and true liberation. Dominique Sade’s work is always Spirit-led and creation-inspired. “As an ambassador of life and for women of creation, it is important to highlight the Universal Divine intelligence and Mother Earth in my mission with the goal to dismantle oppression, liberate hearts and sanctify humanity.”
Chandra Lee: a former Fashion Photographer, now a Holistic
Nutritionist, Herbalist, Alchemist, Raw Vegan Chef, and Spokes Person for Alkaline Living. Her company Organic Flava’s |Embrace Raw Living was founded in 2007. She holds a Masters in Science from NYU, and completed the Dietetic Internship at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the Bronx. NY. She is also a graduate of the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts in NYC, and certified as a chef. In addition, she is certified as a Vitalist and Herbalist , completing the program at OHR in Queens NY. We are honored to have her on our team at South Side Liberation Center.
Toussaint Haki Stewart is a professional wellness practitioner with conducting classes on meditation, Body Weight Strength Training and Plant-Based Nutrition born and raised in Oakland California. Toussaint is also a high school PE teacher in Oakland Unified School District and Plant-Based Entrepreneur, Chef, and Business Owner. His life mission is to eradicate lifestyle disease through the incorporation of preventative transformational lifestyle practices and education.