about us
Our Story / Founding Inspiration
Listen to Our Inspiration
“Turn Your Light On…Healing Comes From Within!”
“…if you’re willing, you’ll have a navigator…I want YOU to experience a place that SEES YOU, HEARS YOU & HOLDS YOU…I want YOU to be held in this container of LOVE that we have woven TOGETHER, OVER TIME, that YOU get to experience this BEAUTIFUL, DELICIOUSNESS of an offering to YOUR LIFE.”
Our Mission
Nurtured by N8ture Transformational Ministries is devoted to restoring healing, liberation, and spiritual remembrance through ancestral wisdom, sacred plant sacraments, and nature-based ceremonial practices that honor the Divine Creator. Rooted in the guidance of divine law and love, we walk with integrity to serve our community by cultivating joy, wholeness, and intergenerational wellness as a sacred birthright.
Our Vision & Values
Our vision and values serve as the guiding light for our spiritual path and community. They express the deeper purpose that inspires our work and the core principles that shape how we walk this journey. Together, they reflect our commitment to integrity, reverence, and service, grounding our practice in both spiritual devotion and ethical responsibility.
Our Vision
Nurtured by N8ture Transformational Ministries envisions a world where individuals and communities are restored to wholeness through divine connection, sacred ceremony, and the healing gifts of nature. We seek to cultivate spaces of transformation where ancestral wisdom, spiritual practices, and holistic living converge to nurture the soul, strengthen families, and empower generations. Our vision is to be a guiding light for those on the path of healing and awakening—helping people reconnect with Spirit, honor the earth, and embody their highest purpose.
Our Values
At Nurtured by N8ture Transformational Ministries, we are guided by the principles of love, integrity, and holistic transformation. We honor the divine connection between spirit, mind, body, and creation, cultivating sacred spaces where healing, restoration, and empowerment can flourish.
We value:
- Sacred Stewardship – Protecting and respecting the earth, natural medicines, and ancestral wisdom as gifts entrusted to us.
- Compassionate Service – Serving with humility, empathy, and dignity for all people, honoring their unique journeys.
- Integrity & Accountability – Walking in truth, transparency, and responsibility in all that we do.
- Transformation & Renewal – Guiding individuals toward wholeness, freedom, and alignment with their highest purpose.
- Community & Unity – Building bridges of inclusion, equity, and belonging, where every voice is valued and every soul is uplifted.
Through these values, we are committed to nurturing lives, restoring balance, and creating pathways for lasting transformation rooted in faith and nature’s divine wisdom.
We Are Here To Serve You
Meet Our Board of Stewards
Aja Fiyah
Lead Shaman / Founder / Executive Director
Aja Fiyah is an Ancestral Native Indigenous Minister, carrying the sacred bloodlines of the Ivory Coast, Benin, Congo, and the Native peoples of the Carolinas. As the founder of Nurtured By N8ture Transformational Ministries and Sage & Lavender Holistic Collective, she creates sacred spaces for deep healing, spiritual awakening, and ancestral reconnection through plant medicine, ceremony, and community.
Her medicine path is deeply intertwined with Ayahuasca, serving alongside tribes and shamans in the jungles of South America and Mexico. Guided by visions, ancestral teachings, and the frequency of pure joy and unconditional love, Aja honors Ayahuasca as a living sacrament—a divine spirit that facilitates profound transformation of body, mind, and spirit. Her work preserves the ceremonial integrity of this medicine while holding space for its reclamation within the African Diaspora and Native Indigenous traditions.
For over two decades, Aja has supported thousands in their journey to wholeness through herbalism, sacred plant medicines, energy work, and Indigenous spiritual practices. Her teachings bridge ancient traditions with modern needs, offering holistic programs, retreats, and guidance that empower others to reclaim sovereignty, self-awareness, and harmony with the Earth.
As an advocate for religious freedom and cultural preservation, Aja works to protect the sacred right to practice ceremonial plant medicine, to preserve ancestral herbal knowledge, and to create pathways for BIPOC and Indigenous healers to access education, accreditation, and sacred leadership opportunities.
In every gathering, Aja carries the prayer that all who enter her circle feel seen, nurtured, and reconnected to their divine blueprint. Her life’s work is to remind humanity that healing is our birthright and that within the roots of our ancestry and the stars of our destiny lies the medicine we seek.
John H. Williams, Jr.
Founding Member
Board Chair / Chief Financial Officer
Founding Board Member, Board Chair &
Chief Financial Officer
John “JW” Williams Jr. provides strategic leadership for both financial operations and information technology. With more than three decades of executive experience, he brings a proven record of accountability, transparency, and effective governance to his role. An accomplished entrepreneur, JW has successfully built and sold multiple businesses, offering valuable insight into sustainability and long-term growth. He is also committed to education and empowerment, teaching financial literacy to help individuals and families build stronger financial foundations. By uniting his expertise in finance, technology, and organizational leadership, JW ensures that the board’s work is carried out with integrity, foresight, and a lasting commitment to service.
Anthony J. Bonner
Founding Member
Chief Operating Officer
Founding Board Member & Chief Operating Officer
Anthony Bonner is an international chef, entrepreneur, and wellness advocate whose journey with plant medicine began in 2018. As founder of Sage & Lavender Holistic Collective and COO of Nurtured By N8ture, he blends culinary artistry with ancestral traditions to create transformative dining and wellness experiences. Dedicated to cultural preservation and intentional living, Anthony inspires communities to reconnect with their roots and celebrate life through food, ceremony, and healing spaces.
Amy Reese
Founding Member
Chief Administrative Officer
Founding Board Member & Chief Administrative Officer
Amy Reese is a visionary leader and entrepreneur whose work bridges business growth and personal transformation. With over 25 years of leadership and a proven track record as a business growth strategist, she has dedicated her career to equipping entrepreneurs with the tools to succeed. She has helped countless business owners achieve growth while devoting many years to mentoring, all with a deep commitment to holistic healing. Her spiritual awakening, catalyzed by plant medicine, inspired her to help others align with purpose and live in victory. As CAO and founding board member of Nurtured By N8ture, she blends strategic leadership and spiritual guidance to create spaces of empowerment, healing, and growth.
Meet Our Advisory Team
Ana Garcia Hernandez
Shaman & Spiritual Leader
Ana Garcia Hernandez serves as a Shaman and Spiritual Leader with Nurtured By N8ture Transformational Ministries. Her journey began in childhood under the guidance of her grandmother, Belén Rios, who taught her the art of limpias with eggs, herbs, and aguardiente. This early initiation into folk medicine and spiritual cleansing became the foundation of her healing path.
After completing linguistic studies at Universidad Veracruzana, specializing in French, Ana’s path led her to the Riviera Maya, where she deepened her connection to ceremony and tradition. In 2017, she trained in fire ceremonies with Irene Soto Albores, learning rituals of cleansing, energetic cuts, and abundance. Her spiritual evolution expanded through Ayahuasca teachings beginning in 2020 with Arturo Lopez and further studies with Amina Gomez Tezcatlahuiz.
Recognized for her gift of mediumship, Ana trained with Sebastián Lia in Evidential Mediumship and was initiated into the Conchera tradition with Lolita Vargas Cortes. Today, she walks as a curandera, menstrual therapist in training, and light bearer—honoring her truth, her ancestors, and her sacred medicine.
Candace Garland
Assistant Shaman & Ceremonial Leader
Candace Garland serves as an Assistant Shaman and Ceremonial Leader with Nurtured By N8ture Transformational Ministries. She is a medicine woman, artist, and trauma-informed space holder devoted to guiding others on their healing journey. Her path with Ayahuasca began in 2018 and has since deepened through years of training, Master Plant dietas, and ceremonial service. For six years, Candace worked as a facilitator at Nimea Kaya, a retreat center in Pucallpa, Peru, where she supported individuals in ceremony while learning closely from Shipibo-Konibo traditions.
Candace serves Ayahuasca alongside Kambo, Cacao, Rapè, and Sananga, offering a diverse range of sacred medicines with reverence and integrity. In addition, she shares energy work, sound baths with instruments and her voice, and Astrology/Tarot as complementary tools for transformation and integration.
With compassion and grounded presence, Candace holds safe and sacred spaces where participants can reconnect with their sovereignty, awaken their innate wisdom, and honor the sacred lineages that continue to guide her path.
Dr. Amsu El
Chief Medical Steward
Dr. Amsu El serves as Chief Medical Steward at Nurtured By N8ture Transformational Ministries. He is distinguished acupuncturist and wellness coach based in the North Carolina Triad. With expertise in Acupuncture, Asian Medicine, Symptometry, and Nutrition, he has created one of the most comprehensive wellness programs in the region, guiding individuals toward optimal health, vitality, and peak performance.
Since establishing Sustaining Life Wellness Center in January 1999, Dr. El has become recognized as one of North Carolina’s most sought-after acupuncturists and natural health speakers. His practice, located in the bustling Triad area, proudly serves Winston-Salem, High Point, Greensboro, and surrounding communities. Known for achieving consistent, life-changing results, Dr. El has earned the trust of patients who once relied solely on traditional medicine.
Beyond his thriving clinic, Dr. El extends his care nationwide through innovative tele-consulting and delivery of holistic wellness solutions. His mission is to make integrative health accessible, approachable, and effective while educating the public on the transformative power of acupuncture and alternative modalities. At Sustaining Life Wellness Center, the guiding principle is clear: empowering people to heal, sustain, and thrive.
Corliss Gallaway, RN
Medical Support Advisor
Corliss Gallaway, RN serves as Medical Support Advisor for Nurtured By N8ture Transformational Ministries, where her deep respect for the healing power of Mother Aya inspires her work. With more than 20 years of progressive clinical and leadership experience, Corliss brings both compassion and expertise to the community she serves. She is a Registered Nurse and currently holds the role of Clinical Nurse III at Duke Regional Hospital’s Neuro/Ortho Unit, where she provides advanced care for patients with complex illnesses while contributing as a charge nurse and active member of the unit’s quality assurance program. In June 2025, she expanded her practice into the Pre-Operative Clinic, preparing and optimizing patients for surgical procedures.
Her leadership history includes serving as a Clinical Project Coordinator with Duke Medicine’s Department of Community and Family Medicine, as well as holding key roles in nursing administration across long-term and rehabilitative care. Currently pursuing her Family Nurse Practitioner degree at Chamberlain University, Corliss is dedicated to integrating plant-based medicine, spiritual healing, and evidence-based Western medicine into a truly holistic approach to care.
James Dockery
Head of Security
James Edward Dockery Jr. serves as Head of Security and Advisory Board Member for Nurtured By N8ture Transformational Ministries. A College Police Officer with a strong background in Criminal Justice, James brings more than two decades of combined experience in the U.S. Army, law enforcement, and executive protection.
Guided by principles of truth, honor, and virtue, James has dedicated his life to service and protection. His time as an executive protection agent sharpened his awareness of the dangers posed by recreational drugs and other community threats, reinforcing his belief that true security requires constant vigilance and preparedness.
James also holds multiple FEMA certifications, equipping him with a holistic perspective on safety that goes beyond traditional approaches. His leadership ensures that security is not just about protection, but also about fostering environments of trust and well-being. James is proud to integrate his extensive expertise with the ministry’s mission of compassion, transformation, and lasting community impact.
Get Involved / Join Us
Nurtured by N8ture Transformational Ministries is more than an organization — it is a living community rooted in healing, connection, and spiritual growth. We welcome those who feel called to walk this path with us, whether through prayer, fellowship, ceremony, or service.
By becoming a member, you join a circle of individuals dedicated to honoring sacred traditions, supporting one another’s journeys, and contributing to the collective transformation of our community. Membership affirms your commitment to our mission, values, and practices, and allows us to grow together in alignment with the Divine Creator and integrity.
Membership in Nurtured by N8ture Transformational Ministries is always free. Joining our community affirms your commitment to walk in alignment with our vision and values, and opens the door to participate in our sacred gatherings, teachings, and transformational work.