Making Change, Making Soul
Brenda Sendejo, PhD
Bridging Soul-Tending & Changemaking
Coming October 20, 2026
PRE-ORDER CHICANA SPIRITUAL ACTIVISM HERE.
Book cover art, Guadalupe Cuando Joven Courtesy of artist Santa Barraza. Visit Santa’s website. Pre-order the book through University of Arizona Press here.
Learn more about the book👉 HERE.
“Reading this book will fuel us with ‘spirit stories’ as creative strategies of re-memberance, transformation, and persistence, inspiring us to continue our work with radical love.”
- Irene Lara, co-editor of Fleshing the Spirit: Spirituality and Activism in Chicana, Latina, and Indigenous Women’s Lives
Brenda Sendejo, PhD, Storyteller, Scholar, and Guide
Hello and welcome!
For 20 years, I have taught, published, spoken on, and practiced spiritual activism as a faculty member and cultural anthropologist. I love thinking, talking about, and using stories and storytelling to help others to heal, connect more deeply to themselves, their inner truth, and the world around them as they work to change it. I support my clients in remembering that we are the medicine and when we change ourselves, we change the world (Gloria Anzaldúa). My offers and offerings are informed by intergenerational wisdom from Texas Chicanas from the movement era and how knowing them resulted in me making soul, which I outline in my book, Chicana Spiritual Activism: Making Change, Making Soul. *Connect with me, I’d love to chat.
CURRENT OFFERINGS & COMMUNITY GATHERINGS
IN-PERSON RETREATS FOR CHANGEMAKERS AT ALMA DE MUJER
Coming soon. 👉JOIN THE WAITLIST to be notified when registration opens. Contact me to explore a retreat for your group.
Madre del Mundo Sculpture by Marsha Gomez, Alma de Mujer Center for Social Change, Austin, Texas.
VIRTUAL RETREATS:
La Madre y La Medicina Virtual Retreat
👉JOIN THE WAITLIST For the December 2026 Session.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Reach out via this speaker inquiry form regarding book talks, pláticas, group sessions, and podcast interviews.
Brenda will speak on the topic of Santa Barraza’s spiritual activism at the Dreaming Nepantla Symposium at Texas A&M Kingsville on Friday, November 6, 2026. Admission is free, please register using the QR code.
CHICANA SPIRITUAL ACTIVISM BOOK TALKS:
MAKING CHANGE, MAKING SOUL PODCAST — Coming Soon!
INSIGHT TIMER
Brenda offers live events recorded content, the Making Soul Circle Group, and more as a teacher on the Insight Timer App.
MAKING SOUL SUBSTACK
Check out Brenda’s writings, videos, and other content on her Making Soul Substack.
RECENT EVENTS & PRESENTATIONS
MALCS Summer Institute 2026 in Minnesota. At my vendor booth with my amazing editor, Kristen Buckles of UAP. What a delight to see her! A photo of the ofrenda/altar for the workshop I led on Spiritual Activism. Thank you to all of participants for bringing their powerful stories and energy!
Client Testimonial - La Madre y La Medicina Retreat December 2025
”What a beautiful space Brenda held for us in La Madre y La Medicina retreat! I've participated in many ceremonias, but I wasn't sure what to expect in our virtual circulo. During our time together, we were able share, reflect, question, and write about our relationship with Tonantzin/Guadalupe and with our ancestors. Gracias, Brenda for your knowledge, vulnerability, and pedagogical strategies that allowed us to learn from each other and continue on our path.”
- Dolores Delgado Bernal, President's Distinguished Professor, Loyola Marymount University
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY EMAIL LIST & STAY CONNECTED
Receive a discount code to purchase the book and a special invitation to the virtual Chicana Spiritual Activism: Making Change, Making Soul Book Launch in October 2026.
Learn intergenerational wisdom and insights about spiritual activism;
Receive resources and information on my collaborations with members of the Making Soul Collective.
Receive all notices about book openings, community pláticas, and other events.
Questions or comments? CONNECT WITH ME
~ MORE REFLECTIONS FROM CLIENTS ~
“Brenda brings her gift and experience for holding space to all she does. Academia and these political times can feel isolating. The April círculo reminded me that I am part of a woven, caring community who is committed to reimagining the world. My entire self felt invited into the círculo, mind, body, and spirit. My entire self breathed! Gracias/gratitude. I look forward to experiencing more of Brenda's ofrendas/offerings.”
- Naya Armendarez Jones, PhD
“Brenda's knowledge of Chicana feminist studies really brought so much to light about the wisdom of our lineage and strengthened my desire for deeper understanding of history through a spiritual lens”
- Rosa Santoyo, Soma Moon Sanctuary
“Thank you, Brenda Sendejo, for hosting such a meaningful and powerful circle. I'm deeply grateful for the space you created and for introducing me to the soul care and the true meaning of power. Your guidance opened up something real and transformative within me. So much appreciation for your wisdom and the community you're building.”
- Berenice Soto
Brenda Sendejo, PhD
Founder, Brenda Sendejo Consulting / Making Change ~ Making Soul
brenda@brendasendejoconsulting.com | 512.791.9808
CONNECT WITH ME
Our beautiful new logo created by artist-spiritual activist-writer Anel Flores. Visit their website HERE.
“Lean into your story and make change that beings within.”
After 14 years as a university professor, burnout taught me that I had to take my soul care and well-being into my own hands. Others could support, but no one else could do it for me. It wasn’t until I left academia that I was able to understand my experience of the fracturing of the mind, body, and spirit. Today, my purpose is to support changemakers and heart-centered leaders, especially those from historically marginalized groups, in integrating soul care as an essential part of community care, caregiving, and social change work.
Outer transformation involves inner soul work.
As I discuss in my forthcoming book on Chicana spiritual activism, learning the stories of women in the Chicana movement in Texas and the histories they uncovered transformed me. They led me to earn a PhD in cultural anthropology and to my work as a storyteller, facilitator, and guide today. These encuentros/ encounters with the women led me to a new way of seeing the world and coming home to myself, stages of transformation that inform my Making Change, Making Soul Framework.
As a published author, award-winning educator, former faculty member and department chair, mentor, and in my leadership in a national professional organization, I continually returned to the power of story. Stories can silence, damage, and deter—but they also empower, heal, and allow us a deeper connection to ourselves and others.
I am guided by the wisdom of my own teachers and continually reminded that aligning with and operating from our truth, as in (re)writing our own stories and charting our own paths, inspires self-empowerment and healing for ourselves and the world. In the words of Gloria Anzaldúa, “I change myself, I change the world.”
Please reach out to discuss how I can support you and your community!