About Xinachtli
Xinachtli Rites of Passage is a culturally grounded, community-defined approach to youth development, healing, and leadership that equips practitioners, educators, community health workers, and organizations with practical tools for supporting young people in ways that strengthen connection rather than pathologize culture.
Rooted in Xicana/Indigenous ways of knowing and more than two decades of community practice, Xinachtli offers a framework for organizations seeking to deepen their capacity for culturally responsive, healing-centered, prevention-focused behavioral health practice.
Xinachtli Comadres National Colectiva (XCNC)
A growing national network of facilitators, cultural practitioners, educators, and youth leaders. XCNC serves as an extended kinship network that centers girls, Fem(mes), and non-binary youth of color. The collective works to cultivate intergenerational leadership and advance community health and systems transformation.
What We Do
Youth Leadership & Advocacy Pathways
Xinachtli programs empower youth to:
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Develop a strong sense of voice and purpose
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Participate in youth leadership councils
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Engage in community and cultural projects
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Advocate for equitable school systems
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Participate in youth leadership councils
Evidence-Based Curriculum Integration
Xinachtli’s curriculum supports student growth in:
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Identity development
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Emotional regulation
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Leadership and communication
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Cultural connection
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Community building
School Climate & Culture Improvement
Our approach helps schools:
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Reduce behavioral incidents
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Strengthen attendance and engagement
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Build trust between youth and adults
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Support staff wellness and cultural understanding
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Foster a climate of respect
Professional Development
We offer comprehensive training for teachers, counselors, and administrators to help them:
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Implement restorative and healing-centered approaches
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Build stronger classroom relationships
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Support students’ social-emotional needs
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Strengthen cultural responsiveness
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Address trauma with care and confidence
Proven Results
Our Work in Action
Communities implementing Xinachtli frameworks report improved academic performance, reduced behavioral issues, and stronger engagement. Our approach emphasizes measurable outcomes, sustainable practices, and professional growth for educators.
Xinachtli programs support youth in:
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Conducting Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) Through a Healing-Informed Approach
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Exploring the Experiences of Young Resilient Latinas in Rural & Under-Resourced Communities
Recent research published in The Professional Counselor provides powerful evidence of Xinachtli's transformative impact on youth. The 2025 pilot study examined the curriculum's effects on Chicana, Latina, and Indigenous (CLI) secondary students—youth who are often underserved by traditional mental health approaches.
Why Mental Health Professionals Choose Xinachtli:
We partner with schools and community agencies to provide professional development, facilitator training, evidence-based curriculum, and healing-informed frameworks that elevate youth wellness and success.
It Works Where Other SEL Fails
Directly aligned with CASEL competencies, but delivered through ceremony, storytelling, and ancestral wisdom—not worksheets.
Heal the Healer
This training isn't just for the kids. We prioritize facilitator self-trust, self-care, and self-confidence so you can serve from a rooted, resilient place.
Join a National Kinship Network
Upon certification, you enter the Xinachtli Comadres National Colectiva (XCNC)—a vibrant, intergenerational support system of like-hearted professionals committed to systems transformation.
Your involvement helps shape a future where girls and gender-expansive youth grow with confidence, cultural pride, and leadership.
Join The Movement
