Cheryl Smith Alvarez

Cheryl Smith Alvarez is a certified teacher of the Transcendental Meditation program at Transcendental Meditation technique since February 2020 and serves as a TM Teacher for outreach programs with The David Lynch Foundation since November 2017. In this role, Cheryl collaborates with community organizations in Chicago to promote various programs, including those focused on meditation in schools and support for women affected by gun violence. Cheryl co-founded Gather :: Creative Art Workshops for Girls, where from 2012 to July 2020, contributions were made to empower girls through creative arts and mindfulness. Previous experience includes serving as proprietor of Miraflores Winery from 2003 to November 2013, Program Coordinator for Nutrition Services at Yuma County Department of Public Health from 1992 to 1997, and Director of the Women, Infant and Children Program at Valley Health Center from 1990 to 1992. Educational qualifications include a B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Oklahoma, a Dietetic Internship from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and an M.B.A. in Business Administration from Webster University.