Squad Stars
Brooke Blankenship
Founder & Executive Director
Brooke is a certified educator and school librarian with almost two decades of experience in education. In 2017, she became a certified yoga teacher, and has since completed extensive training on bringing mindfulness and yoga to children, including becoming an RCYT (Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher) and an E-RYT 500 through Yoga Alliance. By incorporating the principles and movements of yoga into storytime, she saw the connections students made into daily life. This inspired Brooke to share the experience with more children and she created Yogi Squad in 2018. Since then, Yogi Squad has been invited into homes, schools, and daycares to inspire children’s physical, social, and emotional growth.
Dena Silva
Dena Silva, MS is a lifelong learner and educator. She works in healthcare education and specializes in learning technologies. She is a certified yoga teacher and a practitioner for years. Yoga is just one of the many ways Dena keeps a healthy body and mind and passionately believes in the motto "Solvitur ambulando" or "it is solved by walking." She has two young boys that are members of the Squad.
Adrienne Johnson
Adrienne Johnson is a paralegal at a Fort Worth law firm. She is passionate about literacy and has volunteered as a literacy tutor at The Women's Center. She believes in instilling a love for reading in children as early as possible, and in the powerful way reading can soothe, empower, and transform a child. If you are a kid in her life, you most definitely receive lots of books for your birthday! She is thrilled to support YogiSquad in its mission to combine the healing practices of yoga, reading, and mindfulness to benefit kids in our community.
Kristin Westhoff
With an illustrious 30-year tenure as an esteemed educator within the Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD), Kristin brings a wealth of experience and a passion for holistic development to YogiSquad. As a certified Montessori teacher, she has nurtured young minds, instilling a love for learning and balance. Beyond the classroom, Kristin has seamlessly woven fitness into her daily routine, recognizing its profound impact on overall well-being. As a proud parent of two, Kristin cherishes family as the cornerstone of her life. An avid reader, nature enthusiast, and community advocate, Kristin generously dedicates her time, expertise, and financial support to YogiSquad, embodying a commitment to spreading the transformative benefits of yoga and holistic wellness.
Natalie Chapa
Natalie Chapa’s professional career has been spent largely working with children in the non-profit sector of her home town of Fort Worth. Natalie graduated from the University of North Texas in 2009, and is the Project Manager at Near Southside, Inc. Natalie is experienced in organizational administration and project management. She is adept with data-based software, planning and execution of outreach efforts and engagements, and public relations management. She is a seasoned facilitator and skillful at client relations, social media, communications, community outreach, and event management.
