El Nido is where our dreams for Indigenous centered arts and wellness came to life!
Meet the El Nido Co-Founders
Carissa “Lucky” Garcia is an Indigenous writer, artist, educator, and advocate born and raised in Colorado. She is an Iraq War veteran and served eight years in the U.S. Army. She is deeply experienced in equity and sustainability education for youth, adults, and nonprofit organizations. Garcia has nearly twenty years experience as a community organizer, human rights advocate, and political policy advisor. She is the Executive Director for The Mushroom Resilience Project and co-founder of El Nido Denver. The El Nido arts and wellness center is a direct reflection of Garcia’s healing journey which is centered on art, culture, community, and land-based healing. She was the 2024 National Parks Arts Foundation Chaco Canyon artist in residence. Garcia’s art has been featured at the University of Missouri Latinx Graduate Program, Rhode Island School of Design, UMKC Women of Color Leadership Conference, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Flatland KC, Literary Gay Romance Festival, Prescott College, Slam Nuba, Jazzetry, Casa Bonita, Bodies of Culture, and on the streets all across America. She works toward a world where all children eat, we exist with our neighbors in peace, and land is once again stewarded by Indigenous peoples.
Cal Duran is a Queer, Two Spirit, Indigenous, Native, Mixed blood. Latinx, Manito, Mestizo, Chicanx, Indian Artist, and Arts Educator from Colorado. Art has been a portal to channel his indigenous ancestors, where he slips under an emotional spinning vortex of creation. The makers of his blood flow through him. He channels the artisans, craft-makers, mud-dwellers, star-makers, dream-weavers and earth-brothers and sisters, the ones who paved the way and forged the path. His work carries spirit and his truth is in everything he creates. He has roots that bridge India, Mexico and the natives of this land. He finds himself exploring parallels between his hybrid identities found in myth, religion,and ritual.
He has shown altars, installations and artwork in museums and galleries throughout the Denver Metro area and beyond. He continues to honor his ancestors and recently created a room at Meow Wolf in Denver, honoring the indigenous tribes of Colorado and the Americas. He understands the importance of land acknowledgment honoring all the Earth tribes across the globe and the indigenous lineages down his blood line . Growing up separated from his culture, his mom was adopted and his father was not in his life, he grew up trying to figure out his cultural roots. Art was where he could connect and find his heritage. It was through art that he began to connect to his ancestors. He is guided by these ancestors to create altars as beacons of light for the ones beyond this realm.
As a youth educator, Cal understands how important art is for our next generation in creating safe spaces and helping youth find their voice. He is honored to weave his vision of ancestral knowledge in order to guide others as they seek to reconnect to ancestors, create altars and remember where they came from. He gives gratitude and love to everyone working hard to create a world full of love, joy and creativity.
Sammy Millan is a community builder, curator, entrepreneur, and spiritual practitioner based in Denver, Colorado. As the founder of Curios Nature & Co. and co-creators of El Nido, Sammy has dedicated his work to cultivating spaces where art, healing, culture, and connection intersect.
Rooted in his Puerto Rican heritage and inspired by Indigenous and ancestral traditions, Sammy’s work centers on reconnecting people to the wisdom of the earth, spirit, and one another. Through thoughtfully curated goods, workshops, shared events, and collaborations with local artists/ small businesses, community leaders and other practitioners, he creates welcoming environments that honor creativity, reciprocity, and collective care.
His practice draws from curanderismo, espiritismo, ancestral healing traditions, and nature-based spirituality while remaining grounded in respect, continual learning, and meaningful relationship. Whether facilitating conversations, supporting local makers, or designing spaces for reflection and growth, Sammy believes healing happens in relationship—with ourselves, our ancestors, our neighbors, and the natural world.
Through Curios Nature & Co. and El Nido, Sammy continues to nurture a vibrant hub where artists, healers, and seekers can create, connect, and belong.