My year-long internship with Chacruna’s Indigenous Reciprocity Initiative has been an honor and a profound learning opportunity! While working with Dr. Osiris Garcia Cerqueda and the rest of the IRI team, I felt constantly supported, uplifted, encouraged, and understood. I was able to deepen my understanding of the psychedelic landscape, especially as it relates to Indigenous communities who for millennia have been in relationship with the sacred medicines we now discuss, study, and celebrate on an international scale. Through this work, my mindset has shifted in a lasting way to one that considers the history and the context behind both large movements like the psychedelic renaissance as well as individual actions as I move through the world. Moving the endlessly important concept of reciprocity toward the center of the growing psychedelic movement is a huge responsibility and challenge that the IRI team takes on with grace, patience, and bravery. I could not be more grateful for the opportunity to learn from and support the folks doing such essential work. -Former Indigenous Reciprocity Initiative Support Intern

I’m deeply grateful to have spent the last year on Chacruna’s social media team, where horizontal leadership isn’t just a value, it’s a practice. Even as an intern, I was invited into core meetings, trusted to represent Chacruna at conferences and on stages, and encouraged to bring my full voice forward. I’ve met my heroes in the field, traveled, and, most importantly, connected with an incredibly open-hearted, diverse team committed to an equitable psychedelic ecosystem that honors the communities, traditions, and environments these medicines come from. This experience has transformed how I understand collaboration, representation, and what it takes to organize truly values-driven events, and I’m endlessly grateful to have been part of it. -Former Social Media Intern

As a former Social Media and Content Production intern, I have nothing but positive words to reflect my time spent working with the Chacruna team. I had the opportunity to collaborate with some brilliant minds and was treated with the utmost respect and professionalism throughout my internship. The responsibilities I took on were both fulfilling and instrumental in helping me develop my technical skills. I was also able to expand my knowledge on the various topics that the Chacruna Institute focuses on. I highly recommend this internship to any student or professional looking to gain industry-relevant experience, enhance their skill set, and connect with a network of passionate individuals dedicated to impactful work.

Working as a Social Media and Content Production Intern with Chacruna Institute has been an incredibly enriching experience. I’ve had the opportunity to engage with the vibrant community surrounding plant medicines and contribute to meaningful conversations about cultural reciprocity and justice. This role has not only enhanced my skills in content creation and social media management but has also deepened my appreciation for the vital role of Indigenous knowledge in contemporary discussions. I’m grateful for the chance to be part of such an impactful organization!

As Chacruna’s Membership Support Intern, I was always offered support, respect, and excellent guidance that encouraged me to grow as a member of the team, as well as an individual. I was given the opportunity to integrate my ideas into the department, attend important meetings, register for classes and workshops, and meet with some of our incredible members to discuss and represent Chacruna’s mission. Additionally, as a student, the staff at Chacruna were very understanding of my time constraints and uplifted my personal/professional interests. My experience here has inspired me to continue volunteering even after the completion of my internship. I highly recommend enrolling, especially for students who are looking for comprehensive and community-oriented work that helps to uplift and preserve the original voices in this blooming field!

My time as a Social Media and Content Production Intern was truly transformative. It provided me with the opportunity to work alongside passionate, talented individuals who are deeply committed to advancing meaningful work in the psychedelic space. This experience pushed me out of my comfort zone, allowing me to take on new challenges, expand my skillset, and grow both personally and professionally. From crafting compelling content to engaging with important conversations about cultural reciprocity and justice, every task was a learning experience. I’m deeply grateful for the chance to contribute to such impactful work and to be part of a community dedicated to amplifying Indigenous voices and protecting sacred traditions.

Serving as the Membership Support Intern at Chacruna has been an invaluable experience that enabled me to expand my knowledge and develop a diverse skill set. The opportunity to grow both personally and professionally empowered me to build confidence, adaptability, and a deeper understanding of the field. This experience has taught me the importance of diversity, responsibility, justice, equity, and inclusion—values that are essential not only for fostering a supportive and thriving community, but also for ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard and respected in spaces of growth and transformation. I am grateful for the chance to contribute to such an impactful organization whose mission and vision play such a crucial role in promoting the well-being of the psychedelic and plant medicine community!

My time at Chacruna as IRI Support Intern has been incredibly enriching. It’s provided me with a space to engage deeply with complex issues, where challenging conversations are welcomed, and personal growth is encouraged. Here, I’ve had the opportunity to question assumptions, confront biases, and learn from a team that embodies humility, openness, and passion. Working with the IRI team has inspired me to reflect on my own values and how I can align them more closely with my work. The trust and freedom I’ve been given to explore ideas — along with the collective support to be open to vulnerability — has been empowering. I’m grateful to have been part of such a thoughtful, transformative community and excited to continue contributing to this important work.

My 8-month internship as Chacruna’s Development and Operations Intern has been an incredibly transformative experience. It has not only provided me with valuable practical knowledge but also allowed me to connect with and learn from an amazing team of people. Before this role, I was and still am a student, and I’ve always admired Chacruna’s commitment to promoting reciprocity and safeguarding sacred plants. In a field often dominated by hyper-individualized approaches to healing, Chacruna’s vision felt like a breath of fresh air. Organizing and participating in Chacruna’s annual conference in San Francisco, Psychedelic Culture 2025, has been the highlight of my experience.

My time as an intern for the Chacruna Institute has been invaluable for my personal and professional development, and was a significant point in the arc of my progression through the psychedelic world. I recall encountering their material early on in my entry to the space and being enamored with their content as a social scientist in a space dominated by biomedical scientists, and long before I joined them they felt like an intellectual haven for me. Fast forward to this year, and I was able to join the organization as a marketing intern, but this title didn’t preclude me from engaging in other departments where I felt called. Collaboration is strongly encouraged here, and I was given the support to work with various departments (social media, communications, etc.) to engage in truly comprehensive and meaningful projects with a host of brilliant peers who motivated me to learn and grow in ways I never anticipated. I’ve found during my time here that initiative is met with encouragement, and as I make my transition from a marketing intern to an education support intern, I feel empowered in proposing my own ideas that I believe will help us grow, and can expect to be met with at least as much enthusiasm as I put forth.

My six-month internship as an Education Support Intern at Chacruna was far more enriching than I could have imagined. I found myself immersed in a work environment that was not only highly collaborative but also deeply empathetic and welcoming. Across all departments, I witnessed a rare sense of harmony and shared purpose that inspired me during every team meeting. Working with the Education team was a true privilege. While assisting in the organization in daily tasks and development of Chacruna’s courses, I had the chance to learn directly from brilliant teachers and thought leaders from around the world. These educators—experts from various sectors of the psychedelic field—taught on topics ranging from conventional pharmacology to the sacred and traditional use of psychedelics. What impacted me most, however, was the opportunity to learn deeply about racial justice and Indigenous reciprocity. As a medical doctor, this experience helped me see the value of honoring diverse ways of knowing—something rarely emphasized in conventional medical training. It revealed the urgent need to address power dynamics and to foster cultural humility, especially within the growing psychedelic-assisted care. This realization continues to inspire my commitment to building a more just and equitable healthcare system, particularly in the field of psychedelics.

My time as an SEO Intern for eight months at the Chacruna Institute was truly a privilege and an amazing learning experience. From day one, the leadership team—Bia, Lorien, and Alex—were incredibly inspiring, knowledgeable, and welcoming. It was also an honor to learn from and with Seph and Owen, such amazingly generous and funny people. I was lucky enough to participate in a certificate course. The quality of instructors in their industry-leading courses speaks volumes about the organization’s commitment to education. I can’t say enough about the integrity of the people and the incredible work they are doing in the industry. It is medicine for the soul, knowing that there is an organization like Chacruna that is working to protect the integrity of the industry

To contribute to this mission our founders created, was such an honor. This experience was meaningful beyond what I could have expected. I get to carry with me is an understanding of how to center reciprocity, social justice and education not just as values, but as practice. My experience in collaborating structure for people that devote and donate their time and care so deeply as Volunteer Coordinator is how I got to witness what it looks like when heart and mind are in alignment. Each of the Chracruna team members embodied this so beautifully and I’m grateful for the example I was given. The domino effect of collaborating with Chacruna has been nothing short of extravagant. It provides a platform and environment that encourages best performances in all areas of strengths and to gently improve weaknesses. I was given opportunity to excel and represent my individual self in resonance to a greater vision. Continuing further into the psychedelic space, I hope to see more opportunities of accountability and to be taken seriously as an advocate for the ethical paradigms that were seeded here

I am very grateful to have spent the last three months behind the scenes with the Chacruna team, helping prepare for the third rendition of their conference, Psychedelic Culture. They truly set the benchmark for psychedelic justice and education, and what struck me most is how deeply they live their values — it’s both honorable and rare to witness. There are so many brilliant minds from all over the world involved, and even though we only connected virtually, I felt genuinely welcomed, heard, and held throughout my time here. The onboarding was thoughtful and thorough, and my mentor, Lorien, made sure I always had support whenever I had questions. If you ever have the opportunity to intern with Chacruna, I highly recommend diving into their world-class courses and expanding your knowledge as much as you can. It’s the one thing I wish I’d had more time to participate in.

I’m proud to have completed a 9 month internship within the Development & Operations team at the Chacruna Institute. Working with the team in person and virtually, I can say that the team is made up of humble, hardworking, culturally informed scholars who care about people and the future of plant medicines. Throughout my time at Chacruna, I was supported by Lorien, Development and Operations Officer; Bia, Executive Director; and many dedicated colleagues across departments. Interning at Chacruna allowed me to gain access to the broader psychedelic ecosystem, and through high-quality courses and community dialogues, I deepened my understanding of the history, present, and future of psychedelics and plant medicines. Chacruna also expanded my understanding of Reciprocity and I look forward to carrying these teachings with me as I continue my journey into this ecosystem. While Chacruna’s impact is massive, it’s important to recognize the dedicated team of grassroots individuals, community supporters, and generous donors who pour love and power into its engines and I’m proud to say I’ve played a part in its growth. Because of the Chacruna Institute, culture, diversity, education, and Indigenous leadership continue to be elevated in the psychedelic field at large. The future is brighter because Chacruna exists.