Crystal Alexandra 

Crystal Alexandra is a writer, model, and farmer-herbalist whose work bridges humor, creativity, and plant medicine as pathways to healing. Based in Alexandria, Virginia, she blends storytelling and herbalism to create learning experiences that reconnect people—especially youth—to nature, embodiment, and community care. Through her writing and land-based practice, Crystal uses humor and accessibility to make wellness feel both grounded and joyful, inviting people to find healing in the simple, living things around them.

Her journey is guided by a belief that laughter, storytelling, and the earth itself are powerful medicines. With a background in social education and a passion for early childhood wellness, Crystal is exploring how herbs and their stories can support trauma-informed learning and help young people reclaim their sense of wonder and power. Her work reflects a deep commitment to the African land-based traditions that shape her approach to both education and healing.

Through the Acosta Institute Fellowship, Crystal hopes to deepen her trauma-informed leadership and connect with others creating healing-centered spaces across disciplines. She’s especially excited to explore how herbalism, digital storytelling, and humor can come together to nurture the next generation. For Crystal, this fellowship is an opportunity to grow her practice, expand her impact, and root her creative vision even more deeply in healing and community.