About Us
The Intersection of Spiritual Care and Ecological Restoration
At our sanctuary, healing is both an internal and external journey. We seamlessly integrate individual and group spiritual direction with meaningful, physical engagement with the land through our active care farm and ongoing regenerative land projects.
By participating in permaculture practices, participants find a somatic outlet for processing stress, PTSD, and Moral Injury. Working alongside nature allows individuals to safely externalize their inner struggles, grounding their spiritual recovery in the tangible, visible growth of the environment around them
The Story of a Sanctuary
In 2019, Dr. Anderson acquired 330 acres of land bordering the pristine Alamo Lake wilderness area in Southern Arizona, laying the groundwork for a sanctuary dedicated to healing and ecological restoration. Over the next four years, she invested heavily in infrastructure and land regeneration, culminating in the establishment of the Anderson-Arroyo Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Dr. Anderson relocated to the property full-time in 2023 to begin her hands-on work with trauma survivors. That same year, she established a specialized campground featuring eight yurt-style tents. The sanctuary's physical healing accelerated in 2023 through two major donations of trees and cacti, initiating the planting of a three-acre botanical meditation garden. In 2026, the successful restoration of the first of three historic houses expanded the foundation's capacity. This climate-controlled space allows the foundation to comfortably host summer retreats and accommodate guests who are not physically suited for a yurt stay. Every milestone achieved on this land has been made possible through the dedication of wonderful volunteers and generous community donations.
Looking ahead to 2026/2027, our primary focus is expanding accessibility to life-changing healing resources. We are actively raising funds to provide completely free group retreats and ongoing online support specifically for veterans challenged by PTSD and Moral Injury. Our goal is to remove all financial barriers for those who served, ensuring they have immediate access to a safe sanctuary, community connection, and the professional spiritual care they deserve as they navigate their recovery.
Board of Directors
The board of directors oversee the governance of The Anderson-Arroyo Foundation.
Director
Doctor Jen Anderson
Dr. Anderson is a trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and specialist in trauma-informed spiritual care, focusing heavily on helping individuals heal from Moral Injury and PTSD resulting from significant trauma. She holds a Master’s in Ministry and Spiritual Leadership and a PhD in Spiritual Formation and Education from the Claremont School of Theology. Recognizing that survivors of PTSD and Moral Injury come from all walks of life,
Dr. Anderson has pursued extensive interfaith training—including Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, and interfaith Chaplaincy. Bridging human healing with ecological health, she also holds an international certification in permaculture design and studied arid landscape regeneration at Zaytuna College. She brings this unique combination of skills to her role as a consultant for the Big Sandy NRDC, where she teaches methods for regenerating landscapes and reversing desertification.
President
Kari Zimmerman
Kari Zimmerman has built a successful and diverse career across the public and private sectors, encompassing communications and outreach, project management, proposal development, marketing compliance and business growth.
Kari worked in the theatre arts, and spent over 20 years working for Fortune 500 companies in the financial sector in New York City. She has also served on the board of arts non-profits.
Kari is very familiar with trauma and the importance of a spiritual journey and spiritual retreats. She attended church and worked in lower Manhattan in September 2001 and was at Ground Zero on 9/11. The events of that day permanently impacted her emotionally, physically, professionally and spiritually. It has given her a perspective on trauma and healing, and reinforced to her the importance of spiritual support and healing spaces.
Board Member
Mike Sam
Mike Sam is a US Air Force veteran who served overseas, specializing in logistics and as a trained first responder. Currently, he is the off-site manager for the Conservation Concierges Project Climate Workforce where he works closely with organizations such as Veteran Affairs, the Outward Bound Leadership Program, and the Goodwill OJT Career Development program. He oversees project management, grant management, and coordinates with government officials, private companies and local communities.
In addition, Mike Sam has dedicated years to advancing LGBTQ rights as a member of the Board of the Hollywood Gay and Lesbian Center. In his adjacent career as a couture fashion designer, his creations are seen on red carpets and stages around the world.
He is thrilled to be involved with the Sonoran Desert Sanctuary with its dual purpose of serving the environment and the mental health/spiritual well-being of veterans and others affected by trauma.
Advisors
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Our growing team of advisors covers our full circle of needs, from permaculture, arid farming and environmental building experts, to desert herbologists and spiritual guides across faith traditions.
Sustainable Building Advisor
Guru Das Bock
Guru is a founder of the Awareness Ranch in Tucson Arizona. He studied Geoscience, Earth Systems Science, Dendrochronology at University of Arizona. As an accomplished green building architect, contractor and land regeneration expert, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Sonoran Desert Sanctuary.
Awareness Ranch | Natural Building & Sustainable Agriculture
Biodiversity expert
John Slattery
John Slattery is the founder of Desert Tortoise Botanicals. He is an experienced herbalist and an expert in the plant and cactus biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert. He joins the Sonoran Desert Sanctuary as an advisor for land regeneration and reforestation, and to help plan the Botanical Garden. He regularly teaches courses on sustainable wild foraging and indigenous herbal medicine. Desert Tortoise Botanicals looks forward to partnering with the Sanctuary on future educational programs.
Programming advisor
Jeffrey Braer
Jeffrey is a creative consultant and project developer for major theme parks, brands and film. He has been recruited to assist in the development of the Sonoran Desert Sanctuary based on his previous work developing the Los Vegas Springs Botanical Garden. Jeffrey has extensive experience with the layout and design of public spaces and the creation of educational programs.
Eco-spirituality advisor
Christian Smith
Christian Smith is the head of the student association for the Process Theology Department at Claremont School of Theology. As an organization that provides students with an education and practical experience at the intersection of ecology and spirituality, the Process Theology Association is excited to collaborate with the Anderson-Arroyo Foundation on the Sanctuary project. The Association will provide student volunteers to assist in restoring native habitats while collaborating on retreats to cultivate mindfulness and spiritual practices that students can use in their religious, spiritual, and therapeutic contexts as ministers, chaplains, and spiritual directors.
Bio-regeneration expert
Juan Whiting
As a 4th generation regenerative farmer and an ag entrepreneur, Juan has accepted risk and has weathered many storms, His mission is to align and connect front-line farmers and innovative ag companies to the right funding opportunities and support them in executing environmentally sustainable, high-impact, community-building projects. The Sonoran Desert Sanctuary is an incredible opportunity to regenerate land, create a botanical garden to preserve the local biodiversity; and create an innovative aquaponic container farm to pave the way for the future of arid region agriculture.
IT advisor
James Mackenzie
James Mackenzie is an IT professional with over 30 years experience spanning various technologies, organizations, projects and people. He is a practical logician and is using his resourceful and flexible problem-solving skills to assist the Sonoran Desert Sanctuary with IT infrastructure planning and digital publishing needs.
He lives on a small self-sustaining homestead in rural east Cape Breton, Canada. He is an avid gardener, seed saver and fisherman.