“We are not the only beings on the planet with personalities, minds, and emotions; and we are part of, and not separate from, the rest of the animal kingdom.”
— Jane Goodall
Photograph by David Goddard
Ana María Cañas is the founder of Deep Rooting—a space to explore creativity, ecological identity, and healing to root our lives in lasting connections within ourselves, each other, and the natural world. Her current work lives at the intersection of photography, maternal ecopsychology, and land regeneration. With a transdisciplinary approach, she investigates the psychological origins and lived impacts of our ecological crises, weaving research, storytelling, and care-based practices.
For over eight years, Ana led and collaborated on research, education, and policy initiatives across New York City, partnering with government agencies, non-profits, United Nations-affiliated NGOs, and academic institutions. She holds a degree in Psychology and Evolutionary Studies from the State University of New York at New Paltz and a master’s in Developmental Psychology from Columbia University, specializing in Early Childhood Development and Policy.
After spending most of her life in the United States, Ana returned to her roots in the Tropical Andes of Colombia. There, she lives with her husband and daughter, stewarding 25 acres of land —planting seeds for a future grounded in reciprocity, regeneration, and relational repair.
ABOUT
VALUES THAT INFORM ANA’S WORK:
awareness
curiosity
resilience
connection
empathy
cooperation
Youth Matters! Engaged Roosevelt Island, Cornell Tech. New York.
CTAUN Conference: War No More with Gloria Steinem. United Nations, New Yok.
The Good Childhood in a World of Change. Attending with OMEP. Scandinavia House, New York.
Psychology Day at the United Nations. New York.
Un Cafecito de Educación con Lucia Burga. Interview for Univisión. New York.
Weill Cornell Medicine Heart 2 Heart Program. New York.
Cornell University Cooperative Extension, PASTA Program Celebration. New York.
Growing and Learning Together Through Play Program. East Harlem Bilingual Head Start, New York.
Creating Family Learning Partnerships to Promote Early Learning. Little Star of Broome Street, New York.
Teachers College, Columbia University Graduation. New York.
Early Childhood Policy Seminar. Washington DC.
Field Trip with ASA students. New York.
Field Trip with ASA students. New York.
NEEPS Conference. SUNY New Paltz, New York.