2026 Father John A. Dinneen, S.J. Alumni Award Recipient
The proud daughter of Mexican and Cuban immigrants, Yvonne Castañeda is a bilingual social worker, author, educator, and speaker whose work bridges the heart, mind, and soul. A graduateof the Boston College School of Social Work and a member of the Latine Leadership Initiative cohort, she carries her formation at BC with deep gratitude.
Yvonne serves as the Director of Community-Based Initiatives at the Boston College School of Social Work, where she strengthens partnerships with nonprofits and faith-based organizations to address systemic inequities through data equity, leadership development, and long-term capacity building. She also teaches graduate-level courses in macro practice and policy. In addition, she facilitates pastoral care and counseling formation for St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, creating space for reflection, healing, and spiritual depth.
A deeply faithful woman, Yvonne understands her work as a calling. Her faith is not separate from her professional life but rather the foundation beneath it. It shapes how she listens, how she teaches, how she builds, and how she serves.
She is the founder of Soulfuerza Therapy, a culturally responsive, trauma-informed private practice rooted in presence, truth, and respect for the human experience. A certified EMDR therapist, she integrates mind, body, and spirit in her approach to helping others find their way forward.
Yvonne is a sought-after public speaker whose keynotes center healing, spirituality, and the power of human connection. She is the author of Pork Belly Tacos with a Side of Anxiety, a memoir exploring her own journey with mental health and addiction. She currently serves on the boards of North Suffolk Community Services, Doc Wayne Youth Services, and the NASW-MA Chapter.