About us
The entire leadership, staff, and board of Ties to La Tierra consist of BIPOC individuals. Every one of us has Indigenous diasporic roots spanning North, Central, and South America, originating from areas heavily impacted by colonial and imperial forces.
Our organization doesn't adhere to conventional governance structures found in nonprofits. Instead, we embrace Indigenous approaches to horizontalism and assume complementary roles to fulfill organizational responsibilities.
We collaborate with collectives, organizations, and groups representing our diverse diasporic communities, including BIPOC individuals and people from the global south.
Meet Our Team
Sabrina Chapa (she/they)
Sabrina is a Xicana/Mexica from the Gulf Coast of South Texas (Karankawa land) and co-founder of Ties to La Tierra. She is currently residing in Lenapehoking. Sabrina is a proud “Earth Protector at the intersections of just practice, biocultural ecology, and radical transformation”. She has a Masters if Science in Ecological Justice, Indigenous Studies, and Environmental Policy as well as, a Bachelors of Science in Geography and Environmental Resources. In addition, she is a research fellow for Green Leadership Trust, and organization dedicated to increase BIPoC board representation in the environmental and sustainability movement. On her time off she takes pleasure in reading, vibing with the community, eating tacos, swimming, stargazing with a telescope, and dancing with her Mexica Danza group “Canpatlaneci".
Sabrina is a Xicana/Mexica from the Gulf Coast of South Texas (Karankawa land) and co-founder of Ties to La Tierra. She is currently residing in Lenapehoking. Sabrina is a proud “Earth Protector at the intersections of just practice, biocultural ecology, and radical transformation”. She has a Masters if Science in Ecological Justice, Indigenous Studies, and Environmental Policy as well as, a Bachelors of Science in Geography and Environmental Resources. In addition, she is a research fellow for Green Leadership Trust, and organization dedicated to increase BIPoC board representation in the environmental and sustainability movement. On her time off she takes pleasure in reading, vibing with the community, eating tacos, swimming, stargazing with a telescope, and dancing with her Mexica Danza group “Canpatlaneci".
Davina Resto (she/her)
Davina Resto serves Ties to La Tierra as their Community and Justice Coordinator. Outside of TTLT, she passionately works full-time as the Senior Community Outreach Associate at the Environmental Protection Network, assisting frontline environmental justice communities access resources for their communities. She is also a Junior Research Fellow at the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research, where she is exploring the connections and drivers of conflict in relation to peacekeeping operations and the impact of artificial intelligence and surveillance on democracy, and ethical limitations. Davina is a graduate of Mercy College, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy. She is passionate about supporting local communities by targeting social justice, environmental and human rights issues.
Davina Resto serves Ties to La Tierra as their Community and Justice Coordinator. Outside of TTLT, she passionately works full-time as the Senior Community Outreach Associate at the Environmental Protection Network, assisting frontline environmental justice communities access resources for their communities. She is also a Junior Research Fellow at the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research, where she is exploring the connections and drivers of conflict in relation to peacekeeping operations and the impact of artificial intelligence and surveillance on democracy, and ethical limitations. Davina is a graduate of Mercy College, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy. She is passionate about supporting local communities by targeting social justice, environmental and human rights issues.
Dr. Leonardo Figueroa Helland
Leonardo E Figueroa Helland (PhD) is with Ties to La Tierra as Wisdom Keeper and Research Lead of the Systems and Movement Research project. He is also an accomplished Chair and Associate Professor of the Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management graduate (MS) program at The New School university (Lenapehoking/Manahatta/New York City). He leads the Indigeneity, Decolonization and Just Sustainability Section of the Tishman Environment and Design Center. A decolonizing scholar of mix-blood/mestizo heritage (Indigenous Mesoamerican and Euro-American), his work underlines the centrality of Indigenous resurgence and revitalization in addressing planetary crises, achieving climate justice and materializing systemic change. His writings appear, inter alia, in the Journal of World Systems Research, the journal Perspectives on Global Development and Technology, the volume on Social Movements and World-System Transformation, and the volumes on Anarchist Political Ecology, on Contesting Extinctions: Critical Relationality, Regenerative Futures, as well as the forthcoming NYU Environmental Law Journal (ELJ)--Special Volume on “Free the Land—Land Tenure and Stewardship Reimagined”. His current projects include a manuscript prospectively titled “Anthropocene” Collapse / Indigenous Resurgence: From Planetary Crises to Decolonization.
Leonardo E Figueroa Helland (PhD) is with Ties to La Tierra as Wisdom Keeper and Research Lead of the Systems and Movement Research project. He is also an accomplished Chair and Associate Professor of the Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management graduate (MS) program at The New School university (Lenapehoking/Manahatta/New York City). He leads the Indigeneity, Decolonization and Just Sustainability Section of the Tishman Environment and Design Center. A decolonizing scholar of mix-blood/mestizo heritage (Indigenous Mesoamerican and Euro-American), his work underlines the centrality of Indigenous resurgence and revitalization in addressing planetary crises, achieving climate justice and materializing systemic change. His writings appear, inter alia, in the Journal of World Systems Research, the journal Perspectives on Global Development and Technology, the volume on Social Movements and World-System Transformation, and the volumes on Anarchist Political Ecology, on Contesting Extinctions: Critical Relationality, Regenerative Futures, as well as the forthcoming NYU Environmental Law Journal (ELJ)--Special Volume on “Free the Land—Land Tenure and Stewardship Reimagined”. His current projects include a manuscript prospectively titled “Anthropocene” Collapse / Indigenous Resurgence: From Planetary Crises to Decolonization.
Stay Updated on Our Adventures
Stay Updated on Our Adventures
Stay Updated on Our Adventures
Designed by Sabrina Chapa
We are on Native land.
Designed by Sabrina Chapa
We are on Native land.
Meet Our Team
Meet Our Team