Our Team
The entire leadership, staff, and board of Ties to La Tierra consists 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.
The entire leadership, staff, and board of Ties to La Tierra consists 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.
Sabrina Chapa (she/they)
Founder and Executive Director
Sabrina is a Xicana/Mexica from the Gulf Coast and Southern Plains of Texas (Karankawa land). Sabrina is a proud “Earth Protector at the intersections of just practice, biocultural ecology, and radical transformation”. She has a Masters of Science in Ecological Justice, Indigenous Studies, and Environmental Policy as well as, a Bachelors of Science in Geography and Environmental Resources. On her time off she takes pleasure in reading, vibing, fishing, eating tacos, swimming, stargazing and dancing with her Mexica Danza Kapulli.
Deandra Sanchez
(they/them/two-spirit)
Youth Development and Program Director
Deandra Sanchez was born in so-called Corpus Christi, Texas and is a descendent of the Karankawa and Lipan Apache. Deandra enacts their passion of multigenerational skills sharing for the future of generations simultaneously with the respect of ancestral wisdom from elders. Through the course of Deandra’s life they have been integrating spirit with Indigenous events planning, leading youth protests, and relationship building with community and local mutual aid initiatives. Deandra likes to spend their time in solitude, with nature, and nurturing their connection to the land by growing plants.
Dorothy Peña (she/they)
Food Systems Director
Dorothy has ancestral ties to so-called South Texas. She feels called to make connections with all Beings, to nourish the soil, and save seeds. Dorothy has worked on an urban mini farm for the past 3 years to support Elder knowledge of food and health, works with several organizations around social and environmental issues to reduce harm to Mother Earth, communities, and self, and does coalition building with farmers, ranchers, and land stewards. When she is not working she enjoys sharing stories, singing, dancing, playing the Huehuetl, growing plants, spending time with community, family, and friends, walking long distances in solitude in nature, and cooking.
Carly Nicole Sanchez
Director of Strategic Operations for Environmental Justice & Indigenous Futures
As a Catracha/Chicana raised in Los Angeles (Tongva Land), Carly has a passion for urban community organizing through an environmental & climate justice lens that prioritizes marginalized community safety and resilience. Her work intersects climate initiatives with the preservation and protection of traditional ecological systems knowledge, while the foundation of her values is collective liberation for all. She has received a Master of Science in Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management from The New School (Go Narwhals!) and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz (Go Banana Slugs!). She has a a ranging research background in small forest mammal species, localized food systems resourcing and demographics, and grassroots organization impacts. She builds her relationship with Mother Nature through birding, camping, hiking, being in or near bodies of water, and traveling to new places with friends and family.
Joshua Chapa
Coming soon!
Meagan Mikiztochtli Alvarado Xotochtli (she/her)
Sabrina Chapa (she/they)
Founder and Executive Director
Sabrina is a Xicana/Mexica from the Gulf Coast and Southern Plains of Texas (Karankawa land). Sabrina is a proud “Earth Protector at the intersections of just practice, biocultural ecology, and radical transformation”. She has a Masters of Science in Ecological Justice, Indigenous Studies, and Environmental Policy as well as, a Bachelors of Science in Geography and Environmental Resources. On her time off she takes pleasure in reading, vibing, fishing, eating tacos, swimming, stargazing and dancing with her Mexica Danza Kapulli.
Deandra Sanchez
(they/them/two-spirit)
Youth Development and Program Director
Deandra Sanchez was born in so-called Corpus Christi, Texas and is a descendent of the Karankawa and Lipan Apache. Deandra enacts their passion of multigenerational skills sharing for the future of generations simultaneously with the respect of ancestral wisdom from elders. Through the course of Deandra’s life they have been integrating spirit with Indigenous events planning, leading youth protests, and relationship building with community and local mutual aid initiatives. Deandra likes to spend their time in solitude, with nature, and nurturing their connection to the land by growing plants.
Dorothy Peña (she/they)
Food Systems Director
Dorothy has ancestral ties to so-called South Texas. She feels called to make connections with all Beings, to nourish the soil, and save seeds. Dorothy has worked on an urban mini farm for the past 3 years to support Elder knowledge of food and health, works with several organizations around social and environmental issues to reduce harm to Mother Earth, communities, and self, and does coalition building with farmers, ranchers, and land stewards. When she is not working she enjoys sharing stories, singing, dancing, playing the Huehuetl, growing plants, spending time with community, family, and friends, walking long distances in solitude in nature, and cooking.
Carly Nicole Sanchez (she/they)
Director of Strategic Operations for Environmental Justice & Indigenous Futures
As a Catracha/Chicana raised in Los Angeles (Tongva Land), Carly has a passion for urban community organizing through an environmental & climate justice lens that prioritizes marginalized community safety and resilience. Her work intersects climate initiatives with the preservation and protection of traditional ecological systems knowledge, while the foundation of her values is collective liberation for all. She has received a MS in Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management from The New School (Go Narwhals!) and a BA in Environmental Studies from the UC Santa Cruz (Go Banana Slugs!). She has a a ranging research background in small forest mammal species, food systems, and grassroots organizing. She builds her relationship with Mother Nature through birding, camping, hiking, being in or near bodies of water, and traveling to new places with friends and family.
Our Board
BRiana Guiterrez
MElinda villareal
Leo figueroa-helland
Meagan Mikiztochtli Alvarado Xotochtli (she/her)
SUPPORTERS
SUPPORTERS
Juan villarreal
Whitney brown
Tan
MElissa Zamora
EagleBear Alvarado (he/him)
EagleBear Alvarado (he/him)
EagleBear Alvarado (he/him)
BRiana Guiterrez
Leo figueroa-helland
MElinda villareal
EagleBear Alvarado (he/him)