Amy Chalán Vacacela is a Kichwa Saraguro advocate, community organizer, violinist, and skateboarder based in Lenape Territory. Her undocumented and transnational upbringing inform her commitment to Indigenous youth wellbeing, cultural reclamation, land-based healing, and climate justice. In 2023, Amy became the first Kichwa Ecuadorian woman to graduate from Harvard University with a degree in Social Studies and Art, Film, and Visual Studies, where her community-engaged research explored Indigenous Futurisms, Kichwa hip-hop, and cultural activism in the Ecuadorian Andes. Amy’s post-graduate engagements span various roles and movements; she is an Ecuadorian Heritage Ambassador with ArtsWestchester, a Young Climate Leaders of Color scholarship recipient with the People's Climate Innovation Center, and an awardee of the Banga Family Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship and Richardson Public Service Fellowship with Harvard University. With Luis, Amy co-founded and currently directs Sapiyay Collective.
Luis Gonzalez-Quizhpe is a Kichwa Saraguro education and health researcher residing in Madison, Wisconsin. The proud son of immigrant parents from Saraguro, Ecuador, he was born and raised in the Midwest, growing up in Wisconsin’s rural and suburban spaces. Luis’s research focuses on the education and community experiences of Latinx and transnational Kichwa youth and families within rural and urban spaces within the United States and in Ecuador. Drawing on his lived experiences, Luis has a strong academic and personal investment in the recovery of Indigenous cultures and languages, diasporic Indigenous identity development, the transmission of traditional cultural practices, and the well-being of migrant youth and families. He has co-authored various publications across peer-reviewed journals and has presented at national and international institutions and conferences in England, Mexico, and Peru. Currently, Luis is a researcher at the Center for Health Disparities Research (CHDR) at the University of Wisconsin - Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. In his free time, Luis enjoys socializing with friends and being with his partner, Alex, alongside their cat and dog, Nuna and Pacha. Luis holds an Ed.M. in Human Development and Education from Harvard University, as well as an M.A. in Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies and a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With Amy, Luis co-founded and currently directs Sapiyay Collective.
My name is Emily Munoz-Gonzalez (she/her) and I belong to the Kichwa Saraguro community. I was born and raised in Wisconsin to two migrant parents both from Saraguro, Ecuador. Currently, I am a first-year student at Yale double-majoring in Ethics, Politics, and Economics along with Ethnicity, Race, and Migration. At Yale, I am a part of the Yale Law Journal, Lawtinas, Yale Undergraduate Hispanic Pre-Law Association, Mecha de Yale, Latina Women at Yale, and Yale Ecuador.
Ashley Guarquila-Cachago (she/her) is Kichwa Kañari from Pindilig and Taday in Cañar Province, and Kitu Kara from the “land of water,” Pifo, in the Tumbaco Valley of Quito. Born and raised in Lenape Territory (New Jersey), Ashley is currently based here while pursuing an Associate of Science (A.S.) degree in Professional Studies at Bergen Community College. Ashley is at the beginning of a deeply committed journey to confront the critical health challenges her ancestral communities face, caused by the devastating effects of climate change and extractive industries on their traditional ways of life. At the core of her mission is a dedication to preserving the invaluable wisdom of Indigenous medicinal practices and empowering her people to nurture their well-being. To bring this vision to life, Ashley will further her education in Public Health and Indigenous Studies, equipping herself with the knowledge and skills to effectively confront these challenges. She’s determined to amplify the voices of her people, protect their sacred traditions, and ensure that the wisdom of her ancestors thrives for generations to come.
I’m an Afro Indigenous woman-Andean and Arawak. I graduated from Harvard’s Extension school with an undergraduate degree in Anthropology and Psychology. I currently work as a research assistant for the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Columbia University and Native American Lifelines in Boston/Baltimore.
I am Rikchay Quizhpe, a 17-year-old Kichwa Saraguro youth. I am currently in my final year of high school at San José de Calasanz. I am a member of my school’s honor roll as the first escort of the National Flag and serve as the president of the Student Council for the 2024-2025 term. Since my second year of high school, I have been independently designing and developing websites. Initially, I worked with basic web technologies, but I am currently enhancing my abilities by mastering more sophisticated and professional web development technologies. After graduating, I plan to pursue a career in computer science to acquire the skills that will allow me to develop innovative ideas to improve and support the growth of my Saraguro community.
Thalia (Kichwa-Otavalo) is the Director of Philanthropic Networks at NDN Collective. She holds degrees from Northeastern University, NYU Wagner, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Thalia sits on the board of Quipa Collective, The Truth Telling Project, and Sapiyay Collective.
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