Maripa Mejías

Young lesbian feminist from Chile, her resistance is rooted in the activism she carries out in various movements besides the feminist one, among them the one that provided her the most tools of social resistance is the student one, however, it is the activism within the movement for sexual and reproductive rights where she develops more in the professional field.

Maripa is an organizer, teacher and abortion doula within feminist networks in Latin America. She is part of the "Brigada de Propaganda Feminista", a street art and graphics collective that is part of the great resistance movement in Chile, building messages that seek to awaken more consciousness against fascism and patriarchy.

She has a degree in Legal and Social Sciences from the University of Chile, with several years' experience working on gender and human rights, strategies for access to abortion, as a consultant on legal security and protection for women's funds, feminist organizations and defenders. She is currently a consultant for the creation of legal strategies for the defense and prevention of the criminalization of women and activists. She is a passionate cyclist by conviction, enjoys music and in her free time she enjoys birdwatching.

Simone Vieira da Cruz

A Brazilian feminist, psychologist, with a Master’s in collective health. Since 2004, Simone has participated in the Asociación Cultural de Mujeres Negras (Cultural Association of Black Women.She has undertaken research related to “La Salud de la Población Negra como una Acción Afirmativa”, (“Health of the Black Population as Affirmative Action”), “Percepciones de las mujeres negras sobre los efectos del racismo en sus vidas” (“Perceptions of Black Women of the Effects of Racism in their Lives”), and has collaborated with publications such as “Salud de la Población Negra y Militancia bajo la perspectiva de género”, “Mujeres Negras en la Primera Persona” (“Health of the Black Population and Militancy from a Gender Perspective”, “Black Women in the First Person”). She likes to read and watch films, and enjoys cooking with family and friends in her free time.

Lydia Isabel Alpízar Durán

A Costa Rican/Mexican feminist activist, living in Mexico. She is a sociologist and specialist in social movements and human rights from Columbia University in New York. She was the Executive Director of AWID, the Association for Women’s Rights in Development, and the manager of a strategic AWID initiative “Where is the Money for Women”?. Lydia joined the UNDP Advisory Committee in 2012. She was a co-founder and advisor for ELIGE- Red de Jóvenes para Derechos Reproductivos y Sexuales (Youth Network for Reproductive and Sexual Rights), a member of the International Human Rights Council, and on the Boards of Directors of the Global Fund for Women and the Central American Women’s Fund. She likes to spend time with her son, read poetry, dance, share a good meal with her friends and practice bio-dance.

Heliana Hemeterio dos Santos

Black feminist activist from Brazil. Her activism began more than 34 years ago. She isrecognized for her activism in the Black Women’s movement. Heliana is a historian specializing in gender, race and sexuality; much of her academic work focuses on racist and homophobic violence. As part of her academic work, she has been a speaker and panelist in various courses and
seminars addressing the issue of sexual diversity. She is currently executive coordinator of la Red de Mujeres Negras del Parana (the Network of Black Women of Parana) and coordinator of la Red Candaces de Lesbianas e Bisexuales Negras Feministas (the Candaces Network of Lesbian and Bisexual Black Feminists). In addition to enjoying spending her free time watching movies or listening to music, she likes to spend afternoons with her son, daughter, grandson and her partner.

Bianka Gabriela Rodríguez

Salvadoran woman, transfeminist, and human rights defender. Since 2017, she is president of COMCAVIS TRANS, an organization that promotes, defends, and demands the fulfillment of human rights for LGBTI people in El Salvador. She is a 2019-2021 member, of the Regional Council of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association for Latin America and the Caribbean (ILGALAC) and part of the Grant Making Panel of the International Trans Fund.

As part of her work to position the demands of trans people in strategic spaces and her search for comprehensive protection alternatives that are anti-patriarchal, non-heteronormative, and anti-sexist, she is part of the UN Women Civil Society Advisory Group in El Salvador and of the Salvadoran Network of Women Human Rights Defenders. Due to her long trajectory as a trans defender she received the 2019 Nansen Refugee Award. She enjoys spending time in nature, heading to the mountains to fill herself with peace and tranquility, and going to the beach to connect with the sea.

Terry

Co-Executive Director for Resource Mobilization and Strategic Communications

Terry is an Ecuadorian feminist in (de) construction and sociologist in international relations, she studied a master in Public Policy. She has collaborated with non-governmental organizations and international cooperation agencies such as the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance IDEA); and in the governmental sector, with the Ecuadorian ministries of Planning and Development and Foreign Affairs. Her professional experience focuses on the design, implementation, and monitoring of projects, specifically on issues such as democracy, citizen participation, and human rights. Terry likes to read and in her free time she enjoys playing with her children and her dog Cosmo :)

Sofía

Co-Executive Director of Grantmaking and Programs

Sofía trusts in the collective power of women and conspires with them and their struggles, as well as with black, indigenous, and trans and non-binary peoples of Abya Yala. She is a feminist, anti-racist and anti-capitalist in her activism and work that has dialogued with the Lenca and Garifuna peoples of Honduras where she has her roots. She studied engineering and has a master's degree in Rural Development.
Sofía enjoys giving love to her cats and dogs and sharing with her soul friends. She writes and shares her critical thinking views in research and various publications, such as those of the political ecology working group and other spaces. Her true passion is her daughter and good coffee.

Luz Stella

Sustainable Activism Advisor

Colombian feminist with studies in History; she is a Professional Public Health Technician with an emphasis in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Since 1992, she has been associated with the women’s movement in Colombia in the promotion, formation, and accompaniment of activities supporting the exercise of rights, the search for creative and symbolic proposals in daily rituals, and in street action. In 2008, one year before the founding of UAF-LA, she facilitated, with activist women defenders from the Region, a reflection on the publication “What is the Point of Revolution, If We Can´t Dance?”, published by UAF in the United States in 2007, a reflection which also took place in Eastern Europe and Africa. She is dascinated by poetry, haiku, dancing, walking in the woods, mountain climbing, and recognizing movement as a force of infinite pleasure and enjoyment for every-day life.

Sofía

Coordinadora Estratégica de Entrega de Apoyos

Mexican feminist activist for gender equality and social justice living in Mexico City. Political scientist and teacher of Comparative Public Policies. A specialist in sexual and reproductive rights (SRR), Sofia is committed to the recognition and guarantee of SRR in Latin America. She has been part of feminist collectives and regional networks that are committed to a world of pleasure, justice, and freedom. She enjoys very (very) spicy salsas and believes that reading is a way to live many lives at the same time and that running is a way to celebrate the body.

Erix

Coordinadora de PMEL y Movilización de recursos

Queer, gender-fluid activist, decolonial and anti-racist feminist. Always a dancer, like the Magdalena River who witnessed their birth. Will say "hi" to every non-human animal that crosses their path. Passionate about social research, writing and facilitating. has a Masters degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology, with over ten years of trayectory accompanying HHRR Defenders and organizations, with an intersectional and gender approach. A big chunk of their heart resides in the global Intifada, the Arab Springs, and all decolonial struggles in the Global South. Their love language is cooking, baking, and recommending the best movies.

Alejandra

Communications Strategic Coordinator

Colombian feminist and designer. Passionate about art, the defense of human rights, and forms of ancestral caring, she likes to travel and learn about different cultures so she can share her knowledge with others, and learn, at the same time, how to promote change. Since childhood, she has identified with and felt connected to the land and its ancestors, the Wayuu indigenous people of La Guajira in the north of Colombia, who have taught her respect for life and its very diversity. She is organized, cheerful, creative, and with a sense of curiosity. She likes to dance, laugh and travel.

Anaiz

Communications Officer

She is Mexican, which is expressed in her love for chilaquiles. Anaiz studied Psychology and Communications and for the last 10 years she has worked as an investigative journalist, focused on gender, health, and human rights. Life (and her friends) led her to learn about feminisms, allowing her write stories from a different lens and perspective, and to specialize in new narratives and social networks. Anaiz focuses her work on feminist initiatives as a tool for change, as well as rethinking our relationship with technology. She enjoys the mountains and the cold. Her favorite hobby is greeting dogs on the street and showing her love for Yoru, her four-legged friend. .

Paola

Oficial de Comunicaciones

Chocoana Afrofeminist. Graphic designer. Anti-racist. Aborted borders and calls herself Amefricana. She dreams of building a fair, intercultural and multiethnic society and works to contribute to it. She has participated in various projects and community organizations, in the areas of gender, ethnicity, anti-xenophobia and anti-racism. Co-founder of an active black women's organization and lover of creative print.
In her spare time, she goes camping wherever she can swim, see the stars and listen to owls.

Sheila

Coordinator of Rapid Response Grants Program

Brazilian feminist with studies in international relations and inequalities in Latin America. Sheila has worked with social movements, civil society organizations and international cooperation projects for 13 years. She is moved by collective processes, the confrontation of injustices, and feminist solidarity. She is a lover of music, languages, ​​and popular cultures.

Nata

Officer of Rapid Response Grants Program

Colombian from Bogota, political scientist and master in peace studies and conflict resolution. Natalia is committed to the construction of peace, the transformation of conflict, and human rights. For 10 years she has worked in the field of international cooperation in her country, Colombia. Her profession and friends have led her to an important relationship with feminisms and intersectional reflection. One of her passions is to hike in the mountains, climb peaks and watch sunsets and she loves discovering places where she can contemplate nature. After a day of work, she enjoys being part of batucada and reading in her hammock with chocolate.

Dir

Officer of Rapid Response Grants Program

Mexican political scientist (from Ecatepec to the world) with a political analysis specialty from UNAM. Dirce is committed to the organizing processes of feminists and women in all their diversity. She has experience in supporting organizations in Mexico and promoting the sustainability of social struggles in Latin America. She is a member of the National Network of Women Defenders (Red Nacional de Defensoras) in Mexico and co-founder of Las Enredadas, a political project of young women from the periphery to decentralize struggles, resources, and sensibilities. The music of cumbia sonidera runs through her veins and she is confident that her mission is to learn to be strategically, sustainably, and healthily critical.

Pilar

Officer of Rapid Response Grants Program

Guatemalan feminist who is constantly learning. Although she studied law, her life and interests led her to sociology and her enjoyment of social research, especially related to women’s diverse struggles to transform realities of injustice and oppression. She has been part of feminist organizations and collectives in Guatemala, primarily related to women's sexual and reproductive autonomy. She enjoys running and hiking in the mountains and the healing energy of the ocean. Books make her travel to other worlds, and she enjoys the company and life lessons that her two little dogs share.

Sarus

Sustainable Activism Coordinator

Young Colombian trans-feminist, social communicator and journalist with an emphasis in Communication Management. Her commitment to Human Rights and social change began at a very young age, since she comes from a family of activist defenders from the Caribbean area in Colombia. Before joining the UAF-LAC’s team, she was the Communications Director in CIASE- Corporación de Investigación y Acción Social y Económica (Corporation for Social and Economic Research and Action); a reporter for the NGO, Planeta Paz (Planet Peace); and university professor of the research group on gender in the Faculty of Communication and Journalism at the Universidad Externado of Colombia. She likes music, dancing, the ocean, and colors.

Marina

Women and Territories Program Officer

Brazilian popular educator, feminist, graduated in Biology and Master in Education. Her activism and professional trajectory is as an educator, researcher and social mobilizer, mainly in the areas of socio-environmental conflicts and the struggle for land, territory and “buen vivir”. She follows the practical-theoretical principles of popular education, popular community feminisms and Latin American critical thinking. She likes the water and nature in general (mountain and beach), children, cats, literature and food in all its diversity!

Lorena

Financial Advisor

Lorena is an accountant with a master's degree in Business Administration and Management, originally from Bogotá, Colombia. Her path with community and grassroots organizations began as a child. She has been working for more than 15 years in national and international social organizations in ​​administration and finance. She is proud of her roots, which is why she loves to dance Colombian folkloric dances. She enjoys traveling and seeing new places, as well as spending time with her family.

Yolanda

Finance Coordinator

Colombian Public Accountant. Since graduating from university, she has dedicated her time to working in the social sphere. This has shaped her as an integral professional, interested in assisting others and in defending human rights. Besides her work, she likes to cook and especially to the making of pastries. Handicrafts constitute an important entertainment for her and she uses her free time to learn and to share what she has learned with her family.

Luz Adriana

Logistics Assistant

She is from the city of Manizales, technologist in bilingual Commercial Secretarial Work. She has experience working with social sectors and NGOs, and she likes work concerned with human rights and women’s rights, the creation of networks, and the strengthening of mutual support alliances. She likes music, dancing, theatre, film, travelling, and tries to attend dance classes once a week. She loves animals, especially dogs, and she is delighted to share moments with her family and friends.

Patricia

Administrative and Human Resources Assistant

Patricia is Colombian and originally from Bogotá. She is a systems technician and has worked in the area of Human Resources since she began working. Her greatest desire is to finish her professional studies. Patricia is a very spiritual woman and has a positive outlook on life. She enjoys art, nature, good wine, and bitter chocolate. She loves music and film. Patricia dreams of living in the country, working the land alongside her partner, and seeing her daughters fulfill their goals.

Sandra

Statutory Auditor

From Bogotá, a Public Accountant from de la Salle University. She has dedicated her professional life to working with organizations that defend human rights and women’s rights, and that protect the environment. This experience has enriched her professional and personal life, and her greatest interest is to continue contributing her knowledge to strengthen, administratively and financially, organizations that struggle for a world of social justice. She very much likes to listen to music, read and be with her family.

Ber

Oficial del Programa de Apoyos de Respuesta Rápida

Ber was born and grew up in Peru, with roots in Pisco, to the south, and Chiclayo, to the north, by the sea. He has developed pedagogical, social and transgressive projects relating to gender and the LGBTQI+ community through collaborating in different organizations and collectives. His work experience has centered on investigating and managing the editing of materials that address the primary problems in his country, with a specific focus on violence against women and LGBTQ + People. He enjoys silence, the beach, the company of the "cabras" (friends), reading and of course, writing.