Our Team

Marcela studied Communications and Journalism at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. She was a coordinating editor, reporter and translator for the magazine Desinformémonos and also worked as reporter for the daily, La Jornada, writing about indigenous issues in the Ojarasca supplement. Her articles have been translated to various languages. She has also co-authored various books: YoSoy132, Voces del Movimiento; Tú y Yo Coincidimos en la Noche Terrible, a book criticizing the impunity and erasure of assassinated Mexican journalists; and Insurrección Creativa, Caja de Herramientas para la Revolución. She is also a radio host for the program Voces y Cantos de la Tierra Viva, transmitted by Radio Educación in which she discusses issues related to indigenous and rural communities in Mexico.

Marcela studied Communications and Journalism at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. She was a coordinating editor, reporter and translator for the magazine Desinformémonos and also worked as reporter for the daily, La Jornada, writing about indigenous issues in the Ojarasca supplement. Her articles have been translated to various languages. She has also co-authored various books: YoSoy132, Voces del Movimiento; Tú y Yo Coincidimos en la Noche Terrible, a book criticizing the impunity and erasure of assassinated Mexican journalists; and Insurrección Creativa, Caja de Herramientas para la Revolución. She is also a radio host for the program Voces y Cantos de la Tierra Viva, transmitted by Radio Educación in which she discusses issues related to indigenous and rural communities in Mexico.

Carlos has a Master´s degree in Communication, with a specialty in Criticism of Culture and Visual Studies, from the Ibero-American University in Mexico City. Within the third sector, he has participated since 2014 in the design and execution of communication strategies for civil society organizations (CSOs), mainly in the digital field. In the academic field, he has participated in national congresses with presentations that discuss studies of masculinity, gender and body representations in advertising. In 2017 he joined AMEXTRA in the area of Communication and Marketing.

Carlos has a Master´s degree in Communication, with a specialty in Criticism of Culture and Visual Studies, from the Ibero-American University in Mexico City. Within the third sector, he has participated since 2014 in the design and execution of communication strategies for civil society organizations (CSOs), mainly in the digital field. In the academic field, he has participated in national congresses with presentations that discuss studies of masculinity, gender and body representations in advertising. In 2017 he joined AMEXTRA in the area of Communication and Marketing.

Eugenio is a veterinarian with 33 years of experience in community work. He is also a consultant for churches and organizations that provide integral community services. Eugenio has initiated and coordinated community projects focused on health, environmental conservation, education, peace education, agriculture and stockbreeding, holistic transformation, emergency aid, and microfinance in Oaxaca, Mexico City, and the State of Mexico. Before serving as Executive Director, Eugenio served as Operations Manager, Urban Director, and Central-Southern Projects Manager, in addition to developing two community centers.

Eugenio is a veterinarian with 33 years of experience in community work. He is also a consultant for churches and organizations that provide integral community services. Eugenio has initiated and coordinated community projects focused on health, environmental conservation, education, peace education, agriculture and stockbreeding, holistic transformation, emergency aid, and microfinance in Oaxaca, Mexico City, and the State of Mexico. Before serving as Executive Director, Eugenio served as Operations Manager, Urban Director, and Central-Southern Projects Manager, in addition to developing two community centers.

Lorena studied Visual Arts in the National School of Plastic Arts at National Autonomous University of Mexico and has worked at Amextra since 2005. Lorena has served in emergency relief efforts in Chiapas and Tabasco. She has extensive experience in peace education work and community health and nutrition programs. Lorena has also been trained in Disaster Risk Management. Previously, Lorena assisted the operations manager for three years, coordinated a participatory diagnostic community assessment process in Oaxaca, and also directed the Oaxaca program for two years. Lorena has served as the Operations Manager since 2012.

Lorena studied Visual Arts in the National School of Plastic Arts at National Autonomous University of Mexico and has worked at Amextra since 2005. Lorena has served in emergency relief efforts in Chiapas and Tabasco. She has extensive experience in peace education work and community health and nutrition programs. Lorena has also been trained in Disaster Risk Management. Previously, Lorena assisted the operations manager for three years, coordinated a participatory diagnostic community assessment process in Oaxaca, and also directed the Oaxaca program for two years. Lorena has served as the Operations Manager since 2012.

Ofelia is a public accountant with a certificate in Holistic Transformation. Since 1993, she has worked in the nonprofit sector in a variety of areas including general accounting, commercial and industrial processes, salaries, fiscal accounting, treasury, and administration. She has actively participated in courses detailing modifications to legal and financial processes for Mexican non-profit.

Ofelia is a public accountant with a certificate in Holistic Transformation. Since 1993, she has worked in the nonprofit sector in a variety of areas including general accounting, commercial and industrial processes, salaries, fiscal accounting, treasury, and administration. She has actively participated in courses detailing modifications to legal and financial processes for Mexican non-profit.

She has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana and a Master’s degree in Political and Social Studies from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Since 2010 she had collaborated with several NGOs with a human rights approach, working on rural development, gender equality, community development, migration, homelessness, and health. She also has been a volunteer with social justice organizations.

She has extensive experience in fundraising, mainly in attracting social investment for social projects and generating shared value.

She has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana and a Master’s degree in Political and Social Studies from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Since 2010 she had collaborated with several NGOs with a human rights approach, working on rural development, gender equality, community development, migration, homelessness, and health. She also has been a volunteer with social justice organizations.

She has extensive experience in fundraising, mainly in attracting social investment for social projects and generating shared value.

Lidia Patricia Olivares Hernández

Patricia studied Communication at the School of Political and Social Sciences of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. She is the Social Communication Coordinator of the Great Little People Foundation of Mexico and of the National Council of Little People of Mexico; Co-founder of the independent media outlet Media Policies and is currently Communication and Marketing Manager at AMEXTRA. Independent journalist and researcher of the association of little people (dwarfism) in Mexico –she is considered a pioneer in the area- with national and international impact. For her work she has received various awards from groups such as: COPRED, DIF, REMID, Murcia CRECER Association, and Mexico Foundation with Values, among others.

Lidia Patricia Olivares Hernández

Patricia studied Communication at the School of Political and Social Sciences of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. She is the Social Communication Coordinator of the Great Little People Foundation of Mexico and of the National Council of Little People of Mexico; Co-founder of the independent media outlet Media Policies and is currently Communication and Marketing Manager at AMEXTRA. Independent journalist and researcher of the association of little people (dwarfism) in Mexico –she is considered a pioneer in the area- with national and international impact. For her work she has received various awards from groups such as: COPRED, DIF, REMID, Murcia CRECER Association, and Mexico Foundation with Values, among others.

Melisa Villagrán Espinosa

Melisa grew up with the Amextra Xonacatlán program. She finished her law degree and is currently studying for a degree in psychology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. She has experience in litigation in administrative, family and civil matters and has worked in the public sector as in the National Human Rights Commission and the Mexican Institute of Radio; and in the private sector in Solórzano, Carvajal, González and Pérez-Correa. She has also volunteered with several non-profit organizations focused on education. Melisa became the Human Resources manager at Amextra in January of 2020.

Melisa Villagrán Espinosa

Melisa grew up with the Amextra Xonacatlán program. She finished her law degree and is currently studying for a degree in psychology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. She has experience in litigation in administrative, family and civil matters and has worked in the public sector as in the National Human Rights Commission and the Mexican Institute of Radio; and in the private sector in Solórzano, Carvajal, González and Pérez-Correa. She has also volunteered with several non-profit organizations focused on education. Melisa became the Human Resources manager at Amextra in January of 2020.