Founder and Board President (2021)

Victor Villacrez is the founder of Mundo Esperanza and a founding leader of the Madison Cusco Sister City Alliance, rooted in a long standing relationship between Madison, Wisconsin and Cusco, Peru. His father, Alex Villacrez, born in Peru, was a foundational inspiration in cultivating that connection, which has grown over many years into a shared commitment to community partnership and mutual respect.

Vic divides his time between the United States and Peru, balancing family life, professional commitments, and community service. A respect for the traditions of his ancestors, combined with a responsibility to future generations, guides his approach to both work and life. He maintains a close connection to the natural world through trekking in the mountains, kayaking the waterways, and camping on the land. These practices reflect stewardship, responsibility, and continuity rather than recreation alone.

A proud alumnus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Vic remains actively involved in the university community, serving on several Boards of Visitors and supporting initiatives across education, the arts, science, and engineering.

Through Mundo Esperanza, Vic focuses on building durable bridges between communities, institutions, and people, aligning practical collaboration with a values driven respect for history, culture, and the natural world.

Sustainability Committee Chair

Mile after mile, Steve brings his energy and enthusiasm to the board for sustainable solutions and related community efforts. As an experienced engineer with a penchant for sustainable design & construction, native landscaping, stormwater conservation & management, as well as the mindset of: refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle & compost (in that order); Steve voices the whispers of the planet, both in career and in community service. In this, he helps organizes an annual 50 mile walk and a 2 mile Madison Black History Tour, with the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County, raising funds & awareness for the quiet and less visible in our community.

Born and raised in the Cusco region, Marco embodies the essence of the Andean world. He spent 30 years as a guide trekking in the Andes and absorbing the energies of Apu, or the mountains as ancestral spirits. Marco is a shaman, a philosopher, a spiritualist, and a global thinker representing Mundo Esperanza in Cusco. Marco is "Primo" to Victor and Co-Founder of the Madison Cusco Sister City Alliance. He owns Kallampita Korianca, a travel agency, and has three big dogs.

Rest in Peace Marco

As a childhood friend of Vic and program specialist for the Agricultural and Applied Economic Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW), Kim is a valuable resource and connector for our organization to the UW. Always informative and abundant in educational opportunities, Kim is a trusted facilitator for any and all efforts within our organization. A former rower and avid walker, Kim retains the spirit of adventure with both a local and global purview.

2021 Addition. Kyla supports native voice and tradition in our organization, while managing a department of Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison. Kyla has a calm and concise presence at every meeting at the gaming board room table, as she is known for quietly taking charge and for her inroads and ardent effort for indigenous food rights.

2022 Addition. Chris brings eagle expertise and sister city experience to Mundo Esperanza. He is a geological engineer focused on solid waste management. He also serves on Fitchburg’s Resource Conservation Commission, leading efforts for Fitchburg’s sustainability community outreach events. He founded a nonprofit called Strides for Africa bringing clean water, sustainability, and educational programs to communities across Sub-Saharan Africa. Chris is also involved in advising solid waste management challenges in Kanifing, The Gambia, another one of Madison’s Sister Cities.

We are thrilled to welcome Ed to the Board of Directors at Mundo Esperanza. Over the course of his fifty-year professional career, Ed has built an award-winning portfolio in urban waterfront design and community-based planning across the U.S. He is highly skilled in fostering consensus-driven visions and garnering broad community support for urban design and redevelopment initiatives. Ed has contributed his expertise as a resource member to numerous civic task forces, professional panels, and national design juries. He has also served as an urban design resource for the Mayors Institute on City Design, the Urban Land Institute, and the AIA Community by Design. Additionally, he remains actively engaged in academia, participating as a local professional practitioner in programs at the University of Wisconsin–Madison (Landscape Architecture, College of Human Ecology, and Capstone Course in Civil Engineering) and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (Urban Design and Planning). What excites Ed most is working with diverse communities, helping them rediscover their sense of place, history, physical attributes, ecology, and the social fabric that binds them together. His wealth of knowledge and dedication to thoughtful urban design will be invaluable to our mission at Mundo Esperanza - World Hope.

Representative of the Madison Cusco Sister City Alliance

Jen is a local attorney with international and immigration law experience. Actively involved with community, Jen chairs the Children's Museum Board and is involved in downtown politics. Proud mother to a beautiful young daughter, she also works with domestic violence victims. World Traveler and local advocate, Jen is never afraid to ask the tough questions.

We are proud to welcome Joann as our newest board member. Recently retired as an attorney and associate judge at the Ho-Chunk Nation Trial Court, Joann was the first female leader of the Ho-Chunk Nation, a position she held from 1991 to 1995. As president, her administration revised the Nation’s Constitution to create the Judiciary Branch to protect the sovereignty of the House-Chunk Nation. Joann recently traveled to Cusco Peru with other members of the Ho-Chunk Nation on a cultural exchange mission to share traditional wisdom between indigenous peoples of North and South America. She expressed her admiration for her ancestors who endured harsh treatment while maintaining the Ho-Chunk Nation's spirit, traditions, and ceremonies. Throughout her career, Jones has taken on significant roles, always guided by a sense of purpose and service to her people. She emphasized that she never expected to become the president, but the encouragement and support of elders led her to the role.

Treasurer

Born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, Karen joined the Mundo Esperanza board in November 2024. With over 30 years of financial experience, she was nominated and accepted the role of treasurer. Her passion for service has led her on mission trips to Honduras and the Dominican Republic, where she gained a deep understanding of the challenges faced by communities around the world. In 2025, she will travel to Tanzania to assist in training nursing students and doctors in lifesaving techniques for mothers and newborns during childbirth. Karen is driven by her faith and a love for the great outdoors. She finds joy in all of God’s creations and is dedicated to serving and uplifting others. We are grateful to have Karen on our team and look forward to the wisdom and spirit she brings to Mundo Esperanza.