Founder and Board President (2021)

Victor’s father, Alex Villacrez, born in Peru, was the cornerstone of the inspiration in establishing the relationship between Madison, WI and Cusco, Peru. Many years in the making, this organization is the heart and soul of Vic’s purpose in his journey to serve passionately and consciously in alignment with indigenous prophecy of the Americas. Living in connection with the land both in the US and Peru, hiking mountains and kayaking rivers, camping all along the way. He considers himself truly the holy embodiment of the Last Boy Scout.

Co-Founder and Vice President (2021)

Rene’ is a spiritual advisor to the organization and to her global community. She is a force of nature, bringing healing energy with her wherever she goes, sprinkling soul love + light on all those around her. Rene’ uses her unique gifts to help Mundo proceed with care and no matter the task, she is always willing to roll up her sleeves (or call on the perfect person) to get the job done.

Secretary

2023 Addition. Journalist, writer, former educator, and newspaper advisor, Chris values advocacy journalism and helped start her school’s first gay-straight alliance. After formally retiring from teaching, Chris visited Peru for a spiritual retreat. Reviewing her soul’s journey there, she renewed her focus to promote social justice, respect, and equity for historically marginalized and oppressed groups. Back home, she joined like-minded people in spiritual groups and continues to write, facilitate teacher workshops, and expand herself and her circle of influence. Armed with a curriculum of love and light, Chris is a committed ally in raising human consciousness and in uniting with service-to-other souls to heal Earth and its inhabitants.

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.

Claudia Irene Calderón is a Faculty Associate in the Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a university that occupies ancestral Ho-Chunk lan, and an affiliated professor at Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala. She conducts participatory action-research around gender, indigeneity, agroecological transition, healthy and sustainable food systems as well as ethnographic work with small-holder farmers in rural areas of Mesoamerica. She has over 18 years of experience creating engaging, welcoming and inclusive classrooms in her home country, Guatemala, and in the United States. One of the courses she teaches focuses on tropical food systems and she leads a 2-week study abroad program in Costa Rica every year. At UW-Madison, she is a member of the scientific committee of the UNESCO Chair on gender, wellbeing and a culture of Peace, has been actively involved in many leadership committees as co-chair of the Horticulture Equity and Diversity Committee, member of the steering committee for Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian studies -LACIS-, and member of the CALS Global Committee. Calderón is affiliated with the 4W Initiative (Women & Wellbeing, in Wisconsin and the World), the Agroecology program and the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems.

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.

2022 Addition. As the associate director of the Latin American , Caribbean, and Iberian Studies program at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, Alberto brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. He has had a remarkable career thus far, from serving on boards such as the Global Health Institute, to leading conservation efforts in Quintana Roo, Mexico, and along the shores of Lake Michigan.

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.