https://www.eliasfoundation.org/fellowship-cohorts/2025-lala-montoya-heredia
Lala ( mamita lala, we , she her ) is mama in many of the spaces she shows up, she plays an active role as Tia- aunt – titi to the youth she building a bond with either by being part of beloved community or working together at poughkeepsie farm project. She is Mother, Artist, Language justice worker and Seed saver – rooted in a life of abundance and joy!
Rio ( Him, el ) is a creative, wild, brother, cousin, kin human learning what chosen family means while being raised within a multi- cultural space and growing up in many homes and within many languages including those of beloved plantitas and waters.
Christian (all pronouns) is tayta to two lively humans, Sacha and Esme, and husband to Mami Mica. He works as a community interpreter with a lens towards language justice and tends to land as a farmworker in Mohican, Munsee Lenape, and Schaghticoke lands so called Clermont, NY Hudson Valley.
Michaela (Mami Mica/she/her) continues to show up for her community with thoughtfully crafted nourishment, a creative helping hand and a vibrant down-to-earth charisma. She plays an active role as part of their children’s homeschooling co-op by teaching sewing and cooking classes. Mica is wife to tayta Christian and mother to Sacha and Esme.
7 yrs young Sacha (he) is a helpful elder brother and active reader. He channels his new passion for Pokemon cards via drawings and crafts.
Esme (she) is about to complete 3 solar revolutions. She’s informed by Sacha’s interests while also making visible her unique fiery nature by lighting up a place with joy.
Together we are Fauna.
Chris, Mika and Lala will guide us through the joys and challenges of raising this lil humans while supporting each other, while going through changes , while living together in a 400 square foot cabin without doors, we will share from heart breaks of not living together to continuing a commitment to moving through challenges and conflict in order to continue to move as FAMILIA – and remember more natural ways of living which support our relations with each other and this lands that we now call home. By no means we are experts- we are curious and together through circle and curios and together we can gather more wisdom to move closer to a beloved community that supports us and the little humans who get to grow besides us.
You can register for the social forum at www.wespac.org/wsf!
