Cocinando Pa’ La Revolución!

MISSION

To make plant-based living accessible to Global Majority women and gender-expansive people while empowering them to embrace foodways rooted in ancestral traditions.

VISION

We dream of a world where Global Majority women and gender-expansive people embrace plant-based living as a powerful expression of our ancestral knowledge.

VALUES

  • We consider new and uncommon possibilities and strategies.

    Rather than moving with a conventionally oppressive mindset, we welcome the opinions and voices of the entire collective, equally.

  • We maintain clear and open communication with our entire community about context and decisions.

    Instead of hiding our concerns, we move with intention to address issues, together by welcoming and giving direct feedback by way of feedback surveys and virtual town halls.

  • We are a compassionate, inclusive community that welcomes all from the global majority, empowering them to explore the plant-based movement while fostering a space where everyone feels seen, valued, and free from judgment.

    Rather than shaming people who do not eat vegan, we celebrate their progress toward making more plant-based choices.

  • We provide resources, events and inclusive safe spaces that ensure our Global Majority and gender-expansive community members–regardless of ability, background, or socio-economic status– have the access and support they need to successfully engage within the plant-based movement.

    We strive to have language accessibility at our events and aim to hold events in spaces that are accessible, inclusive and welcoming for all.

  • We acknowledge pathways towards decolonization through our deep-rooted relationship to the land and the impacts of colonization. We reconnect with ancestral wisdom, reclaiming and integrating ancestral and Indigenous knowledge through our food choices, storytelling, and community work. By cultivating gratitude for the people, land, ancestors, and animals, we transform the way we approach our food while sharing knowledge to foster growth and understanding.

    When we share resources and recipes, we prioritize their cultural history and relevance to our community.

  • We consider the impacts that social and environmental injustices have on Global Majority communities and are dedicated to empowering them by amplifying marginalized voices, spreading awareness of other movements, and elevating our stories and experiences. We create spaces where everyone can thrive, uplift one another, and grow together.

    We build supportive relationships with advocates for various causes through intentional collaborations such as IE’s Amplifier program and BIPOC meetups and conferences such as AVA, in partnership with APEX Advocacy and Unity Collective.

Our Chapters

  • DC

  • Philly

  • New York

  • Chicago

  • Orlando

  • Bay Area

  • Los Angeles

  • Richmond

Leadership Team

  • Estefania Orozco | Executive Director

    She/Her/Ella

    Estefania Orozco is a proud Colombiana. She is passionate about community building, gardening, film photography and all things sustainability. Her plant-based journey started in 2013 in response to the environmental impact and animal abuse crisis caused by the food industry. She was born in Colombia, was raised in Philly from the age of 7, and currently resides in Washington D.C. She has been involved with Veggie Mijas since 2020, first as a community organizer and program coordinator and currently serves as the Executive Director for the organization.

    On her time off you can find her sipping herbal teas with a book in hand, attending community events, or at the garden tending to the plantitas.


    @down.for.earth

  • Rebeca Cintrón-Loáisiga | Education Director

    tiya/ella/she

    Rebeca Cintrón Olivencia-Loáisiga (tiya/ella/she) is a detribalized Borikua anthropologist, educator, and curator working at the intersections of ethnography, anti-colonial education, and exhibition practices.

    Based in the diaspora, her journey toward a plant-based life since 2011 has deepened her commitment to dismantling institutionalized inequalities—particularly in food sovereignty, Indigenous reclamation, and collective healing.

    As Education Director for Veggie Mijas, she cultivates spaces where communities of the Global Majority gather to nourish their roots, resist systemic harm, and feed not just their bodies, but their ancestral futures.

  • Marcy Arroyo | Communications Director

    She/Her

    Marcy is passionate about sustainability, eco-consciousness, and overall striving to live a mindfulness lifestyle. Marcy started her vegan journey as an experiment during the pandemic lockdown to see how far it would go with reducing meat consumption and has been vegan ever since. She strives to spread awareness of a lifestyle that is not only centered on a vegan diet but benefits your own mind-body-soul and does little to no harm to our earth.

    As the Communications Director, Marcy takes charge in all things creativity, amplifying our work and delivering it in a fun and engaging way.

  • Dani Medrano | Program Coordinator

    She/Her/Ella/Ela

    Dani Medrano is a proud Chicago native with a background in social work and education. She went vegetarian for the animals at the age of 12 and transitioned to veganism after studying philosophy in college. While she remains obsessed with animals, she continues to be vegan for her health and her community. Dani has been an organizer for the Chicago chapter for over 2 years and is passionate about making fresh whole foods accessible to all.

  • Mónica Divane | Program Coordinator

    She/Her

    Mónica is queer Indigenous Latina bruja (Maya Ch’orti and Boricua) and a homeschooling mom of 2. She grew up in South Florida, spent 13 years in NYC, and made her way back to Central Florida to raise her family. Her passions include books, dancing, creating art, raising monarchs, and baking & cooking vegan food. You can usually find her out in nature whether it’s gardening, hiking, camping, or relaxing at the beach or springs. She’s been vegan since 2004 and has created her own vegan cookbook full of family recipes. She is an advocate for radical self-love & self-care, environmental justice, and social justice.

  • Tatiana Lovera | Social Media Coordinator

    She/they/ella/elle

    Tatiana is a born and raised New York social media coordinator, dance educator, and Doula. Their interest in vegetarianism goes back to middle school when they first watched Super Size Me but became even more intense in high school after having the opportunity to take classes on agriculture, human populations & impacts, as well as ecology. In 2019, she took the leap to become plant based and hasn’t looked back since.

    Passionate about the power of education and community building she utilizes social media as a digital ground for creating accessible resources and educational experiences. She joined the Veggie Mijas team in the summer of 2023 as a social media intern and now serves as the social media coordinator

Creative Team

  • Solena Aguilar

    Children’s Book Author
    They/Them

    Solena is a textile artist foraging for fabric in New York City and creating with their community to bring joy and vibrancy in accessible areas. Solena indulges in different pattern making practices in their work, drawing inspiration from their Nicaraguan ancestry. Their art practice pinpoints hidden patterns that explore the joy of the material world. They hope to speak to diverse groups in ways that evoke passion and action.

  • Destiny DeJesús

    Content Creator
    She/Her

    Destiny is a creator based in Dallas, Texas and is a passionate plant-based activist. Through her brand, Eat Yo Destiny, she is committed to educating people on budget-friendly veganism. With a focus on food accessibility, Destiny utilizes her platform to guide individuals in finding vegan options in their community, making use of local resources like pantries and community fridges. Additionally, she shares valuable tips on creating nutritious meals with limited pantry ingredients.

Community Organizers

Em Indelicato
Philadelphia, PA
They/Them/Elle

Em hails from Dominicane and Celtic heritage and grew up in NYC. From birth, they had a strong connection with animals and the natural world. They went on to concentrate in animal studies during their undergrad and have since expanded their focus towards the liberation of all beings through decolonization, environmentalism, land stewardship, and community care. Additionally, they are a continuous student of herbalism and indigenous knowledge. They believe returning to ancestral wisdom is the only way forward into a sustainable future. Their other passions include poetry writing, visual arts, singing, tarot and astrology, swimming, animal welfare, and cooking. Starting in 2025 as the Chapter Organizer for Philly, they hope to use their gifts for and further learn from their community through shared care of the Veggie Mijxs plot at Las Parcelas and organizing events/fundraisers that celebrate our food histories and connect us closer to meals that make our planet safer.

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Kayla Roberson
Washington, D.C.
They/She

Kayla Roberson is Dallas, Texas born and raised and is now a DC based organizer of the DC Chapter of Veggie Mijas. They went vegetarian in 2016 and then decided to go vegan soon after. This decision boosted their interest in food and environmental justice for BIPOC communities, leading them to find and join Veggie Mijas. Outside of Veggie Mijas, Kayla enjoys baking vegan treats, running around DC trails and caring for their many plants.

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Cristina Figueroa
New York, NY
She/Her/Ella

I believe that impact storytelling can shift perspectives and reimagine futures. Through my work in marketing, content creation, and community events, I use storytelling as a tool for culture shift, connection, and joy. Whether it's a campaign for climate justice or a short-form video about vegan food, I'm committed to narratives that spark curiosity and drive action.

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Angelica Vergara
New York, NY
She/Her/Ella

Angelica Vergara was born and raised in New Jersey. As a proud first-generation Mexican-Peruvian, she earned her B.S. in Nutrition and Food Science with a concentration in Food Systems. Passionate about children’s health and wellness, Angelica adopted a vegan lifestyle for her son’s future and to promote mindful, sustainable living. She strives to challenge stereotypes and inspire others through education on the importance of plant-based nutrition, particularly within the Latino community.

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Kari Sanchez
Chicago, IL
She/They

Kari Sanchez is a proud Mexicana committed to community care, healing, and food justice. They are a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) professional and a program coordinator for Veggie Mijas Chicago, where they help create accessible, community-driven food initiatives. Kari is a vegan athlete, having completed three marathons, and is embracing their journey as a biker and gym rat. They are also an ambassador for PYNRS, the only Black-owned running apparel brand. As a passionate plant lover, Kari is a herbal apprentice with Urban Growers Collective and is currently expanding their healing practices as an energy healer apprentice and a holistic nutrition coaching certification student. Their passions include cooking (and eating) delicious vegan meals, exploring spiritual wellness practices, going to concerts, cuddling with their cat, and spending time in nature with friends.

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