Xitlali Villa’s background has consistently been in social movements and sovereignty work. They are driven to support the creation of community-led, sustainable organizations and businesses that strengthen BIPOC ownership and wealth.
Throughout Xitlali’s career, they have conducted research with funding through the National Science Foundation and Fulbright, mainly on topics of post-industrialism, gentrification, land sovereignty movements, and environmental justice in the USA and Latin America. In addition, they worked with Indigenous and rural communities in Ecuador and Colombia, developing community-led digital media workshops.
In Baltimore City, Xitlali worked with the Black Yield Institute strengthening Food/Land Sovereignty in the neighborhood of Cherry Hill by coordinating the city’s first Black and Brown-led food cooperative. Most recently, she completed a fellowship with impact investment firm Mission Driven Finance, developing financing solutions for companies practicing Regenerative Agriculture in the USA.