Luz María de la Torre Amaguana 

Luz María de la Torre Amaguana (Ella/Pay) is a Kichwa (Quechua) indigenous woman from Ecuador. She joins the Spanish and Portuguese Department at UCLA in 2009. She has been appointed as a Continuing Lecturer at the Department of Spanish and Portuguese and Latin American Institute, UCLA. She received her BA in Languages and Applied Linguistics from the Catholic University of Ecuador (1997). Her thesis was focused on Indigenous Bilingual Education. She earned her Master’s degree in Political Sciences at FLACSO (2006). Her research concentrated on the Indigenous Movement and its relation to the Ecuadorian government, specifically since the 1990s when the Indigenous National uprising took place. She has taught at numerous universities in Ecuador and the U.S., including Middlebury College, and Arizona State University-ASU. She worked in the Ministries of Education and Foreign Relations. She has served as a consultant for a wide range of national and international institutions and NGOs. Her research, writing, and teaching focus on topics related to the Andean Indigenous Cosmovision, Kichwa Literature, Gender from the Andean perspective, Andean Alternative Economy and Knowledge, and New Political Relations between the Nation-State and indigenous Peoples. Currently, her latest book proposal deals with “What it means to be an Indigenous woman today.” In addition, she is developing a Manual for teaching the Quechua/Kichwa language, and a book of Ecuadorian Kichwa Poetry.

Río Oxas

Río Oxas (they/them/theirs) was born in Yaanga Village—aka Echo Park and their mother is from Kuxkatan and their father from Guatemala. They are Two-Spirit and committed to learning their ancestral teachings of timekeeping and danza. Río is the Co-Visionary and Principal of RAHOK, a family-owned business that illuminates the interdependence of Roots, Ancestors, Health, Outdoors and Knowledge to cultivate loving Eco-Hoods. Their work is focussed on Mindful Mobility, Conscious Real Estate and Racial Justice and Equity. Visit Rahok.org   Río is also part of a caretaking land collective called Xanich located in Tule Yokut lands. IG Xanich7

Stephen Reid

Stephen Reid (he/him) is a professional horticulturist, landscape designer, and the Head Gardener at the prestigious Huntington Library and Botanic Gardens in the Rose Garden. With years of expertise in cultivating California native plants and designing sustainable landscapes, Stephen brings a deep passion for fostering connections between people and green spaces. His work emphasizes the art and science of gardening, blending beauty with environmental stewardship. A seasoned speaker and educator, Stephen is dedicated to inspiring others to grow thriving, resilient gardens. He is currently working on his book From Seed to Soul, which explores the spiritual and ecological lessons of gardening and growth.

Hyosun Choi

Hyosun (she/her) currently dances with Invertigo Dance Theatre, La Dansa Dansa, and Iris Company. She was a company member with Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company from 2010-2022. Hyosun is a certified trainer in the Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis Methods, works as a Senior Corporate Trainer at Bank of Hope, is admitted to the State Bar in CA and NY, plays cello, piano, and guitar, composes music, travels off grid into nature, and reads. Books. Now and then, she sleeps. More here.

Rosa Lisbeth Navarrete, SOL Curator

Rosa Navarrete is a Peruvian-born, Los Angeles-based filmmaker, writer, and creative strategist who leads with heart, humor, and vision. A proud UC Berkeley alum and award-winning storyteller, Rosa took first place in the CBS Leadership Pipeline Challenge and was recently named a 2024 Disruptors Fellow by The Center for Cultural Power.

Her work spans film, theater, and community-rooted media, with a focus on narratives that empower, heal, and uplift. She currently serves on the board of the Refugee Children Center and is Vice Chair of the National Playwriting Program for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.

Rosa is pursuing her MBA at UC Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business and is the founder of Chica Boom Productions, a media company helping artists and small businesses tell authentic, compelling stories. 🪐 Explore her work at rosastory.com

Amanda Eno, SOL Production Manager

Amanda Eno Amanda Eno is a native of Colorado who now calls Los Angeles her home. She often works in immersive theater, brand activations, and corporate events, but her heart is in theater and dance. She also just started her own Stage and Production Management company, Live Management Society. Most of all, she is thrilled to be joining The Invertigo team again. All the love to all of them!

Angel Huizar, Marketing & Strategy Volunteer 

Huizar holds a BS in Marketing and Sales Management from San Diego State University and a Master’s in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the University of California, Irvine. Her professional experience includes marketing coordination, strategic outreach, and business consulting across multiple industries. She has led brand development projects, contributed to data-driven marketing initiatives, and supported cross-functional teams on outreach and engagement strategies.

Huizar has also participated in business consulting projects with early-stage startups and corporate clients, focusing on customer research, competitive analysis, and go-to-market planning. At SOL , she supports marketing strategy, outreach coordination, and project execution.

Maya Jade Abdurrashid, SOL Production Volunteer

Maya Jade Abdurrashid (she/her)  is an Indigenous rooted multipotentialite who moves through life with creativity in her hands, curiosity in her heart, and music in her ears.

Maya began her bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Branding at age 15 and completed her Master’s in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from UC Irvine by age 18. She co-founded The Treehouse Learning Academy, an educational nonprofit that supports learners across North America, South America, and the Caribbean.

For Maya Jade, her journey isn’t just about reaching her goals. It’s about making space for others to rise as well. She believes in creating opportunities, opening doors, and helping everyone cross the finish line because even hard-to-reach dreams become possible when you let go of doubt. Learn more at: www.mayasjade.com

Maya will be volunteering with her family and their nonprofit organization The Treehouse Learning Academy.