Who we are
We are a collective of people with diverse experiences, knowledge, and strengths, all working from different sectors to support civil society organizations in Latin America in becoming stronger and more resilient.
Sitting at the table of La Sobremesa is
the team
Anca Matioc
Founder and Director of La Sobremesa
Tania Altamirano
Design and Facilitation Assistant
Aniela Stojanowski
Communication leader
Julieta Zacatenco
Project support
Claudia Guerrero
Head of Admin & Operations
Join us!
Follow our social networks to stay up to date with any opportunities to work with the Sobremesa team
Folks we have worked with
What we do
Ana Gabriel Zúñiga Aponte
CIVICACR.COM
Based in San Jose, Costa Rica
What challenges do you see in Latin American civil society?
I see a sociopolitical polarization that the hegemonic groups are dragging us towards in order to continue monopolizing the exercise of power, as well as an acceleration of inequalities. I am a hardened optimist, who believes in citizen dialogue, in civic resilience and in returning democracies to those to whom they belong, to the majorities!
In which projects have you supported us?
FAU, Decidim, Code for All, Tor
Milena Pafundi
agenciapresentes.org
Argentina, based in Mexico City, Mexico
What challenges do you see in Latin American civil society?
I see organizations with long-term strategy challenges, as well as internal communication problems, especially in regional institutions. Another challenge is the lack of funding for LGBT + organizations, also seeing the challenges that it implies for some organizations to constitute themselves as AS or CSOs. I am a communicator and project leader in communication campaigns and have worked on the ground for 12 years, as a journalist and as an artist.
In which projects have you supported us?
Hivos, PODER, FAU-LAC
Laura Lehman
integracollaborative.com
Based in Washington D.C.
What challenges do you see in Latin American civil society?
I see inequalities within the system that limit funding and resources for the groups closest to the problems. What if locally led civil society organizations had everything they needed to carry out their visions for a more democratic, inclusive and equitable society? I work in learning and evaluation for funders and organizations that participate in the promotion and construction of social and economic justice. I have been a community organizer, teacher, and researcher.
In which projects have you supported us?
Oxfam México, TOR, IRIS, Hivos
Graciela Guadarrama Baena
Based in Mexico City, Mexico
What challenges do you see in Latin American civil society?
I believe in narrative as a crucial tool for change and I really enjoy participatory design and co-creation processes. Because of my profile and curious mind, I have worked with various groups and organizations from both the public and private sectors and civil society. My experience encompasses Innovation and Design in all its extension. I use methodologies from different disciplines to facilitate action and transformation processes; among them are Social Innovation, Critical Design, Participatory Futures and Systemic Thinking.
In which projects have you supported us?
INDELA, WINGS, Dialogos, reAcción
Alejandra Betanzo de la Rosa
Based in Mexico City, Mexico
What challenges do you see in Latin American civil society?
I see challenges in institutions and their leadership, which translate into too much work that threatens people's emotional health. I accompany organizations to co-construct explicit agreements that allow them to distribute power and work in a more self-managing way, in addition to generating collaborative dynamics, conflict transformation, emotion regulation and self-care. I am a consultant on Nonviolent Communication, Restorative Justice and narrative practices.
In which projects have you supported us?
TEDIC
Virginie Martin Onraet
mxpersonas.org
Based in Mexico City, Mexico
What challenges do you see in Latin American civil society?
The Latin American society has normalized violence to a point where we coexist daily with tangible and intangible acts of discrimination and exclusion. The manifestations of these violences affect vulnerable groups in the region in different ways, and the lack of understanding of these differences hinders the possibility of creating inclusive prevention systems with a gender and inclusion perspective.
In which projects have you supported us?
Alianza Campo Justo
Ana Calderón
intersecta.org
Based in Mexico City, Mexico
What challenges do you see in Latin American civil society?
I see a significant challenge in generating and strengthening individual and collective tools that allow us to manage limited resources, whether material or immaterial, such as time, as well as in the recognition, articulation, and maintenance of relationships in which we can expand the impact of our actions. I conduct mapping of actors, dynamics, language, and structures.
In which projects have you supported us?
Alianza Campo Justo
Adriana Peralta
Paraguayan based in Leiden, Netherlands
What challenges do you see in Latin American civil society?
I see a challenge with contexts that are often violent and corrupt, like those of Latin America. In order not to lose motivation to do things as well as possible, it helps a lot to surround yourself with people who you align with, who also believe that you can do it, who inspire you, who encourage you, with whom you can have a few beers and relax and laugh a bit. I am an illustrator and graphic designer specialized in sociology. (And yes, I'm the designer behind La Sobremesa!)
In which projects have you supported us?
Graphic Design
Juan Pablo Marín Díaz
datasketch.co
Based in Bogotá, Colombia
What challenges do you see in Latin American civil society?
I see a lack of data technology infrastructure for advocacy from civil society. I work creating accessible and low-cost data science technologies for social organizations. I am a data scientist and founder of Datasketch.
In which projects have you supported us?
Website
Nadia Chanquia
Based in Buenos Aires City, Argentina
What challenges do you see in Latin American civil society?
Latin American society constantly lives within an interconnected cycle of challenges. Disbelief in governments, institutions, and democratic agreements, once deemed fundamental, engenders in society a sense of stagnation or mere survival, leaving individuals uncertain of their position amidst the divide. The paramount challenge lies in amplifying diverse voices and uniting them to forge basic agreements that propel the fulfillment of rights in the region
In which projects have you supported us?
Comms
Helene Saadoun
Franco-Uruguayan based in Mexico City, Mexico
What challenges do you see in Latin American civil society?
I see the need to work on information gathering, research and diagnosis to create strategies, processes and tools that drive the strengthening and sustainability of organizations and institutions.
In which projects have you supported us?
IRIS, CDR
Carolina Padró
Based in Bariloche, Argentina
What challenges do you see in Latin American civil society?
I see a challenge in the institutional sustainability of civil society organizations in Latin America. Many face unstable political and economic contexts, which makes it difficult to guarantee their continuity and impact. I believe that one key is to strengthen their funding and planning strategies, diversifying resources and consolidating solid internal processes.
In which projects have you supported us?
Fondo Semillas, Greenpeace
More about me
Hello! I am Anca, founder and director of La Sobremesa. I have been working with and accompanying civil society organizations and networks in Latin America and the global south for over a decade, as a designer and facilitator of change processes. In my experience, I saw - and I see - a lack of spaces for reflection and learning, and for thinking and rethinking realistic solutions from civil society. I support organizations to design their strategies and to rethink and strengthen their institutions, structures and teams. I really enjoy supporting people who focus on improving the realities of their countries. Before La Sobremesa, I was the Matchbox coordinator for The Engine Room in Latin America and then at a Global level, where I accompanied dozens of organizations to be more strategic with the use of technology and data. Prior to that, I worked for Ciudadanía Inteligente in Chile, where I co-founded and led the Developing Latin America project, one of the first networks around open data in the region, to seek solutions to social problems. I co-founded the AbreLatAm regional de-conference, a space to discuss and innovate in the opening of data and governments. I have a master's degree in Development Practice from SIPA at Columbia University. I was born in Romania, I grew up in the United States, and within the last ten years I have worked from Chile and now Mexico for all of Latin America.
More about me
Hi, I am Tania, I am a philosopher, I have a master's degree in philosophy of culture, and I am currently a doctoral candidate in philosophy at UNAM. I have extensive experience in the development of educational content, research, and facilitation of learning processes. At La Sobremesa, I work hand in hand with Anca in the design, facilitation, systematization and analysis of the accompaniments that are co-designed and facilitated for the organizations, networks and donors with which we collaborate. As a workshop facilitator, I have had the opportunity to work with academic and governmental institutions, generating spaces for reflection and dialogue on issues of interculturality, human rights, justice, and feminisms. My passion for fostering active/critical participation and dialogue has driven me to continue my trajectory within the processes of collective construction with civil society organizations. I firmly believe in the transformative power of critical education and dialogue to promote more empathetic and just societies. Therefore, I am excited to contribute to institutional strengthening and social change in the Latin American civil society ecosystem.
More about me
Hi! I'm Aniela, an Argentinean motivated and inspired by social communication. I trained as a community communicator and graduated in organizational consulting at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA). I have more than 12 years of experience working with civil society organizations, with a focus on community communication and coordination. I have experience in team management, planning and strategy development, external and internal communication and digital marketing and communication tools. I am passionate about accompanying organizations to tell their story, make their advocacy work visible, optimize their impact and support them in achieving their goals. Before joining La Sobremesa, I worked as communications coordinator at Asuntos del Sur, an organization dedicated to human rights and with direct impact on democracies in Latin America. Currently, I am a member of the Board of Directors of this NGO. I also teach digital marketing at the Universidad del Valle de México and I am an external communications collaborator for civil society organizations.
More about me
Hello! I'm Julieta Zacatenco. I studied Political Science and Public Administration with a concentration in Gender Studies at UNAM. I specialize in organizational development, sustainability, and project management with a decolonial, anti-racist, and social justice approach. I have worked in resource mobilization and institutional strengthening in organizations defending the rights of women, Afro-descendant, and LGBTIQ+ communities. As Chair of the Board of Directors at the Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, I have championed youth leadership in global processes on sexual and reproductive rights, health, and justice. I also collaborate as co-facilitator at Diálogos Intergeneracionales, an initiative focused on strengthening the civil society ecosystem in Mexico through participatory methodologies and intergenerational dialogue spaces. At La Sobremesa, I am driven by the opportunity to develop sustainable tools and models that strengthen the sector and contribute to more just and inclusive futures. I believe in the key role of civil society in addressing structural inequalities and generating collective solutions that transform the realities of the Global Majority.
Claudia Guerrero
Head of Admin & Operations
More about me
Hi! I am Claudia Guerrero Trejo, a Mexican professional with more than 30 years of experience in Administration, Finance, Human Resources and Operations. My career spans both civil society organizations and transnational corporations, serving in key roles ranging from Senior Administrator to responsible for accounting and financial management. Throughout my career, I have developed skills in budget management, financial control, personnel supervision, contract administration and organization of large-scale events. My experience also includes coordinating travel and meetings for communities and human rights defenders, ensuring operational efficiency in each project. With strong skills in internal control tools such as QuickBooks, ZohoBooks and Salesforce, I am known for my adaptability, leadership and commitment to operational excellence.