Meet the Administration
Guatemala Administration
Milena (she/her) holds a Bachelor’s degree in Legal and Social Sciences from Rafael Landívar University and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Hospital Administration.
She has professional experience in Guatemala and Europe in education, administration, and NGO partnership coordination.
As Director of Operations, Milena leads Naye Xjaw’s local administration, logistics, management, and institutional coordination. She also works alongside the midwives to strengthen their administrative and leadership skills and support their active participation in organizational processes.
Operational DirectorMilena Mazariegos, LLB
Lukas (he/him) holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Economics from the University of Pardubice in the Czech Republic. He has more than 10 years of experience in finance and administration, including work with international companies in the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom and with four NGOs focused on education, healthcare, and community development in Guatemala.
After arriving in Guatemala as a nonprofit volunteer in 2012, Lukas chose to remain and dedicate his experience to supporting local communities. As Financial Director, he strengthens financial systems, reporting, documentation, and transparency to support organizational decision-making, the Board of Directors, and donors.
Financial DirectorLukas Riha, MPA
Pending Bio
PendingPending
Flory (she/her) holds a technical degree in nursing from Universidad Panamericana and has experience providing care in both a private clinic and alongside the midwives of Naye Xjaw. She applies her clinical and administrative knowledge to support the daily operations of the birth and reproductive health center while maintaining direct, compassionate communication with patients.
As a Maya Mam nurse from Concepción Chiquirichapa, Quetzaltenango, Flory helps strengthen culturally appropriate care and communication within the center. She recognizes the distinct roles of biomedical nursing and ancestral Maya midwifery and values the importance of preserving and respecting the knowledge passed down through generations.
Administrative NurseFloridalma De León López
US Administration
Asia Blackwell, MPA
Asia (she/her) is the Executive Director and a committed advocate for Indigenous midwifery and reproductive justice. She holds a Master of Public Affairs in Nonprofit Management from Indiana University’s O’Neill School and has more than 15 years of experience in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors.
With undergraduate degrees in Anthropology and Gender Studies and training as a direct-entry midwife, doula, and childbirth educator, Asia has spent the past nine years supporting cultural preservation, Indigenous women’s rights, and maternal and child health initiatives in Guatemala.
As Executive Director, she advances advocacy for Maya midwives, Traditional Knowledge Systems, and Indigenous reproductive healthcare sovereignty while strengthening organizational transparency, sustainability, and impact. Asia lives in Guatemala with her husband and three children.
Executive Director- Consultant
Martina Spain, MPH
Martina (she/her) is the Director of Research and Indigenous Data Sovereignty and a doctoral student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research focuses on maternal health, family planning, and barriers to healthcare among structurally marginalized populations.
Her work is grounded in Indigenous methodologies, human rights, restorative justice, and community-led research. Before beginning her PhD, Martina worked in policy, advocacy, program design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. She also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala, where she supported the development of a grassroots maternal and child health advocacy network.
Martina holds a Master of Public Health from Boston University and a BA in International Affairs from George Washington University.
Director of Research & Indigenous Data Sovereignty- Consultant
Midwife Preceptor- ConsultantStephanie Martinez, CNM
Stephanie (they/she/he) is a certified nurse-midwife, registered nurse, lactation consultant, and experienced birth worker. They hold a BA in Latinx and Latin American Studies from the University of Illinois Chicago and a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in midwifery from Frontier Nursing University.
Stephanie has worked in community, out-of-hospital, and hospital-based birth settings in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Chicago. They are a founding member of Chicago Birth Workers of Color and have received recognition for their reproductive and birth justice work.
After participating in MMI’s Student Immersion Program in 2024, Stephanie became Midwife Preceptor, serving as a cultural and clinical liaison between Maya midwives and visiting participants.