About Us

Mayu, translating into River, the cosmos, or purpose in the Quechua language, is the perfect metaphor to describe the philosophy of Mayu Mission, a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) non-profit. In the Andes region, the locals believe that all of the knowledge of their ancestors can be found in the cosmos and they built their culture around a deep respect for nature; like the ever flowing cycle of a river. Our mission involves working together with artisans and the ancestors of indigenous artisans in Central and South America to preserve their cultural traditions, language, and art forms, while connecting them with global marketplaces through digitalization and entrepreneurship programs.

As climate change, environmental conservation, sustainability, and agriculture become the forefront of global issues that affect all of us, the act of preserving Indigenous knowledge has become paramount. Native communities around the world have accumulated knowledge, beliefs, and cultural practices gained from centuries of living in communion with nature. Their diverse comprehension of medicinal plants, agricultural practices, spiritual beliefs and historical storytelling not only is valuable but can offer vital insights into modern-day global challenges. Much of the world's indigenous knowledge is at risk of being lost as many communities face poverty and corruption, so it is crucial to preserve and promote these ideas to ensure they are passed onto future generations and create positive changes in modern society. We strive to create programs that enable artisans to preserve indigenous cultures and connect them into our modern digital society using an approach that empowers their communities, protects their knowledge, but also shares this knowledge internationally with the respect and recognition it deserves.

Our Three Pillars

Preservation

It is essential to empower artisan communities by creating sustainable job opportunities for them to continue practicing their ancestral craft. Indigenous artisan craftsmanship, like weaving and hat-making, is vanishing and at risk of extinction because of the lack of income opportunities and modernization. Mayu Mission is helping to bridge the gap between remote artisan villages and global communities by giving them the resources, skills training and job opportunities required to keep their generational artistry alive and flourishing.

Digitalization

Through our partnerships, we bring digital technology to rural communities in Central and South America. Historically, many indigenous communities have had their knowledge exploited by outsiders without their consent. This digital transformation helps drive innovation and connects artisan communities to modern day global marketplaces. Our programs secure intellectual property rights for artisans, not only to protect and preserve their art forms, but also to create income opportunities through digital royalties and modern day marketplaces.

Entrepreneurship

Our programs empower artisans, particularly women, to be entrepreneurs and successfully run their own businesses. In Peru, over 60% of jobs are informal, creating instability and opportunity for exploitation. Through our workshops, we are providing valuable life skills, self- confidence, and resources to create and manage independent businesses. In many rural communities where domestic violence and anti-feminism exists, it is vital to provide women with resources and support, so that they can make their own independent choices for themselves.

Our mission is to co-create, empower and support women-led Artisan programs in Central & South America through our 3 pillars: Preservation, Digitalization & Entrepreneurship.

Meet The Team

Board of Directors & Advisors

Laura Grier is an award‑winning adventure travel photojournalist, photo anthropologist, and social‑impact entrepreneur, nicknamed the Indiana Jones of Adventure Travel Photography. Named by Discovery Channel UK as one of the “20 Richest People in the World” (rich in life experience), Laura has documented stories across 100+ countries and all seven continents over 25 years.
A global citizen raised abroad (Jakarta, London, and Italy), Laura earned dual degrees in commercial photojournalism and fine‑art photography from Syracuse University. By age 18, she worked in the photo‑imaging department for the CIA and interned under National Geographic’s Ed Kashi in Florence. In 2003, she founded Beautiful Day Photography in Los Angeles, branching into destination weddings, editorial, and fine‑art portraiture. Her work has been featured in National Geographic, HuffPost Travel, American Photo, and PDN, with speaking roles at Canon, WPPI, CreativeLive, the Sun Valley Forum, and recently as the featured ‘Explorer’ at the Los Angeles Adventurers’ Club.
Over the past 17 years, her most rewarding work has been with Novica/National Geographic, preserving “vanishing arts” and supporting local artisans, especially in Peru. A passionate mentor and advocate, Laura leads photo and cultural expeditions worldwide, empowering women through education, photography, and sustainable travel; serving as an ambassador for Impact Travel Alliance, Travel With Meaning, and Lokal Travel.
In 2019, she co‑founded Andeana Hats, an eco-conscious fashion venture that blends her passions for travel, photography, and women’s empowerment. Sourcing handmade alpaca‑wool hats and woven intention bands from Quechua women of Peru’s Sacred Valley, Andeana supports artisan income, preserves traditional crafts, and elevates cultural heritage. Continuing into philanthropy, Laura launched Mayu Mission—a sister nonprofit dedicated to partnering with indigenous artisans across Central and South America to preserve traditional crafts, language, and cultural heritage, while connecting them to global markets through digital entrepreneurship.

Cassie is a dedicated professional with over a decade of experience in grassroots advocacy, patient and partner engagement, and creative program and campaign development. With a passion for South America, she embarked on a transformative journey in 2017, volunteering in Peru where she first experienced the vibrant culture of the Quechua women. This experience along with continued education from Mayu Mission founders, Laura and Pats, profoundly influenced her dedication to supporting women-led communities in the region and beyond
Prior to her current role at PAN, Cassie served as an Account Manager at Rx4good, where she empowered healthcare organizations to prioritize patients through patient-centric communications, program management, and strategic thought leadership. Her expertise also extends to advocacy efforts, having led the Melanoma Research Foundation's initiatives as Senior Advocacy Officer. In this role, she mobilized advancements in policy, federal funding, and regulatory issues while passionately representing the interests of the melanoma community.
Cassie's commitment to advocacy is evident through her involvement as a steering committee member for the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention. She also co-chaired their Skin Smart Campus initiative, encouraging U.S. universities and colleges to promote skin cancer prevention policies and education on campus. With a unique blend of professional expertise and a heart dedicated to making a difference, Cassie continues to drive positive change in the healthcare sector and beyond.

Tracy Washburn is a Director and Business Development Executive for the Law Firm Group of Citi Global Wealth at Work. As Team Lead for the West Coast, Tracy utilizes over 20 years of Financial Services experience to strategically build client relationships and grow the platform via a full range of escrow management services. Prior to joining Citi, Tracy served as a Senior Director at Fortis Advisors where she structured the firm’s business development strategy for sourcing and managing shareholder representative services for M&A transactions. Previous to Fortis, Tracy was a senior technical sales specialist within the Escrow Services team at JP Morgan Chase, where she led the business development initiative across the Western US focused on sourcing escrow and paying agent services. Tracy currently serves on the board of ACG Los Angeles where she is the President of the Women of ACGLA. She is also the Membership Chair of the M&A Committee within the Business Law section of the ABA and is an associate member of the Women’s Leadership Council. Tracy received her M.B.A. from the University of Southern California with an emphasis in Finance and Strategy and her B.A. in Sociology from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Ami Becker Aronson is a forward-thinking conscious curator, a visionary leader and a catalyst for social change. She has completed a master's with Thnk School for Global Creative Leadership as well a master's for International Public Health which she received in Jerusalem. Ami has 30 years of board experience working with the Woman’s Aid Network, Environmental Working Group, Halcyon House Board, Meridian International Leadership Council and more. Leveraging her own unique methodology, she seamlessly integrates into any team, leading with compassion and grace. Ami marches to the beat of her own drum; embodying heart-centered leadership, dedicated to championing diverse voices.

Abi Ferrin is a visionary social entrepreneur with over two decades of experience reimagining the fashion industry through sustainability and impact-driven business models. She is the founder of House of the Rising Moon, a purpose-led brand rooted in regenerative values and ethical craftsmanship working with Quechua artisans in Peru.
With a focus on balancing traditional business structures with feminine principles of collaboration, community, and long-term ecosystem health, Abi is building more than a brand—she is laying the foundation for a new economic model. Drawing inspiration from indigenous systems such as the Quechua and Iroquois Nations, her marketplace concept values time, wisdom, land, and relationships as forms of capital, alongside profit.
Abi’s mission is to empower communities by fostering a shared space where artisans, consumers, and aligned investors co-create a regenerative future. She is currently launching Mama Ayni Marketplace, the next phase of the brand’s evolution—expanding into a larger marketplace and launching an ecosystem-resourcing model designed to support like-hearted businesses across industries.

Natalie was born in the lowland jungles of Bolivia to an Irish-American father and Indigenous Bolivian mother. In 2009 she helped launch the 1st Middle East Production Hub for CNN International in Abu Dhabi, UAE. She's an impact producer and working actress, producer, director, writer, and global development professional. Natalie spent 7 years developing and sustaining a global Fellowship program authorized by the 14th Dalai Lama to reimagine leadership by cultivating 350+ mindful, compassionate, and ethical leaders in more than 50 countries around the world. She launched Pachamama Sabia, a social impact production company, to document and share stories that inspire global action for good. She is the current Director of Development at Optimist, a social impact studio that creates documentaries to nurture optimism and inspire action. Their films have helped raise more than $92 million for global causes. Natalie co-founded the Hollywood Compassion Coalition, a movement of entertainment professionals inspiring social change by bridging science and storytelling. In her spare time Natalie hosts healing rituals and retreats for clients through her energy healing work with AVNI healing.

Ricki Lake is an actress, producer, and television host. She made her film debut as Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray (1988) and went on to appear in Cry-Baby (1990), Serial Mom (1994), Cecil B. Demented (2000), and numerous other films. At the age of 24 she began hosting a talk show, Ricki Lake (1993–2004), becoming the youngest person at the time to take on that role. For her second series, The Ricki Lake Show (2013), she won an Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show Host. Lake is also an independent filmmaker with credits that include producing the critically acclaimed documentaries The Business of Being Born (2008), Weed the People (2018), and The Business of Birth Control (2021).

Mayu Mission Inc. is a U.S.-based registered 501(c)(3) non-profit. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. Our tax ID number is 92-0876263.

The Eagle & the Condor Incan Prophecy

There is an Incan prophecy called, The Eagle and Condor, that speaks of long ago when human societies split into two different paths—that of the Eagle (the path of the mind, of the industrial, and of the masculine) and that of the Condor (the path of heart, of intuition, and of the feminine). Basically, indigenous peoples vs modern day society.

The prophecy says that the 1490s would begin a 500-year period during which the Eagle people would become so powerful that they would nearly drive the Condor people out of existence and that the next 500-year period, beginning in 1990s, the potential would arise for the Eagle and the Condor to come together, to fly in the same sky, and to create a new level of consciousness for humanity.

Now is the time when the eagle of the North and the condor of the South fly together. The Earth is in an age of awakening and returning to natural ways on our planet.

Our generation is here to help begin this phase to prepare humanity through different ways to understand the message of the heart, intuition, and nature. Native people speak with the Earth and they are the doorway to a higher consciousness on our planet.

Both Modern society and indigenous peoples can learn a lot from each other and help each other to thrive and live in commune with the Earth. Indigenous peoples can show modern society how to respect the environment and develop sustainable practices to conserve natural resources and promote regenerative agriculture, while modern technology can also be introduced into rural communities to help streamline their communities and lift them out of poverty and hardships.