From Activist to Architect – Marcos Vilar on Leading Alianza

In this powerful conversation, Marcos Vilar shares the story behind Alianza Center and the movement-building that drives its dual mission: community service and civic action. From confronting myths about immigration to leading with lived experience, Marcos reflects on what it means to build systems rooted in ethics, abundance, and cultural accountability.

Together, they unpack tough questions about nonprofit governance, fundraising strategy, and political advocacy—offering an honest look at what it takes to lead grassroots organizations with scale and purpose.

Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, policy advocate, or community builder, this episode is a call to act with clarity, intention, and power.

Transcript

Alianza Center & Grassroots Leadership

Andrea Ortega:
Today, we’re talking about leadership and sustainability in the nonprofit sector. My guest is none other than Marcos Villar, Executive Director of Alianza Center. From community organizing to statewide strategies, Marcos has led campaigns, built powerful coalitions, and shown us what Latino-led power can look like in this moment.

We’ll discuss how he founded and now leads Alianza, where the organization is headed, and what it means to build long-term community infrastructure. Marcos, I’d love to hear a little about you. I’m so happy to have you here.

Marcos Villar:
Gracias, Andrea. It’s an honor to be here. I think my path to founding Alianza Center came later in life — I was around 50 when it really began to take shape, though in a way it was forming my whole life. I’ve always worked in the nonprofit, government, and labor sectors, often leading successful efforts, but always for someone else.

I’ve been fortunate to work in places and with people who inspired me — teachers, mentors, colleagues — and I’ve always chosen work that motivates me personally. I believe that’s one of the ingredients for success: aligning your work with your heart. Whether it’s business, private sector, or nonprofit, if your heart’s in it, you’ll succeed.

Andrea Ortega:
I love that you created something based on both need and passion — something that allows you to give your unique gifts.

Marcos Villar:
I lived in Chicago for many years, teaching middle and high school, and working in the Puerto Rican community. For 14 years, I taught while also engaging with organizations fighting for education, health, housing, and more. Humboldt Park was my “school” — a place where I learned community work from the ground up.

Later, in Washington D.C., I saw what could happen when grassroots work was paired with resources. In Chicago, our work was funded by the community itself — very pure, driven by heart. In D.C., I saw how funding could scale good ideas.

When I decided to move on from D.C., I knew I wanted to work with Puerto Ricans — not exclusively, but with Puerto Rico in our heart. I considered Chicago again but couldn’t handle the cold. Philadelphia was an option, but I saw the greatest need in Orlando.

Most Hispanic organizations focus on immigration — and while that’s important — many of us are citizens or residents. We needed to address broader issues that affect all who live here.

Andrea Ortega:
And you’ve also touched on racial profiling — something Puerto Ricans face too. People assume citizenship eliminates challenges, but arriving here means learning a new system: elections, government, public schools. Puerto Rico is culturally and politically different from any U.S. state.

Marcos Villar:
Exactly. Many assume life will be easy upon arrival, but costs are higher here. Salaries may triple, but so do expenses — tolls, fees, everything.

When I founded Alianza Center, I noticed many large nonprofits here were managed from outside the area. Locally, divisions existed among nationalities, politics, language preferences — too often finding reasons to be divided instead of united.

We wanted an organization that could unite people. Over the past seven years, we’ve grown to a level where the community sees us as a strong organization. Still, compared to national nonprofits, we’re small.

One challenge is the “scarcity mindset” — defending the little you have instead of focusing on growth. We’ve also encountered corruption: people seeking personal gain from community resources. That’s the opposite of the pure intention community work requires.

Andrea Ortega:
That word — “pure” — really stood out to me. In grassroots work, purity of intention matters. It’s not just about compliance and governance; it’s about ensuring public funds are used with integrity.

Marcos Villar:
Yes. Sometimes we’re associated with politics because we engage in issues that matter to the community. But our work is about helping people find their place here, whether they come from Puerto Rico or elsewhere.

Andrea Ortega:
Let’s talk about your programs. I know Alianza Center also has a C4 arm — Alianza for Progress — which allows for more advocacy work than a standard 501(c)(3). What are some of the programs you run?

Marcos Villar:
Right now, we’re running our summer camp — impacting 150 children and their families. We involve parents because the impact is on the whole household. We teach children to value their roots while adapting to a new culture, blending both to create something new.

The camp mirrors Alianza’s four focus areas: environment, civic participation, education, and arts/culture. Kids learn leadership, sustainability, and cultural pride — and they take these lessons home. One parent told me her son insisted on attending the camp’s closing ceremony instead of leaving on a family trip, because he wanted her to see what he’d learned.

We also run many other programs. Our October Gala is our main fundraiser — we’ve saved $80,000 from past galas, funding the summer program. Some people question ticket prices, but the gala’s audience is different — it’s about engaging leaders and businesses to invest in our community work year-round.

Andrea Ortega:
Exactly. The gala isn’t for the same audience you serve daily — it’s for those with resources to sustain your mission. And when people you’ve helped can one day buy a ticket, that’s abundance coming full circle.

Marcos Villar:
Right. Fundraising is essential — it keeps our programs running. And it’s not easy work. You have to be comfortable navigating both grassroots spaces and policy rooms. Walking that middle path can be uncomfortable — you’re not fully claimed by either side — but it’s necessary to create real change.

Andrea Ortega:
Marcos, thank you for your clarity, vision, and commitment to building an abundant, pure, united community. I’m excited to see where Alianza Center goes next.

Marcos Villar:
Gracias. As we close the summer, we’ll showcase what the children have learned and welcome special guest Professor Pedro Adorno from Puerto Rico. He’s known for preserving the tradition of building cabezudos — the giant festival masks — and will teach adults and youth to make them. We’ll share the results at Gateway High School on August 1st.

Andrea Ortega:
That sounds incredible. Thank you for joining me, Marcos. For listeners and viewers, visit Alianza Center and Palante Nonprofits to learn more.

Marcos Villar:
Gracias.