Advocacy & Professional Experience

Professional Experience

Human Rights Campaign, Director of Faith Outreach & Training

2017 – 2019, Washington, D.C.

• Created and implemented strategic plan for HRC’s Religion & Faith Program’s community engagement strategy

• Collaborated with Executive VP for HRC’s Foundation to create budget, work plan and C4 engagement

• Facilitated trainings, retreats and strategic sessions at the intersection of faith and LGBT issues throughout the United States and America Latina

• Built secular and faith partnerships in the United States and globally within LGBT communities so that organizing campaigns and efforts can be more inclusive of faith leaders

• Continued implementing duties under the Latinx & Catholic Initiatives program

Human Rights Campaign, Director of Latinx & Catholic Initiatives

2014 - 2017, Washington, D.C.

• Recruited local, regional and national faith leaders as facilitators for “A la Familia”, a facilitated dialogue curriculum at the intersections of Faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity and family, across the United States. 

• Implemented the A la Familia train-the-trainer curriculum for Latinx leaders of faith (both clergy and lay leaders

• Created, developed and produced the award winning short film “Before God, We Are All Family” a documentary about Latinx Faith families and their LGBTQ children, winner of the Audience Award at Ethnografilm Festival, Paris, 2013 and others

• Represented HRC as spokesperson --including Spanish speaking media—for issues related to LGBT Latinx & faith issues across the country

• Developed network of Catholic lay leaders to speak out as LGBT supporters in the media and in their local congregations and communities

• Developed and executed mobilization plan for Pope Francis’ United States visit to Washington DC

• Participated in planning and the founding of the Global Network of LGBT Catholics an organization engaging at both the local and global levels around LGBTQ Catholic inclusion

• Led organization wide communications strategy in response to religious stances around LGBT people within the media including responses to the Catholic Church, the Later-Day Saints Church and the Evangelical movements nationally and globally

• Worked with activists in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Peru and Colombia to amplify voices of faith around LGBTQ support and legislative recognition

• Co-founded and led the POC Employee Resource Group

• Elected Senior Steward for SEIU 1199 

A La Familia, Co-Founder and Training Director

2007 - 2014, Washington, D.C.

A project of the Human Rights Campaign, The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and Unid@s

• Developed curriculum to train Latinx leaders of faith to facilitate a conversation about faith, sexual orientation and gender identity.

• Facilitated trainings on faith and LGBT issues in Latinx communities throughout the country.

• Served as spokesperson on issues of Latinx LGBT faith issues across the country.

• Recruited local, regional and national faith leaders to be trained as facilitators for the implementation of “A la Familia” nationally.

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Professional Experience Prior to 2007

UNID@S, the National Latinx LGBT Human Rights Organization, Program Director

2007 - 2012, Washington, D.C. 

Family Equality Council, Year-Long Fellowship

2008 - 2009, Boston, MA & Washington, DC

Freedom to Marry, Mobilization Coordinator

2005-2007, Washington, D.C. 

NARAL Pro-Choice America, Senior March Organizer

2004, Washington, D.C. 

LLEGO: The National Latino/a LGBT Organization, Director of Community Education & Training

2003 - 2004, Washington, D.C. 

LLEGO: The National Latino/a LGBT Organization, CBA Services & Training Coordinator  

2001 - 2003, Washington, D.C.

Americans for a Fair Chance, Outreach & Training Director

2000 - 2001, Washington, D.C.

Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, Executive Director (PT)

1998 - 2000, Boston, MA

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Union of Needle Trades, Industrial and Textile Employees, Business Agent

1998 - 2000, Boston, MA

SEIU – Merger Campaign Organizer – 1199 NE & 144 NYC

1997 - 1998, Boston, MA & New York City, NY

United Food & Commercial Workers International – Smithfield Campaign Organizer

1997 - 1997, Fayetteville, NC

Laborers’ International Union of North America – Case Farms Campaign Organizer

1996 - 1997, Morganton, NC

United Steelworkers Union – Occupational Safety & Health Spec

1994-1996, Boston, MA

Mass Coalition for Occupational Safety & Health, Program Coordinator

1993- 1996, Boston, MA

Education & Honors

Education

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• United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN.
  MAL Theology and Social Transformation, 2020

• Emmanuel College, Boston, MA
  Candidate for BA Sociology & Biology, 2020
   

Honors

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• Waves Ahead, The Fourth Magi, Advocacy for PR, 2019
• The Honor 41, Distinguished Latinx LGBTQ Leader, 2019
• United Church of Christ, Outstanding Scholarship, 2018
• United Theological Seminary, President's Scholarship, 2017
• Dignity DC, Outstanding Advocacy for LGBT Inclusion, 2016
• The Latinx History Project, “Mujeres en el Movimiento Honoree,” 2011
• Go Magazine, 100 We Love, 2011
• The Latinx History Project, Community Leadership Award, 2009
• The Puerto Rican Initiative to Develop Empowerment, Pride Award, 2004
• Somos Latinxs, First Pride Weekend Honoree, 2000
• Immigrant Workers Resource Center, Social Justice Award, 1999

Boards & Affiliations

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• Woodhull Freedom Foundation, Washington, D.C.
  2004 - Present Advisory Board Member

• UNID@S, The Latinx LGBT Human Rights Organization, Washington, D.C.
  2008 - 2012 Founding Member; Board Member

• National Youth Advocacy Coalition, Washington, D.C. 2001 - 2010 Executive Committee; Chair Board Governance; Vice Chair of Board

• Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, New York, NY
  2002 - 2010 Board Member for the International Panel

• Funding Exchange, New York, NY
  1999 - 2002 Board Member for the Out Panel

• Women's Institute for Leadership Development, (WILD) Boston, MA
  1992 - 2011 Board Member; Trainer and Educator

• Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety & Health, Boston, MA
  1998 - 2000 Chair of the Board; Chair of Advisory Board

• LUNA – Latinas United Never Apart, Boston, MA
  1994 - 1996 Founding Member; Vice-President

• National Organizers Alliance, Washington, D.C.
  1994 - 1999 Vice Chair 1997-1999

• Pride at Work, Washington, D.C.
  1994 - 1996 Vice Chair; Chair of the Finance Committee

• March on Washington ‘93, Boston, MA
  1992 - 1993 Media Coordinator for New England