
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.



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
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
-
ADD DAT PHD CANDIDACY
-
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
- ADD YOUR GRADUATION AWARD
- 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
-
WAVES AHEAD????
-
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