A young man with glasses sitting on a subway train, wearing a multicolored sweater with orange, black, and white stripes, with a cityscape visible through the window behind him.

My Work:

I am a queer, first-generation Latinx activist, founder, and published author dedicated to reclaiming space and history for my communities.

As the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Gage Park Latinx Council (GPLXC), I spearheaded the establishment of two vital community cultural centers on Chicago’s Southwest Side. My leadership during the pandemic earned national recognition from the White House, highlighting the profound impact I’ve made in the majority-Latino neighborhood where I was raised.

As an expert in Grassroots movement building, LGBTQIA+ history, and Queer liberation, my work spans from the classroom to the museum gallery. I authored the campus-wide LGBTQIA+ identity training for the University of Illinois at Chicago—a curriculum still in use today—and have facilitated hundreds of hours of educational programming across all academic levels. My expertise has been featured in dozens of local and national news outlets, and my contributions to our city's historical narrative were recently highlighted in the book Making Mexican Chicago: From Postwar Settlement to the Age of Gentrification, by Mike Amezcua, published by The University of Chicago Press.

I bridge the gap between academic history, grassroots movement building, and public accessibility, providing workshops and perspectives rooted deeply in liberation.

Whether I am giving opening remarks at the Gerber Hart Library inaugural Queer History Symposium or advising on inclusive exhibitions at the Chicago History Museum, I am committed to ensuring that marginalized stories are not just told, but preserved, celebrated, and used as a guide.

Current Advisory & Board Roles

My approach to leadership isn't academic; it’s operational. I bring a "practitioner’s lens" to every boardroom, classroom, and stage. My goal is to provide strategic, intersectional guidance that is rooted in real-world liberation. I know how to navigate the complexities of institutional power without losing sight of the people at the center. I’m here to help organizations move beyond surface-level inclusion and toward deep, sustainable equity.

Greater Chicago Food Depository | Strategic Advisor

I serve as a strategic advisor to develop on-the-ground mobilization strategies that ensure critical information regarding SNAP program changes in Illinois reaches the community effectively. My work focuses on designing equitable dissemination frameworks that help one of the city’s largest social service institutions navigate complex policy shifts while maintaining deep community trust and food security.

Chicago History Museum | Advisory Board Member

As a member of the ¡Aquí en Chicago! Advisory Board, I support the development and curation of the museum’s inaugural exhibition dedicated to the Latine experience. Beyond curation, I have facilitated dialogue for museum volunteers, staff, and board members on the mechanics of grassroots movement building. My contributions extend to the museum’s intellectual record through authored articles in the Chicago History Museum Magazine and contributions to the official exhibition catalog.

Chicago Center for HIV Elimination | Advisory Council Member

I provide strategic, intersectional guidance to The University of Chicago Medicine as a member of the CCHE Advisory Council and the Incubator & Accelerator Latine Council. In this role, I advise on city-wide HIV elimination strategies and community-led health equity, ensuring that institutional medical planning is deeply informed by the lived experiences and needs of the Latine community.