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Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles
Led by director Carlos Samaniego, Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles performs its repertoire to suit the LGBTQ community while it maintains the highest level of musicality.
Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles is proud to have the first transgender female, Natalia Melendez, in the history of mariachi as one of its members. Natalia has been featured in a two-part special for Univision news, which depicts her life and struggles as a transgender woman in the mariachi world. As a result of this two-part special, in its short existence, Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles has been invited to perform for 3 different morning news shows on Univision, which includes the “Lanzate” program. During each one of these presentations, the mariachi was highlighted because of its special nature in representing the LGBTQ community.
Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles has also performed for Los Angeles and Long Beach Pride, Transgender Pride at the LGBT Center in Los Angeles, South Bay Pride, Oceanside Pride, The Abbey, Club Tempo, Hamburger Mary’s, #SchoolsNotPrisons tour for the California Endowment, and many other LGBTQ establishments as well as for many same-sex and “traditional” weddings.
Yosimar Reyes
Yosimar Reyes is a nationally acclaimed Poet and Public Speaker. Born in Guerrero, Mexico, and raised in Eastside San Jose, Reyes explores the themes of migration and sexuality in his work. The Advocate named Reyes one of "13 LGBT Latinos Changing the World" and Remezcla included Reyes on their list of "10 Up And Coming Latinx Poets You Need To Know."
His first collection of poetry, For Colored Boys Who Speak Softly… was self-published after a collaboration with the legendary Carlos Santana. His work has also been published in various online journals and books including Mariposas: An Anthology of Queer Modern Latino Poetry (Floricanto Press), Queer in Aztlán: Chicano Male Recollections of Consciousness and Coming Out (Cognella Press), and the forthcoming Joto: An Anthology of Queer Xicano & Chicano Poetry (Kórima Press). Reyes was featured in the Documentary, "2nd Verse: The Rebirth of Poetry."
He is a LAMBDA Literary Fellow as well as the recipient of the Undocupoets Fellowship. Reyes previously served as Artist-in-Residence at the media and culture organization, Define American.
Reyes has toured and presented at university campuses across the United States. He is currently working on his one-man show, "Prieto," to premiere in the near future. Reyes holds a B.A in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University.
Dr. José Del Real Viramontes
José was born in Jerez, Zacatecas Mexico. He immigrated with his mother, Martha, at the age of two. He grew up in Hollywood, CA, and attended public schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), including Vine Street Elementary, Bancroft Middle School, and Hollywood High School. He is a proud product of the California Community College System and attended Pasadena City College, Los Angeles City College, East Los Angeles College, and Glendale Community College, where he completed his IGETC and transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). At UCLA, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Chicana/o Studies. Jose earned his Master’s and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas at Austin.
José is currently an Assistant Professor in the Higher Education/Community College Leadership Program in the Department of Education Policy, Organization and Leadership at the University of Illinois, at Urbana-Champaign.
José is the proud son of José Reyes Del Real Flores and Martha Del Real Viramontes, the proud brother of Martha and Moises Del Real, and the proud uncle and nino of Jason Padilla Del Real. José is also the proud partner to Celina Marie Lopez, his college sweetheart.
Alexa Dolmo known as Alexa Darling is a 25 year old Garifuna woman born in La Ceiba, Honduras currently residing in Houston, Texas. Alexa moved from Honduras to the states when she was 14years old. She is currently a lifestyle blogger, content creator, podcast host, and owner of Darling SKN, an organic bath and body brand. Alexa has built a social media platform by making Youtube videos and connecting with people via Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc. She has a passion for inspiring others through art, and encouragement whether that be through photographs or beauty related content. She believes she is nowhere close to where she wants to be, but this quote , "I will win. Not immediately, BUT definitely," keeps her reminded that it is soon to come.
Ada V. Rojas
Ada V. Rojas is a serial entrepreneur who specializes in establishing successful ventures with a lifestyle focus that infuses themes of culture, community, and confidence. A consummate creative with a multi-faceted career, she is an accomplished speaker, marketing consultant, and the CEO and founder of Vecina Couture, a luxury line of loungewear. As a veteran in the digital media industry, she is sought after by some of the nation’s biggest brands as a thought partner and frequent collaborator.
Ada is a leader in digital media, known for creating content that inspires and motivates the masses. She has worked with brands such as HBO, L’Oreal, Instagram, and Kia Motors; and has been featured in the New York Times, Forbes, Telemundo, and Refinery 29. Her entrepreneurial endeavors have reflected an unapologetic celebration of her heritage, and an unwavering commitment to building a community of 70,000 like minded women, affectionately known as her “Vecinas.”
To Ada, representation doesn’t just matter, it’s a way of life, and she regularly gives talks on issues surrounding race, identity, business, and marketing in and beyond the Afro-Latinidad community. The heart of her work is driven by the desire to compel other women to fully embrace who they are and pursue their dreams with a fearless tenacity."
Representing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Industry
Bartholomew Perez (he/him/his)
Systems Architect Engineer | Realtor | Investor | Author Northrop Grumman Corporation
Bartholomew Perez is passionate about business development, systems engineering, mission readiness and growth. By day, he is a Principal Systems Architect Engineer at Northrop Grumman, Space Park, Redondo Beach, CA supporting Advanced Threat Research, Carrier Air Wing and Independent Research and Development, developing architecture for threat definitions, next generation engagements and their Concepts of Operation in multi-domain environments.
He is also a Real Estate professional with +$3.25 million sales volume brokered by eXp Realty of California Inc, rental property investor and author of I’m Up To Something, publishing December 2021, a memoir exploring defining moments of a first generation Latino who leveraged engineering and STEM for business and entrepreneurship.
Community empowerment is important, which is why he volunteers with The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), CSUN Engineering Alumni Association, National Association of Realtors®, American Marketing Association, Toastmasters and Great Minds in STEM. On his off time, Bartholomew can be found golfing, boxing, salsa dancing, reading, investing, traveling, racing motorcycles, go-kart racing, camping and learning.
Representing Language Arts Industry
Linett Luna Tovar (she/her/hers)
Freelance Interpreter and Educator
Linett Luna Tovar is a Pomona-based undocumented writer/performer, educator, and activist. She is a proud community college alumni and holds an AA in Performing Arts from Citrus College, a BA in Anthropology from UCLA, and an MA in Latin American Studies from Tulane University.
Linett is passionate about nurturing and empowering young people, and has worked with and learned from them for over twelve years in a variety of roles inside and outside the classroom setting. While in community college, she became involved in immigrant rights organizing, and has since then contributed to several efforts to increase accessibility and affordability in higher education for immigrants. In 2018, she co-founded the Immigrant Youth Empowerment Forum and Scholarship Fund in Louisiana alongside other undocumented youth and advocates.
She strongly believes in the power of the arts as a tool for liberation, and has used her formal training in theater and writing to amplify marginalized voices and disrupt narratives that dehumanize women/LBTQ+ individuals, people of color, and immigrants. When she is not doing freelance work as an interpreter and educator, you can find her writing, meditating, hiking with her dog Anubis, or cooking a vegetarian meal.
Representing Education Industry
Haidi Quintanilla (she/her/hers)
5th Grade Bilingual Teacher Camino Nuevo Charter Academy
Haidi Quintanilla is a first-generation daughter of 2 immigrants from El Salvador & Guatemala. She started her professional journey in 2011 at Cal State University, Northridge, earning her Bachelor's Degree in Child and Adolescent Development. She then continued her studies in 2016 at UCLA as part of the Teacher Education Program, earning her teaching credential along with her Master's in Education.
She's currently in her 5th year teaching at a public charter school in Echo Park. When not working, she enjoys spending quality time with her dog Archie, enjoying the outdoors, and catching up with her favorite shows.
Representing Business Industry
Calina Salgado (she/her/hers)
Executive Term Deal Assistant NBC Universal
Calina Salgado is an Executive Term Deal Assistant at NBC Universal, currently working on developing film and television shows focusing on Latinx stories. Prior to working at NBC Universal, Calina held roles at MGA Entertainment in the Marketing Department assisting t
he Chief Marketing Officer and interning with AEG Live in their Latin Marketing Tour Division.
A first-generation Salvadoran-American, Calina graduated California State University of Northridge in 2019, with a degree in Cinematic Television Arts with an emphasis in Television Production and a minor in Communications.
Antonio Castellanos
Hello! I'm Antonio Castellanos, I'm from southern California and mostly grew up in San Marcos, California (north of San Diego). I am the third out of four siblings, I grew up playing soccer, but I left it for Ballet Folklorico where it became a serious sport for my older sister and I. Ballet Folklorico was a big part of our lives for ten years.
I grew up in a very Catholic home where Mass was an event every weekend. I enjoyed it and felt a great sense of community while I was part of it. Growing up, I had the privilege of being able to often visit my parents home town of Tepatitlan, in Jalisco, Mexico. These summer vacations to Tepa made me feel that I too was part of that community which has shaped so much of my world view.
I’m 33 years old, I’m a gay man and live with my partner of 6 years in the Castro neighborhood of San Francisco. My life experience has led me to create a game called Joteria, an education Loteria that reflects Mexico’s Lesbian, Gay, and Trans population. Joteria focuses on visibility, identity, history and family.
Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriguez
Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriguez was born in Managua, Nicaragua but calls Nashville, Tennessee home. She got her Masters of Divinity from Vanderbilt University in the Spring of 2015. The bulk of her work is around making accessible, through storytelling and curating content, the theories and heavy material that is oftentimes only taught in the racist/classist institutions known as academia. To date she has published over 200 articles online and participated in the Young Adult anthology "Nevertheless, We Persisted." Recently Prisca also participated in an anthology edited by Lynda Lopez titled, "The Fearless Rise and Powerful Resonance of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez."
She started the platform Latina Rebels in 2013, and currently it boasts over 300k organic followers online. She has been featured in Telemundo, Univision, Mitú, Huffington Post Latino Voices, Guerrilla Feminism, Latina Mag, Cosmopolitan, Everyday Feminism, and was invited to the White House in the Fall of 2016. She is unapologetic, angry, and uncompromising about protecting and upholding the stories of Latinx communities. Que viva la gente!
Currently Prisca is releasing her first full length book with Seal Press a subsidiary of Hachette Book Group, and due to be out in Fall 2021.
Dra. Leisy Abrego
Leisy Abrego is Professor and Chair in the Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies at UCLA. She teaches courses on Central Americans in the US; Latinx Families; Race, Gender, and Labor; and Chicana/o Studies. Trained in sociology, she studies Central American migration, U.S. intervention in Central America, Latina/o/x families, and the production of “illegality” through U.S. immigration laws. She is the author of three books: Sacrificing Families (Stanford University Press, 2014), Immigrant Families (co-authored with Cecilia Menjívar and Leah Schmalzbauer, Polity Press, 2017); and We Are Not Dreamers (co-edited with Genevieve Negrón-Gonzales, Duke University Press, 2020). Her research examines the experiences of Salvadoran transnational families, and those of undocumented Latina/o/x immigrants and their families in the United States.
Sergio Gonzalez
Sergio A. Gonzalez is a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Education Studies Program at Claremont Graduate University. He received his M.A. in Applied Gender Studies on the way to earning the Ph.D. He earned his M.Ed. in Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs from the University of Southern California (USC) and his B.A. in Communication Studies from Manhattanville College. Sergio writes from the core of who he is: joto, Latinx, feminist, hijo de a first-generation Madre and Mexican Immigrant Padre, jotería scholar, activist. As Lorde (2007) states, “I HAVE COME to believe over and over again that what is most important to me must be spoken, made verbal and shared, even at the risk of having it bruised or misunderstood” (p. 40). For this reason, his connection to Jotería (queerness) derives from his experiences navigating the Ivory Tower and trying to understand where he can exist within that space. As a scholar/activist, he focuses on co-creating counternarratives of queer Latinx/a/o individuals within higher education. Currently, he is a Research Associate at the Center for Minority Serving Institutions (CMSI) and the Samuel Dewitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity, and Justice (SDPI) at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. His research interests focus on Jotería pedagogy, social justice, undocumented/Dacamented students, and Queer Latinx students in higher education.
Blanca Ramirez
Blanca Ramirez is a PhD candidate in the Sociology department at the University of Southern California. She is a scholar of immigration, gender, and sociology of law. Her dissertation explores the broader consequences of a deportation regime including the implications of local policies on immigration lawyering. Her dissertation was recently awarded the 2021 Haynes Lindley Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship.
Her work has been published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence and Violence Against Women. Other essays have been published by USC’s Equity Research Institute and the Latino Center for Leadership Development and featured in the Center for New Immigrants.
Blanca has been awarded fellowships and grants from the Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship, National Science Foundation Fellowship, Latino Center for Leadership Development, and the USC Center for Changing Family.
Blanca earned her BA at California State University Fullerton. She is a first-generation college student and given her journey to higher education, Blanca is passionate about helping others learn. See more of her work at http://blancaaramirez.wordpress.com/.
Grupo Folklorico de UCLA
Established in 1966, Grupo Folklórico de UCLA remains committed to the celebration of the Mexican heritage through the regional music and traditional dances of Mexico. With our membership base of UCLA students, alumni, and other community members, our goal is to create positive Latino/a/x role models, promote cultural awareness throughout our surrounding communities, and encourage the youth of Los Angeles to celebrate their cultural roots and to continue on to institutions of higher learning, like UCLA.