Speakers and Presenters

The Story in the Cards - Tarot as a Tool for Meaning-Making

Anjali Acharya (she/they) (AMFT, APCC) is an associate therapist experienced in working with folx looking to navigate identities, cultures, and the effects of complex trauma. Anjali’s work is largely informed by narrative therapy and decolonized practice. They are particularly interested in how folx create and find meaning in their lives, and how communities redefine existing concepts to reflect a broader identity. Anjali currently practices at Live With Ease Wellness Center. The Live With Ease Wellness Center is a mental health practice located in Long Beach that offers queer and trans-affirming psychotherapy services. Live With Ease Wellness Center aims to help and empower folx to thrive and has a team of highly trained therapists from diverse backgrounds. Live With Ease Wellness Center is headed by founder Zane Julien, LMFT (he/they).

Bridging Policy Gaps: Foundations to TGI+ Health Advocacy

Anthony Languren is a contemporary dance maker and social worker based out of Los Angeles. He is currently completing his MSW at USC and his Mental Health clinical internship at the TransLatin@ Coalition. Anthony also teaches for a nonprofit organization in Los Angeles serving underserved youth and providing thousands of students with free dance classes in their schools.

Becoming Austin Nation: From Crack to PhD – A Drag Queen’s Story

Dr. Austin Nation is a nurse educator, researcher, and performing artist whose work explores the intersection of LGBTQ identity, health, and storytelling. His solo performance “Becoming Austin Nation: From Crack to PhD – One Drag Queen’s Story”combines theatre, drag performance, and personal narrative to illuminate issues of addiction recovery, resilience, and LGBTQ community history. Dr. Nation currently teaches nursing leadership and health systems courses and integrates storytelling, arts-based inquiry, and lived experience into his work advancing health equity within LGBTQ communities.

Creative expression as communal/community care

BA nathaniel Thomas (they) is a trans and queer astrologer, writer, and container holder passionate about curating spaces for queer and trans folks to build community, share economy, and showcase their personal creativity. They've produced drag shows virtually and throughout Southern California since 2022 and most recently co-organized Kinkfest to raise money for Long Beach Forward’s belonging & resiliency fund.

Bridging Policy Gaps: Foundations to TGI+ Health Advocacy

Bee Curiel is a non-binary advocate and educator that serves as the Director of Policy & Training Innovations. Bee Curiel received their Masters in Social Work Degree from California State University, Northridge and received a BA in Ethnic Studies at UC Davis. Bee participated in the TGI Working Group under the California Department of Managed Healthcare that was responsible for designing the training outline and implementation of the SB923. They have designed and facilitated over one hundred hours of training and technical assistance to build awareness of adequate care for TGI people in recovery centers, hospitals, social services, and homeless shelters. Their work has paved the way for TGI cultural transformation training across health and public service providers in Los Angeles County and California.

Reproductive Justice and Birthwork for Everyone

The Birthworkers of Color Collective is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) with founding roots in Long Beach, CA. We aim to decrease reproductive health disparities for marginalized pregnant and birthing people by providing full spectrum doula services that are accessible and inclusive.

Bridging Policy Gaps: Foundations to TGI+ Health Advocacy

Byron Jose is Policy and Advocacy Strategist at The TransLatin@ Coalition who leads city and county policy initiatives towards an equitable investment in Trans, Gender Expansive, and Interex communities. Based in Los Angeles, Byron engages in community-led and liberatory projects rooted in immigrant and queer lived experiences. Over the last 20 years Byron has organized with and developed the leadership of youth movements, trans and queer collectives, and social justice organizations and coalitions in LA.

Emcee

ChiChi Navarro, known as ChiChi Charlas (any pronoun), is a first generation Mexican American raised between Guanajuato, México and the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles, now rooted in Los Angeles. ChiChi is an event host, social media curator, interviewer, and community leader whose work centers intersectional trans and queer experiences. They create joyful, affirming spaces across nightlife, digital platforms, community events, and public conversations. ChiChi is known for engaging interviews with celebrities, artists, advocates, and community members, bridging grassroots movements with broader audiences. Their work uplifts community stories and sparks conversations about equity, dignity, and human rights, including TGI rights, immigrant rights, homelessness, and healthcare.

Creative expression as communal/community care

Chita Iriarte (They/Them) is a Mexican, Trans, photographer and performer. They help organize and produce local events and fundraisers that highlight QTBIPOC artists and community. As a lifelong athlete and learner, they are passionate about creating accessibility in fitness and mobility (beyond western medicine/standards) - they are on a path to provide wellness services such as physical therapy and personal training to marginalized communities.

Economic Empowerment is Mental Health

Dr. Christine Fuston (they/them) is a licensed psychologist in California whose work has focused on supporting LGBTQ+ and BIPOC folx. Christine has a PhD in Counseling Psychology from Oklahoma State University, and has experience in university counseling centers including Wichita State, Oklahoma State, University of Florida, and University of California Irvine. As the Mental Health Navigator at Trans Can Work, their goal is to help make mental health accessible to marginalized populations, while demystifying and destigmatizing the therapy process.

Resisting Anti-LGBTQIA2S+ Inequities at Work

Daniel E. Solís is the Vice President of Institutional Transformation at Confluence Rising, where he leads organizational change, Equity and Restorative Justice training, coaching, and conflict facilitation services focused on adults in businesses, nonprofits, universities, K-12 schools, and government agencies. Daniel has expertise in providing engaging and challenging trainings, designing and facilitating conflict processes, implementing Equity frameworks and practices, and creating accessible and relevant organizational change processes. Living in Ohio and Southern California, Daniel has worked for over 20 years supporting schools, workplaces, healthcare providers, nonprofits and communities to build their power and readiness to enact changes for more inclusive and equitable outcomes.

Queering the Data: Unpacking Insights, Reflections, and Stories from the Long Beach LGBTQIA2S+ Community Health Needs Assessment

Diane Burkholder (she/her) is a half Midwesterner / half Californian, Black mixed-race, queer equity consultant and community organizer with a background in Sociology (CSULB) and Ethnic Studies (SFSU) and 20+ years of experience. Since 2016, her anti-oppression firm, The DB Approach, has provided strategic planning, facilitation, coaching, and training rooted in social justice to grassroots organizations, NPOs, universities, healthcare institutions, and arts organizations. She co-founded the Missouri HIV Justice Coalition that modernized the state's HIV-criminalization laws, One Struggle KC, an anti-police brutality organization, and the Black United Leadership Initiative (BIULI) for Black folks in the HIV community. She also co-chaired the American Humanist Association's LGBTQ Alliance, focusing on secular activism and equity. Since returning to Long Beach in 2020, she has collaborated on the Long Beach Community Health Needs Assessment Collaborative, LBDHHS’s Black and LGBTQIAIS+ Health Needs Assessments, and currently co-chairs the LB HIV Planning Group. In 2023, she co-founded Queermunity LB, a space for 30+ Queer and Trans folks of color in Long Beach/South Bay. When not chasing sunsets, she lives under the rule of her cat, Rosa (Parks).

Coloring the Rainbow: The Impact of Faith-Based Sexual Exclusion

Dr. Dontá Morrison, Ph.D., is a global leadership scholar and nationally recognized speaker whose work centers on faith, racial equity, HIV advocacy, and Black LGBTQ+ wellness. A graduate of Pepperdine University, he presents internationally on intergenerational trauma, faith-based sexual exclusion, inclusive leadership, and community health equity. Dr. Morrison has been featured by HIV Plus Magazine, KTLA, and major national conferences. He serves in multiple board leadership roles and is a Faith Ambassador for the HIV Vaccine Trials Network. His work challenges institutions to move beyond performative inclusion toward transformative change.  

Vogue Femme Workshop featuring LA Father Eric Ninja

Eric Sanchez, known as LA Father Eric Ninja of the Iconic House of Ninja, is a cultural leader, creative producer, and choreographer dedicated to advancing ballroom artistry worldwide. Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, Eric was mentored by ballroom icon Archie Burnett and developed his foundation within the House of Ninja. He now co-leads the Los Angeles chapter alongside Legendary Overall Mother Dolores Ninja, cultivating and mentoring the next generation of ballroom artists. Eric’s work spans teaching, performance, and creative direction across film, television, and live events. His credits include collaborations with artists such as Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande, Lizzo, and Billy Porter, as well as appearances on productions including The Masked Singer, A Black Lady Sketch Show, and major award stages. Through his work, Eric continues to build pathways for ballroom artists to thrive—centering community, mentorship, and the preservation of ballroom’s legacy.

Breaking Barriers to Care: Harm Reduction, Opioid Overdose Prevention, and LGBTQIA2S+ Community Health

Eva Yakel is a dedicated public health leader with experience in addiction medicine program development, healthcare operations, and policy implementation, including the expansion of Incidental Medical Services across residential treatment settings. She serves as Project Director for Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) Services at Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse (L.A. CADA), where she leads multi-site MAT implementation, oversees Naloxone Distribution initiatives, and advances integration of medical and behavioral health models within substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Her work includes developing clinical and operational protocols, supporting compliance with Incidental Medical Services (IMS), and strengthening quality improvement systems across treatment settings. Eva is deeply committed to health equity and system-level change, focusing on reducing barriers to care and addressing stigma surrounding substance use and mental health. She collaborates closely with county agencies, academic institutions, and community organizations to expand access to evidence-based treatment and harm reduction services. She holds a Doctor of Medicine from the University of San Carlos of Guatemala and holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) with a specialization in Health Equity from Azusa Pacific University. Her work centers on advancing public health responses to the overdose crisis through data-driven strategies, education, and cross-sector collaboration. Fluent in English and Spanish, she builds strong partnerships that translate into measurable community impact.

HealthySexual: Health and Sex Belong Together

Everardo began his career with Gilead Sciences in October 2023 as a Community Liaison for the Sacramento/Fresno/Reno territories of the West, and he is currently the Community Liaison for LA-South (includes Long Beach, Orange County and Riverside). Throughout his time in this role, he has built and fostered relationships with internal and external partners and strengthened local coalitions focused on HIV prevention and treatment efforts.  Prior to this role, Everardo was the HIV Syndemic Policy Program Supervisor for the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, where he led the City’s local plan to end the syndemics of HIV, STIs and Hep C. He served as the Co-Chair for the Long Beach Comprehensive HIV Planning Group and represented the City of Long Beach on the Los Angeles County Commission on HIV. Additionally, as a David Bohnett Fellow, he worked in the Office of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s Housing and Homelessness Policy team. He has also served on the boards of the Latino Equality Alliance and UCLA’s Lambda Alumni Association. Everardo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with his own private psychotherapy practice, with a focus on prodromal schizophrenia, anxiety and substance use disorders.  Everardo received his bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Master of Social Welfare (MSW) from UCLA—GO BRUINS!

what our tissues know about revolution: a QT embodied folk magic writing workshop

fen rené (they/them) is a mad QT poet, artist, community folk magic practitioner, and somatics coach re-weaving themself into right-relationship with the human and more-than-human family of things through devotional creative practice. They create at the threshold of embodied grief and devotion, where imagination and memory meet to dissolve the cursed and constant illusions of empire. fenrene.com

Sculpting the Self: A Clay Workshop

Fuzz Garden is a Long Beach based artist working across painting, clay, animation, and illustration. Their practice explores the interconnected nature of the human experience, how people are continuously shaped through relationships, environment, emotion, memory, and community. Through playful, accessible, and process-based artmaking, they create participatory spaces for reflection and collective expression.

Breaking Barriers to Care: Harm Reduction, Opioid Overdose Prevention, and LGBTQIA2S+ Community Health

Hugo Gonzalez is the Grant Program Coordinator and a supervisor at L.A. CADA, where he plays a key role in managing program operations and supporting community-focused initiatives. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University, Long Beach, and is currently furthering his leadership and strategic skills as an MBA candidate. Bilingual in English and Spanish, Hugo is dedicated to leveraging his background in management and human resources to strengthen harm reduction efforts and improve service delivery for the communities he serves.

Trans Ballet

Iris opal grew up doing ballet and taught ballet in their early twenties. As they came into their transness, iris began to feel more and more out of place in dance studios. Now in their early thirties, iris’s dream is to co-create a space for each person's inner child to come out and play, to do our best to listen to our bodies, make space for mistakes and curiosity, and collectively redefine what it means to be a ballet dancer.

Queer Youth Power Building

Itzel Corrales (any pronouns) is a Program Coordinator at yli’s Long Beach office, where they lead the first city-funded, youth-led Opioid Prevention campaign and the ClimateLB stop-motion video project. In these roles, they collaborate with young people ages 14-24 to advocate for health equity, harm reduction, and climate justice. Itzel also supports a statewide initiative engaging K–12 youth in advancing youth-led advocacy for accessible and inclusive mental health services in Los Angeles and across California. Itzel’s vision is to support youth in their revolutionary journeys by fostering learning through listening to each other’s stories and weaving together the threads of resilience, compassion, and shared purpose that lead to liberation Outside the office Itzel enjoys expression through painting and writing, wandering with the ocean, and practicing movement

Toward RADICAL Healing: Our study centering Black, brown, 2SPTNB+ Communities' Psychological Healing Praxises

j. nyla mcneill is a polymath artist and scientist. A graduate of CSU Long Beach in Psychology, they conducted master’s-level research through the BUILD STEM program, toward a PhD pathway focussed on health equity. They have been a community-based researcher in transgender health psychology for a decade, and serve as a coach for individuals moving through major life transitions, as well as a consultant for systems transformation within the City of Long Beach and LA County.

Elevating community voices on how to make PrEP more equitably accessible

Jaelen is a research coordinator in the College of Medicine at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. Their undergraduate and graduate background is in Family Science. They began as a health educator and outreach specialist with Center for Health Equity Research at California State University, Long Beach in 2016, working on the Peer Promotion of Wellness and Enhanced Linkage to Resources project to support HIV testing uptake among young Black men. Since then, they have been committed to working to end the local HIV epidemic. They have been active within the Long Beach Comprehensive HIV Planning Group (HPG), having served as a Community Co-chair for the HPG and Chair of its PrEP workgroup. In addition, Jaelen also has an interest in identifying strategies to better engage Black and Latine community members through all stages of the research process.

Queering the Data: Unpacking Insights, Reflections, and Stories from the Long Beach LGBTQIA2S+ Community Health Needs Assessment

James Suazo (he/him/his) is a 35-year-old reader, writer, organizer, and abolitionist who identifies as queer, Latinx, and Jicarilla Apache. James was born, raised, and politicized in occupied Tongva and Acjachemen land known as modern day Santa Ana, California and has lived in Long Beach since 2011. James’s activism began at the age of 18 when he started organizing fellow bus riders to advocate against public transportation cuts during the Great Recession. Since then, he has contributed to and led student, community, and electoral organizing efforts to address poverty, housing, transit justice, education equity, justice reform, and racial justice. James has dedicated the last 11 and a half years to organizing with Long Beach Forward, a multicultural and multigenerational grassroots organization and third space building community knowledge, leadership, and power to advance racial, spatial, economic, and educational justice citywide. Since 2021, James has played the role of Executive Director at Long Beach Forward to lead community-centric fundraising, leadership development, and strategic planning. James earned a Bachelors in English Education from California State University, Long Beach in 2013 and was selected as an Activist-in-Residence at the UCLA Luskin Institute on Inequality and Democracy in 2025. James has and continues to learn from, train, and mentor organizers locally and nationally as part of his personal commitment to building a better world.

Creative expression as communal/community care

Jasper Love (Xe/They/Zim) is a kinky black trans queer (in lifestyle and politic) disabled and unreliably verbal Community Educator & artist. In this reality, xe live-streams community events, Co-organizes the Disabled Makers Market, & hosts informal relationship building spaces. As a being on a journey into further disabling health issues, they have found photography and other visual arts helpful in remaining in community. If you see them around, feel free to say hi & chat!

Art As A Healing Tool for Queer Immigrants

Julio Salgado is a multimedia artist based in Long Beach, CA. Julio's status as a queer immigrant has informed his vast body of political artwork, which can be seen in marches, community spaces, and institutions such as the SFMOMA, the Smithsonian, and now Princeton University. He is currently a Sr. Program Manager at The Center for Cultural Power, where he co-created The Disruptors Fellowship, a program for emerging television writers. Julio is a contributor for The L.A. Times, where you can find his comic strip "Good Immigrant, Bad Immigrant," his version of the Sex and The City column if Carrie Bradshaw called her mother more often. To see more of Julio’s work, go to juliosalgadoart.com or Instagram @juliosalgado83.

Resisting Anti-LGBTQIA2S+ Inequities at Work

Kathleah Consul Pagdilao leads organizational learning and leadership development and trains and coaches in Equity, Transformation, and Restorative Justice at Confluence Rising. She has been designing, coordinating, and facilitating critical dialogues and creating justice-focused learning spaces for over a decade. A proud daughter to immigrants, Kathleah brings a collaborative spirit to her work with schools, workplaces, and organizations. She is grateful to work at Confluence Rising where she finds deep meaning in helping young people and adults feel seen, heard, and valued. As a loyal and introverted Aquarius, Kathleah is a compassionate facilitator who enjoys connecting over shared stories, experiences, and laughter.

Creative expression as communal/community care

Kris (they/she) is a queer black activist. Through their work with grassroots organizations, they grew a passion for events and event production and curation in their quest for a more safe accessible space for family and friends to feel safe. Their goal right now is to connect friends to friends. They believe their friends are the celebrities of change and wish to create safe spaces through small events that give back to and bring change to the community(i.e. clothing swaps and friends makers mart). They are constantly asking what the community needs and how can we get it to them? The work that they do is in constant pursuit to answer those questions and fill in the gaps within the community through curated events. All their work is done with love and passion for the people and the belief that people power will change the world and can also be a good time.

Elevating community voices on how to make PrEP more equitably accessible

Dr. D'Anna is a professor in the College of Medicine at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. She holds a Doctorate in Public Health with an emphasis in Community Health Sciences from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Public Health, and a Master of Public Administration degree from CSULB. For three decades, she has had the privilege of working with historically underrepresented and minoritized populations on community-engaged health equity research projects in the areas of HIV prevention, cannabis and tobacco co-use, and the effects of social and racial discrimination on health outcomes. Her most recent HIV-related studies included an exploratory study to learn more about barriers and facilitators of PrEP use in Long Beach, and a pilot study to develop an intervention to increase PrEP uptake among transwomen. She also currently serves as co-director for the CDU Coordinating Center of the new Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Equity Research for Action program. Before coming to CDU, Dr. D’Anna was Associate Professor in the Department of Health Science and Director of the Center for Health Equity Research at California State University, Long Beach, she served as Vice President of Community Affairs for Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties, Director of Programs and Planning for the Coalition of Orange County Community Clinics, Executive Director of the Laguna Beach Community Clinic, and Manager of Preventive Health Clinical Services for the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, where she also served as project manager for Project RESPECT. Project RESPECT was a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded multi-site randomized trial comparing the effect of a theory-driven HIV counseling and testing intervention with the CDC standard intervention and a minimalist intervention.

Queer Youth Power Building

Love Santoya (she/her) is a junior at Long Beach Poly High School. As someone who has lived in Central Long Beach her whole life, she's been surrounded by a multitude of different cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. Being a queer Latina with a broad perspective of various intersectional identities, she is committed to being a voice that both advocates and participates in creating spaces where marginalized people are celebrated and empowered. Queer power to her is having the freedom to harness our struggles to build a world where we get to experience joy because we are queer, not in spite of being queer. Love's involvement with yli began this past November with the K-12 Mental Health Fellowship, where she gets to explore and learn about mental health policy and build skills to make legislative change regarding mental health reform. As a fellow, she has had opportunities to not only study the legislative process but have conversations with decision makers and be a voice for her community. In her free time, she likes to read, paint, and play the cello. She also devotes a lot of time to studying history and going to museums.

Creating LGBTQIA2S+ Empowerment Through Art

Lucas Gordon @LucasGordonPhotography is a queer photographer & multidisciplinary artist, arts educator, & community organizer. Their work focuses primarily on capturing, preserving, and uplifting the LGBTQIA2S+ experience. Recent achievements include creating Long Beach Queer ArtFest to help LGBTQIA2S+ communities utilize the power of art, serving as Artist in Residence with LB Pride, leading community art events with support of the Arts Council for Long Beach and LGBTQ Center of Long Beach, and being awarded the Creative Corps grant from the Arts Council of California.

Play Date with MaMa Cali

MaMa Cali is a flow artist and instructor with over five years of experience guiding others through movement, play, and self-expression. Through her signature “Play Dates” sessions, she creates a welcoming and supportive space where participants explore flow arts using props like hand hoops, body hoops, beaded hoops, and flow sticks. Blending storytelling with guided movement, MaMa Cali uses the hoop as a metaphor for cultivating a safe space within the body—encouraging self-love, body acceptance, and freedom of expression. Her sessions invite participants to reconnect with their inner child through playful, non-competitive movement, followed by time to freely explore their own flow. Rooted in the belief that there is no wrong way to play, MaMa Cali offers accessible techniques for all bodies and skill levels, including both on-body and off-body flow. Her work empowers others to move with confidence, joy, and authenticity.

Art As A Healing Tool for Queer Immigrants

Marlene Montanez migrated with her family from Zacatecas, Mexico, at the age of three and was raised in South Central Los Angeles. Marlene is the Associate Director at Long Beach Forward, striving to create a healthy Long Beach with low-income communities of color by building community knowledge, leadership, and power. She has been a community organizer at LAANE, a health and safety coordinator at the Los Angeles Federation of Labor, and the student film competition coordinator. She was part of the efforts to pass worker COVID right-to-recall, paid sick time off,  eviction moratorium,  Measure WW, minimum wage, and the Long Beach Justice Fund. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Women's, Gender Sexual Studies and Political Science from California State University, Long Beach. During her time at CSULB, she was co-chair and president of FUEL, an undocumented student groups who contributed in the passage of the California Dream Act. She participated in the founding cohort of Dream Summer as an intern for the Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition and then the CLEAN Carwash Campaign in Los Angeles. In her free time, she loves gardening, reading, taking long walks and playing roller derby.

Toward RADICAL Healing: Our study centering Black, brown, 2SPTNB+ Communities' Psychological Healing Praxises

Marquel Norton is a fourth-year doctoral candidate in Counseling Psychology at UW–Madison. They hold a bachelor’s in clinical psychology and child development and a master's in School Psychology from Tufts University. A former licensed school psychologist in Boston Public Schools, Marquel is an educator and scholar committed to creating community-based support, organizing, and healing spaces for Black queer and trans individuals.

Economic Empowerment is Mental Health

Martha P. Gomez (she/they) has been working with the LGBTQ+ community for over 25 years. As the Managing Director at Trans Can Work (TCW), Martha has been able to help address the Economic Disparities that affect TGNC (Transgender, Gender-Variant & Gender Non-Conforming) people. With TCW's Workforce Development Team, Martha has been able to see the need for specialized services & training that helps our TGNC folx become more confident in their job search and career development.

Queering the Data: Unpacking Insights, Reflections, and Stories from the Long Beach LGBTQIA2S+ Community Health Needs Assessment; Queer Youth Power Building

Mason Lam (he/they) is a Long Beach-based youth advocate passionate about storytelling as a tool to grow deeper with ourselves and each other. Mason’s intersectional Asian and trans identities inform his commitment to building a world where BIPOC, queer folks, and young people have the tools to mobilize their visions for themselves and their communities. As Program Manager of yli’s Long Beach office, Mason supports staff in leading youth-driven programs across Los Angeles County that address pressing issues such as mental health, LGBTQ+ rights, climate justice, youth opioid prevention and more. These initiatives engage youth ages 14-24 in leadership development, community-based research, storytelling, and advocacy campaigns. Outside of his time at yli, Mason is nourished by outdoor adventures and spending time with queer community!

Creative expression as communal/community care

MIDORI (she/they) is a queer artist-alchemist and founder of the Church of Soft Power, a virtual lay-led church for artists. Informed by a decade of experience in creative marketing & the arts, she now has her eyes set on building an innovative organizational culture rooted in spirituality that re-sources creative leaders so they can effectively harness their gifts and transform their worlds beyond the status quo.

Love Shouldn’t Hurt: Real Talk on Relationships, Mental Health & LGBTQ+ Safety

Mignon Richardson currently serves as the Legal Services Client Advocate at the LGBTQ Center of Long Beach. Previously she was the Mental Health Services Coordinator & Domestic Violence Counselor at the Center and has 7+ years of experience working with the LGBTQIA+ community, providing trauma-informed care, which includes working with both survivors and aggressors of intimate partner violence. MIgnon has designed and facilitated one of the few aggressor support groups in Southern California for 2 years. She earned an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2020 from Southern New Hampshire University along with the 2024 “Women of Distinction” by Josh Lowenthal, Assemblymember of the 69th District. The LGBTQ Center Long Beach, established in 1998, is a vital resource for the local LGBTQ+ community. It began as a support hub during a time of limited acceptance and has grown to offer essential services, including mental health support, legal advocacy, and educational programs. The Center has historically played a significant role in advocacy, particularly during key moments such as the fight for marriage equality. In 2016, it expanded its facilities to meet the increasing demand for services. Today, the LGBTQ Center Long Beach continues to promote equality and justice, empowering individuals through community support and resources.

Creative expression as communal/community care

minerva esperanza (they/them/theirs) is a gender expansive, queer artist and community organizer. Their identities as Queer, Trans, Xicanx, Disabled, Neurodivergent, and someone with CPTSD deeply shape their heartfelt commitment to collective liberation. They dedicate themselves to supporting efforts to survive and resist capitalism while fostering and nurturing alternative systems. With long-standing experience in organizing gatherings that weave together community building, support, and creativity.

Creating Mental Health Toolkits through Zine-Making

MLOU the Artist (they/them) is a local artist, mental health advocate, and resident of occupied Tongva Land. They are proudly disabled, queer, transgender, non-binary, and Pilipino. They hold a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from California State University, Long Beach. They have 10 years of workshop experience with topics ranging from: mental health, social justice, LGBTQIA+ identity, Pilipino & Asian American identity, and art.

Crafting Conversation: A Build-A-Vulva Workshop

Nancy Velasquez (She/Ella) is a queer Chicana scholar and community organizer currently finishing her MA in Chicane and Latine Studies. Her research focuses on the lived experiences of queer individuals and focuses on the intersection of cultural identity, education, and liberation. Her current research involves focusing  on the lived experiences of queer individuals in East LA, using a Community Cultural Wealth framework to collect and uplift testimonios that are too often silenced. Nancy is part of The School of Sexuality (SOSP), a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to providing comprehensive, intersectional, and inclusive sexual education. SOSP is on a mission to de-stigmatize and re‐humanize sex ed through community, fun, and honest factual information by blending humor, art, and intersectional perspectives to create learning experiences that are as fun as they are informative.

Queer Youth Power Building

Naomi Williams (any pronouns) is a student studying Geography at the University of California, Long Beach. As a life-long Black queer resident of Long Beach, Naomi is very interested in how geographical place and space influence the way our communities form and evolve. To them, queer power is the strength and happiness we find within ourselves and other queer people. As a youth leader in yli, Naomi addresses a variety of pressing issues within Long Beach, such as: youth empowerment, LGBTQ+ advocacy, climate action, and other issues affecting our local community. In their free time, Naomi loves to spend time with friends and collect trinkets. They also enjoy art and going to museums.

Breaking Barriers to Care: Harm Reduction, Opioid Overdose Prevention, and LGBTQIA2S+ Community Health

Nolan Ross Samé-Weil is an accomplished executive-level professional with extensive experience spanning public and private sectors. Holding a Master's Degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Healthcare Management, Nolan Ross is adept at healthcare administration, strategic planning, and organizational leadership. Combining expertise in executive leadership, business operations, and addiction treatment, Nolan Ross excels at managing day-to-day operations within addiction medicine and behavioral health. Recognized as a subject matter expert, he collaborates effectively with local non-profits, educational institutions, and businesses, providing valuable insights into addiction recovery and organizational efficiency. Deeply committed to community service, Nolan Ross serves on numerous planning committees and influential boards, including his role as a City Commissioner for Long Beach’s Equity and Human Relations Commission. Leveraging his personal recovery journey, he passionately advocates for mental health awareness and substance use disorder treatment, offering hope and encouragement to individuals and families affected by these issues.

From Access to Affirmation: LGBTQ+ Healthcare Pathways at CPaCE

Dr. Pahole Sookkasikon is a scholar, advocate, and researcher specializing in Thai/American Studies, with a focus on gender and sexuality through performance and cultural production. He earned his doctorate from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 2018 and has contributed to Southeast Asian American Studies, particularly in examining contemporary Thai popular culture and its intersections with global economies of desire. He currently serves as Senior Program Developer at the College of Professional and Continuing Education at CSULB, where he designs and develops programs aligned with industry, institutional, and community goals.

Creative expression as communal/community care

Reina (she/he) is a trans Latina illustrator, poet, phlebotomist, and HIV prevention specialist living in Long Beach. When she's not out in the community, they can be found making retro art or chainmaille inspired by the world around him.

Queering the Data: Unpacking Insights, Reflections, and Stories from the Long Beach LGBTQIA2S+ Community Health Needs Assessment

Ryan Maganini is a public health professional and researcher with a decade of experience working with and on behalf of queer and transgender communities. Ryan is passionate about using data to tell stories and elevate the voices of community members underserved by systems. Prior to joining the Long Beach Health and Human Services Department as the LGBTQIA2S+ Health Equity Coordinator, Ryan worked in various roles that served community, including as a consultant with Health Management Associates, as an outreach coordinator with the STOP Violence Program at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and as an intern of the Safe Schools Project with The Queer Youth Task Force of Santa Cruz County. Outside of work, Ryan is a pop culture fanatic, avid poetry reader and foodie. 

Queering the Data: Unpacking Insights, Reflections, and Stories from the Long Beach LGBTQIA2S+ Community Health Needs Assessment; Sustainable Solidarity: Avoiding Advocacy Burnout for Queer and Trans Communities

Bio: Sara Stanizai, LMFT (she/her) is a licensed marriage and family therapist and coach who founded Prospect Therapy to create a queer- and trans-affirming practice specifically serving first-generation American and immigrant communities. In addition to being primarily a couples therapist, Sara is a sought-after speaker and facilitator on a variety of topics including compassion fatigue, principles of queer and trans affirming care, and the Afghan-American experience. She has a special place in her heart for fellow eldest daughters carrying intergenerational responsibilities, and helps them continue meaningful traditions while making room for themselves. Sara is passionate and knowledgeable about leadership in marginalized communities, and believes in the importance of lived experience in the professional world. 

Crafting Conversation: A Build-A-Vulva Workshop

Savannah Moffat (She/her) is queer educator and performer currently enrolled in a masters program to obtain her MFT and intends to become a licensed sex therapist. Savannah is passionate about creating affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ youth and survivors of trauma. She believes sex education can, and should, be joyful, healing, and deeply human. Originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, Savannah grew up without access to comprehensive sex education, an experience that deeply shaped her commitment to making sure today’s youth don’t face the same silence and shame. Savannah is part of The School of Sexuality (SOSP), a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to providing comprehensive, intersectional, and inclusive sexual education. SOSP is on a mission to de-stigmatize and re‐humanize sex ed through community, fun, and honest factual information by blending humor, art, and intersectional perspectives to create learning experiences that are as fun as they are informative.

Sustainable Solidarity: Avoiding Advocacy Burnout for Queer and Trans Communities

Bio: Tiffany Hooton, LMFT (they/them) is a queer-affirming therapist at Prospect Therapy in Long Beach, CA. Tiffany specializes in supporting queer and trans individuals and partners navigating trauma, family estrangement, and identity exploration. With a background in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Narrative Therapy, Tiffany helps advocates and community organizers navigate the specific burnout that comes from fighting systems that oppress personally and professionally. Tiffany helps leaders move past exhaustion, toward sustainable self-compassion by grounding clients in their core values. Their collaborative, direct style is especially welcoming to neurodivergent folks, gamers, and geeks!

Creating LGBTQIA2S+ Empowerment Through Art

Tom Tredway is a design historian with broad interests in the decorative arts and design, particularly interiors, furniture, ceramics, fashion, and film. He is an Associate Professor of Design at California State University, Long Beach. His research focuses on issues of 20th and 21st century design, including the relationship between commerce and design, the role of the designer in fostering corporate, social, and environmental responsibility, and the relationship between design, identity, and lifestyle.

Sustainable Solidarity: Avoiding Advocacy Burnout for Queer and Trans Communities

Bio: Wanda Diep, LCSW (she/her) is a relational therapist at Prospect Therapy in Long Beach, CA, specializing in trauma recovery, caregiver burnout, and relationship issues, with a specific focus on adult children of immigrants and the queer and trans communities. Her background in social work helps her bring a critical lens to the intersection of individual mental health and structural pressures. She is particularly skilled in addressing compassion fatigue among caregivers and community leaders, helping them navigate the exhaustion of high-stakes environments that often affect them personally. By blending clinical expertise with systemic advocacy, Wanda empowers her clients and audiences to move beyond burnout toward sustainable, meaningful lives.

Creative expression as communal/community care

zora pug lee (he/it/she) is a multidisciplinary artist who is currently focused on developing stronger relationships with himself and the communities she is a member of, particularly with Black, trans, queer, and disabled individuals in Long Beach and the other places it calls home.