Latino Equality Alliance elects new advisory board and president.

For more than 10 years, LEA has advocated for equity, safety, and wellness for the LatinX LGBTQ+ community.

LOS ANGELES – The Latino Equality Alliance (LEA), a leading LatinX LGBTQ+ social justice and advocacy nonprofit organization based in LA, recently announced the election of its 2021-2023 executive advisory board.

The new executive board, serving a two-year term, is comprised of a diverse group of LatinX leaders in Southern California deriving from various industry sectors. Leading the organization’s executive board as Board Chair is Marco Antonio Gonzalez, a seasoned international corporate communications executive; Vice Chair Stephen Chavez, CEO of Chavez PR; and Secretary Liliana T. Perez, cultural affairs director for the Los Angeles Chargers.  Also serving on the board are Jaime Gallardo, holistic therapist, and LEA co-founder Ari Gutierrez Arambula, director of Government Advertising, Daily Journal Corporation.

“I am truly honored to have the opportunity to serve as chair for LEA’s Advisory Board. This is an organization that is very dear and near to my heart and I look forward to continuing moving forward, along with my fellow board members, the advocacy and social justice work we do on behalf of our LatinX LGBTQ youth and their families. I am privileged to serve this great organization and am committed to continue fomenting its mission and advancing its work in our community,” said Gonzalez.

Gonzalez says his top goal as chair will be to increase board size and help with fundraising. He brings more than 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, which dates back to his earlier work as Director of Communications for United Way of Greater Los Angeles.

Most recently, he was the architect behind the Unidos Contigo community relations initiative for Estrella Media, where he established community partnerships with Feeding America, The Power of One Foundation and Saint Anthony’s Community Clinics. Unidos Contigo addresses COVID-19 vaccine awareness and education, and food insecurity among the Latino community.

As part of his personal philanthropy work, he has also raised over $10,000 for AIDS LifeCycle (2018 and 2019) as a rider and as a volunteer, riding his bike from San Francisco to Los Angeles in an effort to end AIDS.

“Marco’s bicultural background and bilingual prowess will definitely be an added value that will continue to enhance and promote LEA’s ongoing efforts and work among the Spanish-speaking community we serve in the Greater Los Angeles area. We are enthusiastic about his new board leadership role and are ready to work very closely with him and the rest of the Board,” said Eddie Martinez, LEA’s executive director.

For more than 10 years, LEA, a project of Community Partners, has advocated for equity, safety, and wellness for the LatinX Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer + community.

Current projects LEA is undertaking include:

Anti-Bullying School Climate Public Education Initiative – Latino Equality Alliance offers a series of audience-appropriate workshops to students, parents and school administrators in area high schools with a goal to develop a safe school climate for LGBTQ youth.

Southeast Los Angeles Civic Engagement Project – A strategic regional initiative that will develop young leaders and change public policies through education and engagement in the communities of Huntington Park, Bell, Cudahy, Maywood, Walnut Park, South Gate, Commerce, Bell Gardens and Lynwood.

Community Health Worker Outreach Initiative- In partnership withThe Wellness Center, LEA has mobilized in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The mission is to provide crucial outreach, COVID-19 prevention education and navigation services to local residents and businesses around LA County.

As a nonprofit organization with a strong focus on family acceptance, LGBT equality, and immigration reform, LEA engages LatinX LGBT community leaders and organizations in direct action organizing to address issues of bullying, homophobia, xenophobia, family separation, violence against youth, homelessness, high health risk behaviors and HIV/AIDS.

The mission of Latino Equality Alliance (LEA) is to advocate for equity, safety, and wellness for the LatinX Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer + community. LEA is located at Mi Centro LGBTQ Community Center in Boyle Heights. For more information on the services and programs of Latino Equality Alliance and/or to donate please visit http://www.latinoequalityalliance.org/

Editor’s Note: LEA hosts a number of fundraising events each year to raise money for LGBTQ+ scholarships, such as the annual Purple Lily Awards Gala and the upcoming in-person Calavera Festival on Saturday, Oct. 23. For more information about the Day of the Dead event, please visit bit.ly/Calavera.