Our Team
Staff
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André Pérez (He/ They)
Founder & Executive Director
is a Trans Latine media maker and organizer whose community-centered practice has focused on abolition, health equity, and untold histories for 17 years. They founded the Transgender Oral History Project in 2007, recorded over 600 interviews as part of Storycorps, and played a key role in several LGBTQ+ nonprofit start-ups including the Trans Lifeline. He directed America in Transition and went on to produce A RUN FOR MORE (PBS, 2023) and DESIRE LINES (Sundance NEXT Special Jury Award winner, 2024).
Organizing Committee
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Stefano Gonzalez
is a Trans and Puerto Rican producer originally from New York whose films have screened at Cannes, Frameline, OutFest, and Inside Out. Stefano founded Transgress Studios LLC, produced TRANSFINITE (2017), and worked on big-budget productions such as INSECURE (Season 5) and MATRIX RESURRECTIONS (2021). Committed to rural LGBTQ+ youth, he served on the board of Rainbow Community Center from 2020-2023.
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Robin Carnilius (They/Theirs)
is a Black, trans illustrator, animator, filmmaker, video game designer, and graphic novelist whose work focuses on LGBTQ+ BIPOC representation and nerd pop culture. They directed the award-winning animated series MCTUCKY FRIED HIGH (2015) and wrote “Camp Cutlery” (2018), a graphic novel inspired by their own coming-of-age.
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Ryan Rox (She/her)
Based in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Rox serves as the Co-Executive Director of Femme Frontera, where she runs artist support programming for women and gender-expansive filmmakers in the borderland. Rox is a queer, Latine Director, Writer, and Actor of Trans Non-Binary experience who recently completed her first feature film, HIDDEN FLORA. Rox’s work has been supported by Femme Frontera, Olivia Peace, Aitch Alberto, Film Fatales’ Fatales Forward, Trans Stories Fellowship, and Daniella’s Guestbook. Her films have been showcased at TRANSlations and the San Francisco Transgender Film Festival among others.
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Dorian Lion
is a Black trans-masculine artist whose clothing and illustrations affirm transmasculine people that we are enough. He is involved in the local ball scene and works with a peer-to-peer HIV prevention program focusing on youth in Oakland.
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Umi Hsu
is a trans nonbinary sound artist and audio producer who's been recognized by the American Council for Learned Society, Shuttleworth Foundation, LA Metro, and National Endowment for the Arts. They teach at ArtCenter College of Design, advise the Digital Transgender Archive and The Invisible Archive journal, and previously directed award-winning exhibitions and programs at One Institute.
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Lexington Lawson (He/ They)
has 15 years of experience in education, media arts, and social justice. Lex produces, films, directs, and edits videos from music videos to documentaries. An Adjunct Professor at Southern New Hampshire University, Lex enjoys mentoring youth and helped publish an anthology titled "Grow From Where You Are" via Young Authors Greenhouse. He is working towards an MFA in Creative Writing while writing his first novel.
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Dawn Valdez (She/ Her)
is a queer, Xicana, feminista, filmmaker, social worker, artist, youth advocate, resource wrangler, and impact strategist. Dawn Produced/ Co-directed THE PUSHOUTS (2018) and Directed/Produced the award-winning documentary GOING ON 13 (2008). Dawn is a member of the Bay Area Women Directors’ Collective, Film Fatales, and Brown Girls Doc Mafia. She is the Director of Youth and Artistic Development at Bay Area Video Coalition, where she runs the Media Maker Fellowship.
Advisory Board
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Sequoia Pheonix (He/Him)
is a trans community organizer, writer, musician, burner, and leatherman. He has co-founded many initiatives and groups supporting marginalized communities.
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StormMiguel Florez
is a trans, queer Chicane filmmaker, event producer, actor, and a lifelong musician. His award-winning films include THE WHISTLE (2019), MAJOR! (2015), and VULVEETA (2022). He is currently working on his feature narrative directorial debut, WELCOME TO ROSWELL, for which he received a 2022 SFFILM/Rainin grant, a 2021 Sundance Trans Possibilities fellowship, and a Film Fatales Stowe Story Labs Fellowship. His work has also been supported by The San Francisco Arts Commission, the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures, the Trans Justice Funding Project, and Horizons Foundation.
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Ezak Perez
comes from Hopi and Paeaekila Puebloan people. He is Native, Xicanx, Latinx, two-spirit of center, indigiqueer, and trans. For 15+ years, they have been organizing at the intersections of racial, economic, and gender justice. Ezak is the Executive Director of Gender Justice LA, where he collaborates with others so that our communities can resist oppression, develop community responses to violence, heal from present and historical trauma, and come together in ways that feel brave and affirming.
Hiring – Community Engagement and Outreach Intern
Role Overview
You will work closely with the Executive Director to execute a communications strategy and develop communications materials to help outreach to community members. This is an exciting opportunity to learn how to grow an early-stage social enterprise. The ideal intern can commit to working 10-20 hours per week. We are open to working with your schedule around beginning and end dates as well as the day-to-day work rhythm.
Key Responsibilities
Research potential partner organizations and outreach opportunities (events, conferences, etc.)
Create content for social media (Instagram, Facebook, etc.) and bi-monthly newsletter that reaches partners, volunteers, and stakeholders
Assist in the development and creation of outreach collateral (one-pagers, flyers, postcards, etc.)
Support with grant research and writing
Other duties as assigned
Requirements
Cultural competence with transgender communities,
Proficiency with social media (Instagram, tik tok, Facebook, and Canva)
Interest and willingness to learn communications best practices
Passion for social justice, the arts, and/or community-building
Internet access
Strong follow-through
Ability to work independently
Benefits
We have experience coordinating with colleges and universities to offer academic credit and/or work/study. We are happy to work with your university to meet any requirements for these programs. We offer a $500/mo stipend for interns who complete at least 60 hours of work per month. This is taxable income. If you have a work-study program, it may be possible to coordinate additional payment through your school.
How to Apply
BIPOC and trans applicants encouraged to apply. Please submit a cover letter and resume to info @ transbloom.org.