Conversations with Maria Roman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Roman.

Hi Maria, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
If you had told the younger version of me where I would be today, I probably wouldn’t have believed you.

I grew up in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, and my journey has been anything but easy. As a young transgender woman, I experienced homelessness, rejection, and moments when I wasn’t sure what my future would look like. There were times when I was simply trying to survive. But even during those difficult years, I never lost the hope that life could be different—not just for me, but for other transgender people facing the same struggles.

I started by volunteering in my community because I wanted to give back in whatever way I could. I knew what it felt like to need someone to believe in you, so I tried to be that person for others. What began as volunteering eventually became a career dedicated to advocacy, leadership, and community service.

Today, I serve as the Vice President and Chief of Staff at The TransLatin@ Coalition, where I have the privilege of helping lead an organization that serves thousands of transgender, gender-expansive, and intersex people every year. I also serve as a Commissioner for the City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission, where I continue working to create more equitable communities.

My personal journey has been just as meaningful as my professional one. Along the way, I found something I once wasn’t sure would ever be possible—I found love. I am fortunate to be married to my husband, Jason Taylorson, whose love and unwavering support have been a constant source of strength in my life. Over the years, I have also experienced the acceptance and embrace of my family and loved ones. That acceptance has been incredibly healing and has reminded me that family can grow, love can evolve, and hope is always possible.

What means the most to me isn’t the title—it’s knowing that my lived experience allows me to connect with people in a genuine way. I understand what it feels like to be unseen, and I also know how powerful it is when someone opens a door for you. That’s the kind of leader I strive to be.

Looking back, every challenge I faced helped shape the person I am today. My story isn’t just about overcoming adversity—it’s about finding purpose, building community, and discovering that love, acceptance, and belonging are possible. Today, my greatest joy is creating opportunities for others and helping build a future where transgender people can dream bigger than just surviving—they can truly thrive.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

It definitely has not been a smooth road. Like many transgender people, especially transgender women of color, I have faced discrimination, homelessness, poverty, and periods where I questioned whether I would ever have the opportunities that others often take for granted.

There were times when I had to make impossible choices just to survive. I experienced rejection, struggled to find stable employment because of who I was, and often found myself navigating systems that were not built for people like me. There were moments when I felt invisible and wondered if my voice would ever matter.

Even after beginning my career, the challenges didn’t simply disappear. Working in community-based organizations means carrying the stories and trauma of the people we serve while also managing our own. Leadership can sometimes feel lonely, and making difficult decisions that impact staff, programs, and community members comes with a great deal of responsibility. I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about continuing to show up with integrity, compassion, and the willingness to learn.

One of the most meaningful and challenging experiences of my life was becoming a caregiver for my mother, Margarita Young. She was my hero, my greatest supporter, and my best friend. Being able to care for her and be by her side during the final moments of her life was one of the greatest gifts I have ever been given. At the same time, losing her was the deepest pain I have ever experienced. There are no words that can truly express what it feels like to lose your best friend and confidant my mother. Even today their is such a sense of loss that nothing can fill, its a guiet ongoing inner state of grief. I carry her love, her strength, and the lessons she taught me in everything I do. She continues to inspire the way I lead, the way I love, and the way I serve others.

Despite all of these challenges, I have never allowed them to define me. Instead, they have strengthened my resilience and deepened my empathy. Every obstacle has reinforced my belief that everyone deserves dignity, opportunity, and the chance to build the life they dream of.

When I look back, I don’t wish away the difficult chapters because they shaped the leader, advocate, and person I am today. They taught me that resilience isn’t about never falling—it’s about finding the strength to keep getting back up and reaching back to help someone else do the same.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

I have dedicated more than two decades of my life to serving the transgender, gender-expansive, and intersex community. Today, I serve as the Vice President and Chief of Staff at The TransLatin@ Coalition, where I help lead one of the nation’s largest transgender-led organizations. My work spans organizational leadership, strategic planning, program development, operations, workforce development, grant management, policy, and community engagement. Every day, I have the privilege of working alongside an incredible team committed to creating opportunities and improving the lives of our community.

If there is one thing I specialize in, it is building systems that create lasting impact while never losing sight of the human being behind every statistic. I believe that good leadership is about balancing heart with accountability. Whether I’m developing programs, mentoring staff, strengthening organizational culture, or advocating for policy change, I always ask one question: “How will this improve someone’s life?”

Over the years, I have been fortunate to serve in many roles—from volunteer to case manager, program leader, executive, and now commissioner for the City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission. Each experience has taught me something different, but they all share one common purpose: creating spaces where transgender people are seen, valued, and given the opportunity to thrive.

What I am most proud of isn’t a title or an award. It’s watching people grow. It’s seeing someone who once walked through our doors in crisis later become employed, housed, confident, and even a leader themselves. It’s mentoring staff who discover strengths they didn’t know they had and watching organizations become stronger because they chose to invest in people.

I believe what sets me apart is that I lead with lived experience. I know what it feels like to struggle, to be underestimated, and to fight for opportunities that others often take for granted. Because of that, I lead with empathy, authenticity, and high expectations. I believe people can rise when someone believes in them, but I also believe in creating accountability because growth happens when compassion and excellence exist together.

At the end of the day, I don’t want to simply be remembered as an executive. I want to be remembered as someone who opened doors for others, built leaders, strengthened communities, and helped create a world where transgender people are not only accepted but celebrated for who they are.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?

I have always believed that meaningful change happens through collaboration. None of the work I have accomplished has been done alone—it has been the result of incredible partnerships with community members, advocates, organizations, government agencies, and allies who all share a common vision of creating a more equitable world.

If you’re interested in working with me, I’m always open to opportunities that advance the health, wellness, safety, and leadership of transgender, gender-expansive, and intersex communities. Whether it’s developing innovative programs, providing leadership training, speaking at conferences, collaborating on policy and advocacy efforts, mentoring emerging leaders, or partnering on research and community initiatives, I believe our greatest impact comes when we bring different perspectives to the same table.

One of the most meaningful ways to support my work is by supporting the mission of The TransLatin@ Coalition. Community-led organizations are transforming lives every day, but we can’t do it alone. Whether through financial contributions, partnerships, volunteering, or helping amplify our work, every act of support makes a difference. If you would like to contribute to the work we are doing, I invite you to visit The TransLatin@ Coalition’s website at; www.translatinacoalition.org to learn more about our programs, get involved, or make a donation that directly supports transgender, gender-expansive, and intersex people in our communities.

Personally, I also love connecting with people who believe in authentic leadership and lifelong learning. Some of my favorite conversations happen over coffee, where ideas turn into partnerships and partnerships turn into action.

At the end of the day, I don’t believe in building my own legacy—I believe in building our collective legacy. If our values align and our goal is to create a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, then I would be honored to work alongside you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://translatinacoalition.org
• Instagram: @missmariaroman
• Facebook: @mariathemost
• Youtube: @missmariaroman

Image Credits
They are all my pictures