Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Garcia
Maria, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born in Montebello but grew up in a small city outside of Riverside, and I spent my whole life driving up and down the 60 to come and visit family in East LA. I always knew I wanted to help others since I was in middle school, and that led to me pursuing a degree in Sociology with a minor in LGBTQ+ studies at UCLA. I worked at a counseling center for a few years during college where I was able to support individuals in getting therapy and Domestic Violence & Anger Management classes. Once I graduated, I started an Americorps Vista position with Rainbow Labs and began to facilitate and create some of the different programs we have now. We provide sports, art, and leadership mentoring programs to underserved LGBTQIA+ BIPOC youth in Los Angeles, and for the past 3 years I have quickly grown into my current position as Program Manager. Working for a fairly new and small organization has allowed me to delve into each and every aspect that goes into building an organization such as event planning, creating and leading trainings and workshops, community outreach, content and curriculum development, and more. I’m passionate about bringing culturally competent education to underserved and institutionally marginalized communities, and have also had the immense honor of continuing my knowledge and gaining insight from the students that we work with. I also volunteer as a digital archivist for the former group known as GLLU, Gay and Lesbian Latinos Unidos, and assist them in uploading documents and photographs to their online website in order to preserve the history of Latine Queer Elders in Los Angeles. As a queer person who works with queer youth, these memories and lived experiences are vital to our history and to know that we have always been here.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve had mental health struggles since I was in middle school, which is one of the reasons I wanted to help others who have felt the same. Struggling with anxiety and depression feels isolating, but once I was able to find support that worked for me I found some healthier coping mechanisms and created a solid support system I can lean on. I was always a good student growing up, but being a first generation college student at a PWI was a shift that I wasn’t prepared for. There is so much that we aren’t taught whether that be because of the schools we go to or because our families didn’t realize that there were other aspects of hidden curriculum that aren’t explicitly written down for first generation students.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m so proud of the youth council leadership program that I run every year. This program consists of 10-15 Queer & Gender Expansive BIPOC students each year from all over Los Angeles who convene to learn about Financial Literacy, Higher Education, Career Exploration, Social Emotional Wellness, and Queer Community & History. They help give us feedback on programming, and we pay them for their participation and their knowledge. We take monthly field trips around Los Angeles to places like Translatin@ Coalition, The Childrens Hospital Transyouth Center, and we also host various workshops ranging from yoga to mutual aid. I’m always so excited to get to know all of the students each year because they are filled with so much knowledge, creativity and passion! Being able to connect them with mentors individually is very impactful, and we’re so lucky that we have the best mentors that we could ask for. Each year the students are able to have a trusted adult that they can talk to, and see that queer and trans people grow up to live healthy and happy lives. As the new year comes by, there is a lot of anxiety and fear in our community around what is going to happen to our lives and our rights in the next few years. This program is able to show the students that they are not alone, and that there is an abundance of resources and community members that are there for them and rooting for their futures.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
One of my favorite podcasts is the weekly astrology reading from CHANI because it gives me some time and space to reflect and set my intentions for my week. CHANI is also the only app that I actually pay for, it gives some really great journaling prompts, affirmations, and more. I also have to keep some sort of calendar, whether that be physical or virtual in order to keep myself organized and make sure I’m keeping up with work and maintaining a healthy social life. One of my favorite non-fiction books is L.A. Interchanges: A Brown & Queer Archival Memoir by Lydia Otero. It’s an incredible memoir that I recommend to everyone that includes photos, archival documents, and is a great mix of history and personal storytelling. The House in the Cerulean Sea is one of my favorite fiction books, and it explores the theme’s of chosen family, discrimination, and love. It’s a heartwarming story that has me in tears by the end of it.
