LGBTQ+ Advisory Board

CITY OF MIAMI'S HRC MEI SCORE IS 100

Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer (LGBTQ+) Advisory Board 

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The mission of the City of Miami’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Board is to serve as a vehicle for systematic and periodic assessment and to advise the City of Miami commission for the betterment of quality life of all LGBTQ+ residents and visitors to the City of Miami with mindful care for providing a voice and platform for underrepresented individuals and communities.

 

Accelerating Change Together Logo

Accelerate Change Together is an initiative focused on addressing health inequity in the City of Miami LGBTQIA+ community and supported by The City of Miami, Urban Health Partnerships and the CDC. The goal is to strengthen the community’s capacity to collaboratively plan and collectively carry out strategies to close the Social Determinants of the Health equity gap, thereby improving the health of the LGBTQIA+ community.

ACT Executive Summary(PDF, 963KB)

 

City of Miami LGBTQIA+ Accelerator Plan(PDF, 933KB)

 

 

 

The LGBTQ Advisory Board was voted on and created through an Ordinance by the City of Miami Mayor and Commissioners on February 13, 2020. The full Ordinance is available here.   The LGBTQ+ Advisory Board currently:

·       Serves as a vehicle for systematic and periodic assessment of the quality of life of LGBTQ residents and visitors to the City

·       Fosters mutual understanding, tolerance, and respect for the LGBTQ community in the City

·       Cooperates in the development of educational programs dedicated to the improvement of the lives of LGBTQ residents and visitors by eliciting support from public and private entities engaged in the inculcation of ideals of tolerance, mutual respect and understanding for the LGBTQ community

·       Makes recommendations to the City Commission with respect to all issues affecting or relating to the LGBTQ community

·       Recommends solutions to the social, economic, cultural and political problems in the LGBTQ community, as well as to serve as liaison between the LGBTQ community and the City community at large

·       Encourages and attracts LGBTQ businesses to the City, to assist LGBTQ businesses located in the City, and promotes economic development, especially job creation in the City

·       Promotes positive images and concepts of the LGBTQ community as well as promote their many contributions to our society

·       Conducts studies through fact-finding and analysis of problems encountered by the LGBTQ community

·       Examines and recommends revisions in Miami policies and procedures having potentially negative consequences for LGBTQ individuals

·       Serves as a forum to which individuals and groups can express concerns related to issues of homophobia and transphobia

·       Strengthens ties with the larger Miami community

·       Conducts outreach to other entities and the community, including but not limited to the City's LGBTQ community

·       Performs other duties as may from time to time be assigned to it by the City Commission

CHAIR OF THE BOARD:

Ariel Trueba

Ariel Trueba - Chief Executive Officer, Trueba Consulting

Appointed by District 4
consulting@arieltrueba.com

Ariel Trueba is a passionate community advocate with a strong background in governmental affairs and public service. He serves as the Chief Executive Officer & Founder of Trueba Consulting while also assisting with community outreach efforts at Urban Health Partnerships. Ariel was born and raised in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami, and he is a proud graduate of Florida State University where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Business Management with an Emergency Management Certificate. 

His experience includes working with Mayor Francis X. Suarez and the Department of Human Services & Economic Initiatives. Ariel's community service endeavors include serving as the Chairman of the Miami Dade County LGBTQ+ Advisory Board while most recently becoming an alumnus of Leadership Miami Class 45 of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. He is also an active member of the American Association of Political Consultants and the National Emergency Management Association.

 

VICE-CHAIR OF THE BOARD:

Vacant

 

BOARD MEMBERS:

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Nicole Alvarez - Law Offices of Nicole Alvarez PA
Appointed by Mayor Francis Suarez
Alvarez@nicolealvarezpa.com

As a lifelong Miami, Florida resident, Nicole Alvarez has been an attorney for over 17 years . She received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of South Florida and then went on to graduate from Stetson University’s College of Law in 2005. She immediately went on to be a prosecutor for the Broward State Attorney’s Office where she tried over 50 jury trials in the first chair with numerous misdemeanors, differing degrees of felonies and also capital sex battery cases. In the last three years with that office, she was a sex crimes prosecutor.

Nicole then moved on to a private practice.  After ten years of practicing law and confident with her experience as an attorney, Nicole decided to open her very own practice which specializes in criminal defense, family and immigration. With all her expertise in legal matters she believed in running a practice with the right values for any type of legal representation. Outside of her career, Nicole enjoys giving back to the community and helping others.  She is the Co-Chair of the Gay and Lesbian Lawyers Association as well as on the executive board of Miami Beach Gay Pride and the board of the City of Miami LGBTQ Advisory Board.

 

Erika Goitezolo
Appointed by District 1
eka1972@hotmail.com

 

Grace Lopez
Appointed by District 5
grace@womenforpaws.org

 

VACANCIES

District 2

District 3

At-Large

 

 

CITY OF MIAMI POLICE DEPARTMENT LGBTQ+ LIAISON

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Officer Vanessa Gonzalez - LGBTQ+ Liaison Officer (Citywide)
42874@miami-police.org

Officer Vanessa Gonzalez has been with the City of Miami for 6.5 years. She is the first full-time LGBTQ+ Liaison Officer for the City of Miami Police Department. Her goal is to break barriers and rebuild trust within the LGBTQ+ Community through trainings and education. Officer Gonzalez is also the Vice Chair for South Florida Law Enforcement LGBTQ+ Coalition as a representation for the Miami Police Department.

When not at work she is happily married to her lovely wife Lisa.  She is also a proud mother to her three teenagers: Oliver, Anthony and Kailyn. With the continued support from the City of Miami, she feels she is able to accomplish her goals to help all residents, visitors and business owners feel safe to live, play and work in our communities.

 

CITY OF MIAMI LGBTQ+ ADVISORY BOARD LIAISON

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Michael Roman - Community Partnerships Manager
Department of Human Services
305.416.1618
mroman@miamigov.com

Michael Roman plays an important role in managing projects and creating strategies that have resulted in innovative approaches to community development projects that promote social change and healthier neighborhoods. Currently, Michael’s work involves overseeing various departmental programs and initiatives.   Actively working with community-based organizations, companies, boards, committees, and residents, he builds relationships that are essential to change. Michael previously managed Live Healthy Little Havana, a $3.7 million collective impact, results-based community initiative addressing health disparities and social determinants of health while empowering residents to advocate for a healthier and thriving community. He is also a Maven Leadership Collective Alumni and Coach. Maven Leadership Collective is an organization that invests in creative social impact leaders who are queer and trans people of color and allies. 

Michael was born and raised in the City of Miami, and he has a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications from Florida International University. He has worked in full-service communications agencies specializing in various aspects of public health, business development, and community engagement. Also, he has worked directly with principal executives while supporting the overall needs and goals of each organization. Michael’s experience in various markets and cross-marketing clients ensure maximum organization power and success.

Michael currently lives with his partner Jeff, four dogs and kinkajou.  He loves to dine out locally and travel as often as possible.

 

ASSIGNED CITY ATTORNEY

Bryan Capdevila - Senior Assistant City Attorney
bcapdevila@miamigov.com

To access the Calendar, please click the link below.  Under Group, choose "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) Advisory Board. 

http://miamifl.iqm2.com/Citizens/calendar.aspx

 

The board meets every Second Tuesday of the month.

NO MEETING IN AUGUST

 

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Municipal Equality Index (MEI) is a nationwide evaluation that examines how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are of LGBTQ+ people who live and work there. Cities are rated based on non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality. The City of Miami's score is 100!

HRC MEI Score for Miami