Andrea Montanez is a proud transgender woman Colombian immigrant and a dynamic leader with over a decade of experience working within LGBTQ+ communities nationwide. With a master’s degree in criminal justice, Andrea has dedicated her career to advancing social justice and equity, particularly for transgender individuals. Throughout her professional journey, Andrea has excelled in leadership and management, demonstrating her ability to lead medium to large-scale advocacy and community-center programs effectively. As the Senior Racial Equity, LGBTQ+, and Immigration Organizer at Hope Community Center, Andrea led all programming related to LGBTQ issues, including clinical and behavioral health programming, pride events, and advocacy initiatives. She has been instrumental in raising awareness about the impact of discriminatory legislation targeting transgender and immigrant communities in Florida, advocating tirelessly for policy changes and strategies to repeal harmful laws. Andrea’s commitment to transgender justice extends beyond her professional endeavors. She has actively participated in fellowships and leadership cohorts, including the Human Rights Campaign’s ELEVATE fellowship and the ACTIVATE leadership cohort, aimed at empowering transgender leaders of color. Her involvement in the Next Level Program as a community council member further underscores her dedication to community engagement and advocacy. She is the co-founder of the Queer and Transgender Immigrants (QT Immigrants) Group, a grassroots group focused on support for the queer and transgender immigrant community. She also serves on the boards of numerous community-based organizations across the country, all aimed at serving systematically and structurally excluded populations. In her new role as a Field Organizer at the National LGBTQ Task Force, she aims to leverage her previous experiences in community organizing and advocacy to drive policy and community change. Outside of her professional commitments, Andrea enjoys spending time in nature, whether it’s walking along the beach, hiking in the mountains, or indulging in her favorite hobby of trying different flavors of ice cream, with rum and raisin being a personal favorite.