ALEXANDER SEWELL, 23
A native of Chicago, Alexander, 23, is a political science major at Roosevelt University, where he once held the position of SGA president. Alexander is previous member of the Chicago Black Gay Men's Caucus, an HIV/AIDS advocacy group closely partnered with the CDPH. In addition, he has volunteered with several political campaigns, supporting Democratic candidates who share his progressive values. Alexander has been involved in voter registration campaigns and advocacy for civil-union legislation in Illinois with the Civil Rights Agenda. Alexander is a 2011 New Leaders Council Fellow; the New Leaders Council aims to train and support the next generation of progressive political entrepreneurs.
Did you know? Alexander's middle name is Casanova.
STEPHEN LEONARD, 26
Stephen, 26, moved to Chicago from Metro Detroit in 2006. He has since grown into an independent singer/songwriter, hockey player and community advocate. He released his debut album, With a Pen, in support of Join the Impact Chicago in 2010 and has also produced and hosted an array of events and fund aisers, including the Mary's Spotlight Variety Showcase; the Love and Let Bea Arthur Bar Crawl; and a year-long, weekly acoustic concert series for LGBTQ and supporting acts at the Wild Pug. When off the stage, Leonard is on the ice with the Chicago Gay Hockey Association. His most memorable experience to date is being involved with organizing the Blackhawks and Stanley Cup's participation in the 2010 Pride Parade.
Did you know? Stephen has performed ( music ) at Steamworks. Also, he will have a song included in the upcoming movie Eating Out: Drama Camp, set to premiere on Logo in July.
ANDREW RIPLINGER, 25
Andrew, 25, is a founding board member and the current executive director of Rafiki Collaborative, a Chicago-based non-profit organization that works to build the capacity of organizations and institutions that promote the health and well-being of communities in Kenya. He is also the international program coordinator for the Adolescent Community Health Research Group at DePaul University. Andrew also sits on the Jr. Board of Directors at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago ( AFC ) , co-chairing its policy and education working group, and is currently training for his third Chicago marathon with AFC's Team to End AIDS. Andrew is currently finishing his master's degree at DePaul in international studies, with a special focus on climate change policy, international development and sustainability.
Did you know? Andrew got malaria on his first trip to Kenya in December 2007—but don't worry, he's okay!
ARLINE WELTY, 29
Arline, 29, co-founded Chicago Books to Women in Prison 10 years ago while thinking about race and politics at the University of Chicago. Today, the bookish queers and prison abolitionists of Books to Women in Prison have sent more than 100,000 paperback books through bars. Arline enjoys literary criticism, Bitch magazine and presidential biographies. She is the communications manager at PortionPac, a local manufacturer of sustainable cleaning concentrates.
Did you know? When she's not reading and writing, Arline is totally monogamous with her Wustof Grand Prix chef's knife.
VIRGIL ROBERSON, 28
Virgil, 28, is a Columbus, Ohio native who is the program outreach coordinator for "Our Voice Advocating Health" ( OVAH! ) , a collaboration between Test Positive Aware Network and Center on Halsted. He has proudly contributed to the world of non-profit since the age of 15, and some of the organizations he has worked with include Church of Open Door, South Side Help Center, Taskforce Prevention and Community, Chicago Black Gay Men's Caucus and New York City's Gay Men's Health Crisis. In his spare time, Virgil walks the runway within the ball scene for the "House of Infiniti" as "Jaylin ( Tallboy ) Infiniti." He also provides condoms as well as STD and HIV literature in his outreach efforts to bars and barber shops on Chicago's South Side.
Did you know? Virgil is the proud gay mother of seven gay children whom he loves dearly.
LULU MARTINEZ, 21
Lulu, 21, is a student at Harold Washington College and is double-majoring in education and Latin American and Latino studies. Lulu is a queer undocumented youth and organizer with the Immigrant Youth Justice League ( IYJL ) . Born in Tlalnepantla, Mexico, Lulu moved to the United States with her family at the age of 3. Before her involvement in the immigrant-rights movement, Lulu focused her time on animal rights and art. She is currently working to combine her passion in the arts and politics.
Did you know? Lulu plans on painting a mural in her bedroom this summer. She is also thinking of moving to Georgia to continue the fight for undocumented youths' right to access post-secondary education.
Did you know? Nathan enjoys spending time with his cocker spaniel, Stella.
ADAM SORKIN
As president of the LGBT student organization at Harvard Law School, Adam, 29, helped organize a national conference on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," as well as the first Democratic primary debate for Massachusetts governor that focused on LGBT issues. He led a protest against military recruiters on Harvard's campus that was covered in the national press, and his research was used in the third edition of the textbook Sexual Orientation and the Law. As an attorney at Schiff Hardin LLP, Adam served on the law firm's LGBT Diversity Committee; created the firm's first LGBT-specific recruitment materials; and persuaded the firm to recruit at an annual LGBT job fair and support LGBT non-profits. Adam currently serves as vice president of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago..
Did you know? Spring, summer and fall, Adam commutes by bike from his home in Andersonville to his office in the Loop.
Meesha Love, 22
Meesha, 22, is a native of Chicago, Illinois raised on the South Side of Chicago. Meesha first begin her work with UCAN's LGBTQ Host Home Program as a founding member of the Advisory Council consisting of youth and adults with an idea to better their community. The LGBTQ Host Home Program at UCAN partners with host volunteers who open their homes to LGBTQ young adults who experience unstable housing ( homelessness ) . Meesha has also represented the Host Home Program at the national level in Washington, D.C., working to create a workplan for a national advisory council of LGBT leaders who meet annually to address LGBT youth homelessness.
Did you know? Meesha works at a nursing home near downtown as an activity assistant for senior citizens, where she enjoys spending time and making them laugh.
WILL LOPEZ, 25
Will, 25, is originally from Florida. He recently graduated cum laude from Chicago-Kent College of Law and will be starting as an associate at Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP this fall. While in law school, Will was president of the school's LGBT law-student organization, the Chicago-Kent Lambdas. As president, Will organized the Chicago-Kent Lambdas LGBT Civil Rights Conference, which brought together more than 200 politicians, lawyers, professors, students and activists from around the Midwest to learn about topics such as Illinois civil unions, transgender rights and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Will is also on the board of the Lesbian & Gay Bar Association of Chicago and has recently published a law review article on same-sex marital parentage.
Did you know? Will has two dogs, Mr. Darcy and Bennet, which are named after characters in Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice.
PETE SUBKOVIAK, 29
Pete, 29, is a policy coordinator at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago ( AFC ) , where he works on several legislative and advocacy healthcare-access initiatives. He plans the annual Illinois HIV/AIDS Lobby Days, coordinates the Illinois Alliance for Sound AIDS Policy ( IL ASAP ) and the Midwest AIDS Policy Alliance ( MAPA ) as well as AFC's online advocacy efforts. He also works on expanding health care access and employment opportunities for the transgender community. His opinion editorials have been featured on the Huffington Post, Savage Love Blog, Bilerco Project, and several other online and print media. Pete sits on Congressman Mike Quigley's Health Care and LGBT Advisory Boards and is part of the leadership of the Citywide LGBT Coalition.
Did you know? A true Wisconsinite, Pete is a cheese-curd connoisseur.
ANTHONY GALLOWAY, 29
Anthony, 29, is an independent public health consultant that specializes in HIV prevention and sexual reproductive health. He has worked with community-based organizations across the country in implementing CDC evidence-based community-level interventions in addition as serving in leadership roles on Pride committees. Currently, Anthony holds posts on the Chicago Black Gay Men's Caucus, and the city and state HIV-prevention planning groups. Just recently he joined the Rocks Coordinating Committee to assist with the coordination of the Montrose Rocks Pride event. Anthony also is the chief creative officer for Art & Soul, a collective performance act for the LGBT community hosted at Circuit Nightclub. In 2004, Anthony was the recipient of the Creating Change award from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
Did you know? Anthony enjoys attending and judging drag pageants.
JUAN CALDERON, 25
Juan, 25, was born and raised in Humboldt Park, the center of Chicago's Puerto Rican community. Juan's experiences with Chicago's Puerto Rican Cultural Center, which date back to his enrollment in the Center's Consuelo Lee Corretjer Daycare, shaped his views regarding the importance of the community building, self-determination and LGBTQ health advocacy. As the youngest director of the project Vida/SIDA, Juean oversees the daily operation of many of
Chicago's Latino prevention interventions, advocacy and LGBTQ
services in Chicago's Near Northwest Side. Three years ago, he initiated
a pageant to address homophobia and transphobia in the community and to create
LGBTQ community ambassadors; now an annual event, this marks one of Calderon's
greatest successes.
Did you know? Juan likes listening to musicians such as Shakira, Pussycat Dolls and Ruben Blades, and enjoys TV shows such as RuPaul's Drag Race and Family Guy.
JAMES HENDERSON, 29
James, 29, was working in the nonprofit world before moving to Chicago more than six years ago. As the training manager at Chicago House and Social Service Agency for the last four years, James has worked on every aspect of building and implementing its social enterprise, Sweet Miss Giving's Bakery. He spends countless hours training and supervising classes of interns who are looking for an opportunity to get back into the workforce.
Did you know? When James is not at Chicago House or Sweet Miss Giving's, you can find him at the gym or preparing meals at home to dull the temptation to eat all the decadent sweets at the bakery. James also loves spending time with his beloved dog.
Continued from www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=32407
