Alondra Alezano (she/ they), is an 18-year-old LA native; she used her painting to explore how her religious upbringing has caused her to feel isolated and judged.  Alondra’s queer identity shapes her work and drives her to find a community that understands and validates her experiences; which has played a vital role in the person she aspires to become. Finally, Alondra hopes to find a queer community at UC Santa Cruz this fall, and become more involved in activism for communities that have been affected by the current political climate. 

Ale  (He/They) is a Trans & Queer, Chicane/Mexican-American, multidisciplinary artist. Born and raised in Boyle Heights, Peguero was drawn to advocacy efforts and since 2015 has cultivated a robust background in community organizing on equitable education and wellness policy and funding efforts across LA and CA. Their commitment to uplifting marginalized voices and the desire to create their own stories moved them to pursue theatre and film spaces like CASA 0101, the Latino Theatre Company, UCLA Latine Film & Theatre Association, and Venice Arts. 

This past year, they were selected as a playwright for Night of Cultura 2025, an annual Spring showcase produced by the student-run UCLA Latine Film and Theatre Association.

He directed his original short play, ¿Qué Será Del Alma?, which explores some challenges of navigating CisHet gendered expectations enforced by women in Mexican families as experienced by people gendered as women. It highlights themes of Marianismo, Mexican Diaspora, Bilingualism, Mother-Daughter relationships, and Found/Chosen Family. 

For the Night of Cultura 2025 showcase, he was also fortunate to collaborate with LFTA members on other short film projects as an actor (A for Effort) and producer (Parallel Park).

Peguero studied at UCLA as a Chicana/o and Central American Studies Major with concentrations in Labor, Law, & Policy Studies and Expressive Arts. They are now pursuing a degree in Theatre Arts. He is currently a 2024-2025 Fellow with Get Lit’s Creative Career Lab. 

As a storyteller, Ale S. Peguero frames narratives of connection and resilience in the face of social issues through an intimate lens. As audiences are welcomed into glimpses of characters’ lives, he draws back the curtain on emotional worlds, interpersonal relationships, and how systems of oppression set the stage. 

Jayohn, known professionally as SirMa’AM, is a young Black queer activist, music artist, songwriter, aspiring producer, and all-around creative force. As an artist, SirMa’AM is driven by a powerful mission: to be signed to a music label and use their platform to shed light on the pressing social issues of our time. Their work is deeply expressive, extending beyond music into film and fashion, where they continue to challenge norms and tell bold, impactful stories. SirMa’AM aims to be a multifaceted, widely respected figure in the industry—celebrated not only for their talent but for their unwavering authenticity and advocacy.

Juniper Ponce (they/them) is a Diné and Xicane, Indigequeer artivist. Based on Tongva, Tataviam and Chumash lands, now known as Westlake, Juniper utilizes photography and videography to highlight their Indigenous heritage, queer identity, and community. Video-graphically, Juniper aims for a genuine, nostalgic, home-video style, while photographically, they capture community, authentic beauty, and identity. 

With REACH LA, Juniper used photography to capture authentic Indigequeer identity, expression, and love. εїз

Mark Anthony Chavez (They/Them/Any) is a non-binary creative artist currently based in Los Angeles working as an advocate for the QTPOC and Unhoused community in LA.

Mark Anthony has been featured in the ‘LA Times’ and ‘Mission Magazine’ for their lived experience as a trans person of color navigating the journey of homelessness. Mark Anthony has used his art and advocacy as a tool to spread awareness and support for her local communities, most notably being recognized by the city of Los Angeles and West Hollywood for their participation in civic leadership.

Mark Anthony is a rising figure in local community advocacy groups and they aim to use each opportunity to further the voices and stories of the marginalized communities that they belong to. Fighting for equality, justice, and humanity, alongside their community, is what inspires and motivates Mark Anthony, and they hope it does the same for you. <3

Mia Rios is a fifteen year old, Mexican-American Visual artist and animator from Boyle Heights, CA. Her art mainly consists of stop motion animation, but she also works in other visual art mediums, such as drawing and painting. Mia’s art is colorful and her animation is mainly action genre focused. She often uses her animations to highlight issues within her community such as gang violence and police brutality. She aspires to continue to build upon her art skills and make longer, more impactful animated content in the future.

Passionate about educating others on mental health disorders such as psychosis, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, Gieneyra draws from personal family experiences to highlight the impact of these conditions. Their life’s mission aspires to touch on the challenges faced by QTPOC individuals, those who have been systemized, and those raised by immigrants in modern American society.

With REACH LA, Gieneyra's journey continues to be deeply influenced by the many non-profit art programs around Los Angeles, which provides a much-needed lifeline. Through the values and diverse communities that art attracts, Gieneyra finds stability, healing, and most importantly fun. Gieneyra continues to explore their passion for animal welfare, sustainability, and mental health using their creativity to tell their story and inspire others.

Gieneyra plans to finish their high-school diploma by 2025. After graduation Gieneyra wants to pursue community college classes related to sculpture, woodwork, welding, sustainability, and physics to further strengthen their skills to create the art pieces they seek to be showcased. They hope their journey to self-actualization brings them financial wealth and housing stability.

Angel is 16 year old-queer-male from Los Angeles. Angel is a natural material artist that uses leaves, sticks and flowers. Angel hopes that people can see his art as something people can connect with either through nature or life experiences that others have experienced. What inspires Angel's work is nature, video games, Bob Ross, and stuff that is happening in real time.

Aja (she/her) is a transdisciplinary artist, researcher, and creative strategist currently based in Los Angeles. Her work charts the unconscious material, dreams, and endless creative potentials of Black, trans, and disabled life and thought in visual art, poetry, and storytelling. She was a fellow with the Center for Story-Based Strategy's fellowship program in 2024 where she wrote the book a World for Us. 

Lizeth is a Mexican American musician from South Los Angeles. They are currently starting UC Davis in the fall as a freshman and studying Anthropology. They are hoping to pursue a future in education or youth mental health services. Their passion for music, art, and social justice drives them to help youth in the future 

In their free time they love hanging out with friends, playing guitar and watching movies or TV shows, Modern Family specifically! 

Santiago (He/him)  is a 24-year-old nonbinary visual artist from Los Angeles, California, attending Cal State LA  as a transfer student, going into his third year. He’s studying art education. In his free time, he likes to do art and read books.

Art has been an excellent way for him to express his feelings, which helps with his mental health. Making art helps me stay calm. He even listens to music while making art, which gets him in the zone and allows him not to worry about anything. He’s been doing art since middle school, which has significantly impacted him. His art projects at school have been an excellent experience for him, allowing him to continue his passion for art. One of his favorite projects is the animations, posters, and zines he created in College.

In 2021, his mental health wasn’t good, and he was experiencing depression and anxiety. Santiago’s therapist helped him find an lgbt center close to his home, which he started attending in 2021 to their social groups and events. Santiago still attends the center. As of today, the staff at the center is like his second family. He goes there every week to hang out. His mental health has been getting better, but there are still some issues to work on. The only time he feels like himself and his mental health is good is when he is out, but when he’s at home, he’s not able to. In his artwork, he will create a zine based on his mental health and experience at the LGBT center, adding colorful colors.

Sherbert is a trans femme advocate in the ballroom Kiki scene, representing the Haus of Anesthesias Beverly Hills. She is also a youth advocate with California Youth Connection. Passionate about her work and committed to changing the child welfare system, Sherbert uses her advocacy to push for a more inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ foster youth. Through her efforts, she has expanded gender-affirming closets and championed initiatives that make the system more welcoming for marginalized youth.

A three-time award-winning advocate recognized by the City of Los Angeles and signed by Mayor Karen Bass, Sherbert is a two-time runway winner in the new category of runway. Her advocacy work has led her to create a vast resource network, which supports her and other youth. Sherbert is also a dedicated resource navigator and mentor, guiding others on their path to success.