About Us
About Translatinx Network
Translatinx Network has both a local and national focus, with a mission to promote the healthy development of trans people through the delivery of a wide range of information and services. Through promotion, outreach in education, and capacity-building, we encourage and strengthen the creation of safe and productive environments for TGNC+ community members.
How Our Story Began
The driving force behind Translatinx Network is our transfeminist peers and colleagues. Our initiative was born of their collective efforts fighting for Translatinx rights in New York. As community members and providers, we continue to lead the way while remembering: “This is our story, our fight, our identity as Translatina women” – we are a strong team, and we deliver strong results! We are an exceptional team providing everything you need to stay informed and actively engaged with your community.
Leadership Team
Cristina Herrera, CEO & Founder
She/Her/Hers
Cristina founded Translatina Network in 2007, in order to organize and empower the transgender immigrant community through leadership development and education. Cristina was formerly the Transgender Programs Coordinator at the Lesbian, Gay Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (The Center), where she worked in various roles for eleven years. In her final role there prior to moving into a full-time staff leadership at TN, she oversaw the development of workforce development programming specifically designed to meet the needs of the TGNC community. A leader in the field of TGNC services, HIV prevention, advocacy and community organizing for 18 years, Cristina she has served on countless panels, committees and boards, and has been presented with awards and recognitions by NYC DOH, AIDS Institute, New York City Council, the Queens Borough President, and many organizations.
cristina@translatinanetwork.org
917-415-4116
Olive Daddi, Director of Economic Justice
They/Them/Theirs
As the Director of Economic Justice, Olive supports the sustainability and capacity of the organization by working on various data management, grantwriting, and grant reporting projects. They began working at Translatinx Network in 2017, and are glad to have returned after a short break to complete their Master's Degree in Social Work. They are an LMSW in the State of New York, and practice as a trans-affirming therapist outside of their role at TN. Olive considers their coworkers, colleagues, and clients to be their greatest teachers, and is deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue learning with them.
(929) 413-7243
Coordinators
Meilene Belmont, Senior Coordinator for TGNC Services
She/Her/Hers
Meilene provides community outreach, and co-facilitates leadership and support group programming. Originally from Mexico, Meilene came to the United States when she was 14 years old. Back in 2016, Meilene was working as a hairstylist in Brooklyn, where she gained her amazing customer service skills. She began transitioning in 2012 and continues her journey to this day. Meilene’s participation in TN’s TGNC Leadership Space program in 2016 enhanced different soft skills, elevated her resume, and provided the foundational expertise in HIV prevention, contributing to her being hired into her current position on the TN team.
meilene@translatinanetwork.org
(929) 391-7411
Nicole Teyuca, Community Engagement Coordinator
She/Her/Hers
Nicole provides community outreach and co-facilitates support and leadership programming. Originally from Mexico, Nicole came to New York when she was 16, where she started living her life as female a year later. Nicole is a passionate advocate, speaking openly about her experience in the days when there was no place for transgender girls to go to look for help or education, about hormones or any others issues that they were going through. She lived mostly in Spanish neighborhoods like Jackson Heights in Queens, where she and her transgender sisters struggled with discrimination and sexual and physical abuse on the street. Sex work was the main way to survive, since jobs and health education were extremely limited. Nicole’s experience navigating this environment led her to activism: she is particularly passionate about HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment and mental healthcare access, especially in undocumented communities. She began her career in advocacy at 17, volunteering at Spanish community organizations, doing outreach and participating in forums representing the transgender community. During the era of Stop and Frisk, she was arrested several times just for walking in the streets, and responded by volunteering at community organizations that were eventually able to end the discriminatory policy. Nicole enjoys being an advocate and speaks publicly on issues concerning the LGBTQ Spanish-speaking immigrant community.
(929) 413-2717
Simon Chartrand, Workforce Development Coordinator
He/Him/His
Simon is a Workforce Development Coordinator at Translatinx Network. His interests include serving transgender and immigrant communities. He participated in the TGNCNB Leadership Collective, where he learned how to organize within trans, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary organizations. He helped develop trans-focused events and co-facilitated a transgender support group in Queens. He previously taught French language courses at CUNY Hunter and Baruch, where he discovered his passion as an educator and activist. In his free time, he likes to take his puppy to the dog park.
(929) 533-8653
David J. Franco, Coordinator of Community Health Services
He/Him/His
My name is David Franco, and I’m from El Salvador. I moved from my native country due to the homophobia that we have to endure; due to lack of sensitivity of Homophobic people, I suffered a lot of abuse due to my sexual orientation, from strangers and family alike. Thanks to a transgender woman who helped me connect to Translatinx Network, I have graduated from our Outreach Education Program, which is a peer education training program at TN, and now I feel more confident. I have learned that nothing is impossible if one sets out to achieve it, to love myself no matter what they say about me, and to do what my heart dictates in order to help others who are going through the same thing.
david.j@translatinanetwork.org
(929) 842-3999
Ms. Leonard Tyndall, Community Enrichment Coordinator
She/Her/Hers
My name is Ms. Leonard Tyndall, and I am originally Guyana, South America. I was recently trained as a Peer Worker with the NYS Department of Health Aids Institute, and I am a proud graduate of the ARRIVE program at Exponents and the Advanced Leadership Space Program at Translatinx Network.
My background is in HIV/Aids counseling and testing, and I am committed to taking a leadership role amongst my peers and community. I formerly worked as a Peer Outreach Specialist at Bright Point Health, formerly Hudson River, and it is an honor and privilege to now be a part of Translatinx Network's ever growing family.
I would like to give back to my community as a trans activist and an organizer for equality for all LGBTQ+ people, and to end Transphobia.
leonard@translatinanetwork.org
(929) 633-4261
Advisors
Christine Perez, Senior Educator for Health and Telehealth Programming
She/Her/Hers
Christine leads our community outreach in Jackson Heights where she distributes information on HIV Testing, PrEP/PEP, medical services and other community resources, in addition to facilitating leadership development programming at our monthly group in Brooklyn and weekly group in Queens. Originally from El Salvador, Christine has been living in New York for 18 years and began transitioning in 2001. She is a fierce community advocate and enjoys speaking publicly on issues concerning the LGBTQ immigrant community.
christine@translatinanetwork.org
(929) 413-9817
Alma Arias, Peer Health Advisor
She/Her/Hers
Alma is a Peer Health Specialist at Translatinx Network. Born and raised in San Diego, CA, she came to New York City in 2014 where she began her transition in 2016. Since then, Alma has been on an upward journey to claim her gender and Latinx identity, while mobilizing and resisting alongside her community. It was in her hometown of San Diego where Alma also worked in the community of City Heights as a volunteer for Mid-City CAN in their Media Department and the International Rescue Committee as a mentor, guiding and getting refugees and undocumented immigrants equipped for their citizenship exams.
(929) 413-5115
Geraldine Monroy, Peer Health Advisor
She/Her/Hers
I am a transgender woman originally from Mexico. Since I can remember I have always identified as a trans person, and I decided to leave my country due to the culture of transphobia that unfortunately still exists. I immigrated to the US in the winter of 2019 so that I can live according to my gender identity and achieve new goals as a transgender woman.
I am learning to adapt to this new stage of my life, always with the aim of continuing to grow and achieving new goals. I deeply appreciate the opportunities provided by Translatina Network since I arrived in the United States. I have achieved many certificates for different courses that I have taken in Translatinx Network, all related to the empowerment of the TGNC community.
My goals are to continue acquiring more knowledge around my community AND to continue my growth as a person with the vision of providing help to everyone who needs it. I want to demonstrate by example that it's never too late to achieve your dream.
geraldine@translatinanetwork.org
(929) 842-4010
Dennise Camacho, Peer Health Advisor
She/Her/Hers
Hello my name is Dennise Camacho, I'm 33 years old and I'm a trans Latina immigrant from Mexico. I arrived in NYC in 2012 and have been a volunteer and activist in many non-profit organizations since 2013.
I identify as a trans woman and and advocate for sex workers' and human rights, especially in our TGNC communities, because I believe in building a better future for the next generations of TGNC community. I do this work in honor of my mentor Lorena Borjas and the other trans mothers who have dedicated their lives to help others with compassion and courage. They are my inspiration and made me dream of a better life and a better place to live.
dennise@translatinanetwork.org
929-620-8082
Interns
kei anderson, Social Work Intern
She/Her/Hers
Support Staff
Elena Waldman, Administrative Assistant
They/Them/Theirs
Elena Waldman has been fighting the binary since 1964. Born and raised in Queens, their personal, professional, and academic life has been dedicated to dismantling systems of oppression and violence. Elena is also a well-known self defense and Karate instructor, and has collaborated with a diverse spectrum of organizations, from local PTOs to the annual Trans Wellness Conference, from South Asian advocacy groups in Queens, to harm reduction centers in Philadelphia.
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