Allying with LGBTQ+ Community Organizations
Julio E. Berroa
Julio E. Berroa (BER ROH-uh) (He, They, Xe) was born in Salcedo (s-aa-l-s-EH-d-oh), Dominican Republic, and a Providence resident since 2012. Berroa earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Digital Media Curriculum and a minor in Photography. His passions include the Arts, Sex and HIV Education, and Youth Advocacy. All of this drives him to share his experiences through Art to help advocate for young aspiring artists of color. He hopes to inspire and influence his viewers.
Known for his multi-faceted approach to the field of art and design which weaves both the analog and digital, artist Julio E. Berroa is often creating hyperreal and immersive scenes of intense experiences using vivid colors and organic shapes and textures depicting very intimate moments. Berroa was an Andrew W. Mellon intern in Creative Production at the RISD Museum in the summer of 2020 and 2021 Rhode Island College Senior Art Award Recipient.
In 2021 Berroa along with a group of friends opened Rhode Island’s first-ever youth shelter for Queer and BIPOC young adults ages 18 to 24 called Haus of Codec.
Kathy Shatraw
Job title or function
Kathy is a graduate of Salve Regina College with a Bachelor degree in Social work. She has over 35 years of experience working with older adults having served in roles such as: Director of Social Services in a local nursing home, working as an Administrator in both nursing homes and assisted living facilities and as Community Outreach Manager for a local Visiting Nurse service.
She is presently the Aldersbridge Navigator which is a community based role designed to assist older adults in their homes linking them up with the necessary resource and/or services to help them remain in their home for as long as possible as safely as possible. As her clients age in place she is also able to guide them with their transition to an assisted living or nursing home.
She is presently the Co-President for the East Providence/ Seekonk Rotary Club.
Anthony Taubman, LCSW
Job title or function
Andy Taubman (pronouns flexible, mostly use she/they) is an LCSW and Director of Youth Services at Youth Pride Inc in Providence RI. Andy provides affirming, safe and celebratory care for LGBTQIA2s+ youth as is a genderqueer, queer community member.
Mikel Wadewitz
Job title or function
Mikel Wadewitz (he/him) is currently the director of partnerships for Project Weber/RENEW, a nonprofit peer-led harm reduction and recovery support organization based in Providence. He has worked across multiple sectors in marketing, communications, and nonprofit management, including as director of AIDS Project Rhode Island and director of communications for APLA Health, a federally qualified health center in Los Angeles with a focus on care for low-income LGBTQ+ individuals. He has been active in advocating for healthcare access and equity for the LGBTQ+ community and also currently serves on the advisory panel for the RI LGBTQ+ Community Archive at the Providence Public Library.
Red McSwiggan Hampson
Job title or function
Red Mcswiggan - I have been supporting and growing Women's football for over 20 years. I joined the PVDGFFL board in 2022, and together we created a new Women's+ division.
The Providence Gay Flag Football League (PVDGFFL) is committed to delivering a welcoming and inclusive sports environment, giving back to the community through educational, outreach, volunteer, and community service activities. Through flag football, we foster an environment where LGBTQIA+ people can participate in a competitive and friendly team sport, be social, feel safe, and develop a support system, amongst LGBTQIA+ and allied teammates.
Through our LGBTQIA+ diversity, we have brought together community members that might never have crossed paths and created a strong family.
Lauren Nocera, MSW MPH
Job title or function
Chief Health Program Evaluator Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services