ALEXANDRA CASANOVAS
SHE • HER • HERS
Email: ALEXANDRA@SOMOSFAMILIAVALLE.ORG
Alexandra Casanovas, born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, is a first generation, pansexual, Bolivian- American, woman of color. After joining the GSA at Los Angeles Valley College, she was introduced to community organizing and grassroots activism by Somos Familia as she witnessed her first SFV Pride in Pacoima.
Since then, Alexandra has been part of two SFV pride committees, helped produce community events across the valley, and also served as an LGBTQ+ Youth Mentor. Once receiving her Associates degrees in general and behavioral studies she transferred to CSUN to pursue her bachelor's degree in Health Administration. In the beginning of this year, Alexandra had the opportunity to integrate her grassroots skills in the nonprofit sector while interning with Planned Parenthood. While working for the PPLA Boyle Heights facility she learned more on empowering and educating underserved communities and help provide free to low cost services of preventive care. Entering her senior year at CSUN, Alexandra will be working at the Pride Center as the a student event assistant providing events and services to students who identify with the LGBTQ+ community..
As a woman who acknowledges her privilege, Alexandra is constantly looking for ways to become a better ally for the intersectional identities that there are in the queer community. While learning more about the U.S. healthcare system in her classes, Alexandra immediately noticed the lack of representation of QTPOC and the lack of “cultural competency” with healthcare professionals. She hopes that with her work with Somos Familia Valle she will be able to advocate for more multilingual LGBTQ+ programs and departments at healthcare facilities in the valley that’s accessible for everyone. Alexandra hopes to create the queer representation she only dreamed of having when she was younger in the valley. As a daughter from a conservative Bolivian family, Alexandra understands the importance of education for parents when it comes to family acceptance and she hopes more programs will become available in the valley in the future.
On her free time Alexandra enjoys spending time with her mom and friends, gardening, hiking, volunteering, art, poetry, and trying new foods.
Since then, Alexandra has been part of two SFV pride committees, helped produce community events across the valley, and also served as an LGBTQ+ Youth Mentor. Once receiving her Associates degrees in general and behavioral studies she transferred to CSUN to pursue her bachelor's degree in Health Administration. In the beginning of this year, Alexandra had the opportunity to integrate her grassroots skills in the nonprofit sector while interning with Planned Parenthood. While working for the PPLA Boyle Heights facility she learned more on empowering and educating underserved communities and help provide free to low cost services of preventive care. Entering her senior year at CSUN, Alexandra will be working at the Pride Center as the a student event assistant providing events and services to students who identify with the LGBTQ+ community..
As a woman who acknowledges her privilege, Alexandra is constantly looking for ways to become a better ally for the intersectional identities that there are in the queer community. While learning more about the U.S. healthcare system in her classes, Alexandra immediately noticed the lack of representation of QTPOC and the lack of “cultural competency” with healthcare professionals. She hopes that with her work with Somos Familia Valle she will be able to advocate for more multilingual LGBTQ+ programs and departments at healthcare facilities in the valley that’s accessible for everyone. Alexandra hopes to create the queer representation she only dreamed of having when she was younger in the valley. As a daughter from a conservative Bolivian family, Alexandra understands the importance of education for parents when it comes to family acceptance and she hopes more programs will become available in the valley in the future.
On her free time Alexandra enjoys spending time with her mom and friends, gardening, hiking, volunteering, art, poetry, and trying new foods.