OUR TEAM
Lermxn Montoya (They/Them) is a first-generation Chicanx migration activist and scholar. They have a Master’s degree in Global Affairs from New York University. Their work lies at the intersection of community organizing, storytelling, peacebuilding, and advocacy for migrant and LGBTQ+ communities. Growing up in Arizona, Lermxn became involved in the migrant rights movement and began using storytelling to bring visibility to Latinx, migrant, and LGBTQ+ communities. Previously, Lermxn worked as a multimedia journalist covering migration and social justice along the Borderland regions of Mexico, has worked as a digital outreach consultant with the Centro de los Derechos del Migrante in Mexico City, and was the previous Director of Digital Media and Marketing at Ybarra Maldonado Law Group, an immigration law firm with roots in migrant rights community organizing. Prior to joining QDEP in 2023, Lermxn worked at the NYU LGBTQ+ Center where they co-facilitated a queer leadership development program and co-created QTPOC programming to interrogate structures of power and center queer liberation and joy. Lermxn enjoys theorizing with friends, long walks in the park, and karaoke.
Van Xelo (she/her/they/them) is a born and raised New Yorker who is passionate about social and environmental justice. They approach their radical and abolitionist work through a decolonial queer femme persepective. She received their BA in Urban Studies with a minor in Culture in Media from The New School. They are currently continuing their studies at the New School as she works on her MS in Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management there. Van joined QDEP in February 2022 as an Organizer to help continue on coalition and partnership building with other organizations as well as strengthening and expanding the membership base. During their free time, you can find Van knitting bags, walking her dog, drinking lots of coffee, and spending their time with the people she loves.
QDEP BOARD
Marika Dias is a public interest attorney who has worked in civil legal services since 2001, in a range of legal service and community organizations in Melbourne, Australia and New York City. Marika’s work has focused on providing legal services that support community organizing efforts and grassroots organizing groups, in particular in struggles around housing, immigrant rights, and LGBTQ rights. Marika is currently the Managing Director of the Urban Justice Center’s Safety Net Project, which focuses on eviction defense and tenant rights, homelessness, and public benefits advocacy. Marika is also a member of the Steering Committee of the Right to Counsel NYC Coalition, providing legal support to a variety of housing and anti-evictions campaigns. Previously, Marika was the Director of the Tenant Rights Coalition at Legal Services NYC and prior to that, the Managing Attorney at Make the Road New York. Marika is also a movement lawyering trainer, including with the Movement Law Lab trainers collective and The Shriver Center. Marika has been active QDEP board member since 2017.
Garifuna, Honduran, trans and Afro-feminist. She lives in New York since 2015 after having fled from racism, homophobia and transphobia in her country. In the last 3 years she has dedicated herself to organizing and representing the black community, LGBTQ +, and femininity, for this she has been part of marches, protests, webinars and any activity that leads us to the abolition of the repressive system that currently directs us. Her personal phrase is “I have a dream, a dream that ends our gender, and sexuality is free to be lived.” She firmly believes that abolition must be led by women, by black women.
Edinson Calderon is a cis-gender gay man from Venezuela. Because of the terrible conditions in his country, he had to flee, so he arrived at the United States/Mexico border asking for asylum. Immediately he was sent to a detention center in California, where he was incarcerated for more than three months. During that time he learnt of the terrible conditions that people who come to the U.S. to seek help and support face inside of detention. He then called the Queer Detaineé Empowerment Project (QDEP). This organization supported him through his asylum process. When he got asylum, they helped him come to New York City. For him, this organization is his chosen family. He works with them as a volunteer, helping the LGBTQIA+ and HIV+ community members who are inside of detention centers and in their immigration process.
Samah Sisay organizes with Survived and Punished New York; a prison industrial complex (PIC) abolition coalition working to end the criminalization of all survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Samah is also a lawyer and Bertha Justice Fellow at the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), where she specializes in challenging inhumane immigration policies and abusive police practices. Prior to coming to CCR, Samah worked as an Equal Justice Works Fellow at African Services Committee where she provided legal representation on immigration matters to criminalized Black immigrants impacted by gender violence. Samah was born in Liberia and immigrated to the United States with her family at a young age during the country’s civil war and is a first generation college graduate. Samah earned a B.A. in International Affairs at the George Washington University and her law degree from New York University School of Law.
Olando Marlon Charles is a social justice and equality advocate. Currently, he works as the CHOW Institute coordinator at the Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC) United, an organization that fights to improve the lives of millions of workers in the restaurant industry. Olando is a member of the board of three organizations: O’Brien Dennis Initiative for Male Survivors of Sexual Violence, where he advocates and supports victims of sexual violence; Queer Detainee Empowerment Project, an organization that helps LGBTQ immigrants; and The Men of Faith, an organization that supports gay men of faith and fights to break down the barriers of religion and sexuality. Olando is currently pursuing a certificate program in theology at The New York Theological Seminary. He is also pursuing his bachelor’s degree in labor and urban studies at CUNY School of Labor and Urban studies. In 2021 Olando was one of the recipients for the 40 under 40 NYC and State Labor Rising star award. Olando advocates for mental health and equality. He is currently writing his first book, “Black Gay and Christian: A young Man Life of Faith and Acceptance.”
JJ (ze/zir/they/them) was born and raised in Bridgetown, Barbados. JJ fled Barbados at the age of 16 in 2006 to escape the torture and persecution of LGBTQIA+ community members. JJ previously held roles such as the Economic Empowerment Specialist with the New York City Anti-Violence Project, The New York City Chapter Lead Organizer and Research Hub Leader with the Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project (BLMP), Deputy Director at Black & Beyond The Binary Collective. Currently they are the Direct Service to Organizing Director at Unite Oregon and Founder of Cosmic Pollinators Wellness Collective.
Over the past decade, JJ has been an innovative leader in HIV Prevention & Treatment fight, migrant rights, economic empowerment, and mental health access specifically for black LGBTQIA+ Migrants. In February 2021, JJ co-created the Cosmic Pollination Wellness Collective which aims to cultivate the mental health and resilience of social change-makers working actively to eliminate systems of racial and gender oppression across social movements. CPWC works to funnel direct healing and economic support to changemakers who serve as conduits of knowledge and resources in their communities and support their healing goals.
During their spare time, JJ enjoys hiking, plant walks, tending to their plant babies, cooking, baking, among many others.