Welcome to “Ten Questions With”…an ongoing series of posts let us get to know the unique, creative, and energetic folks who drive Miami’s nonprofit sector. In other words…all of us. And stay tuned, because we’re building out a new feature of the PhilanthropyMiami website that will let you upload your own answers to Ten Questions With.

Miami is special because…

Miami is special because it is multicultural. Few places in the United States of America have this type of special vibe. We are so lucky to live in this kind of environment which pushes us to learn about the needs of others and to appreciate the beauty of other cultures. That includes some rather good food too!  

What does our nonprofit community need to be at our best?

To be at our best, our nonprofit community must thrive rather than just survive. Nonprofits are created to fill a void or a need in service to the community. If nonprofits are spending most of their time and energy on keeping their doors open in pursuit of resources more than they are focused on mission-centered programs, then there is a disbalance that needs to be resolved.   

What is the biggest thing you are working on right now?

The biggest thing that I am working on right now is figuring out a way to turn the tide on discrimination against LGBTQ people. Our prejudice reduction program provides us with groundbreaking tools and technology that have been scientifically proven to shift negative and biased attitudes of people toward the LGBTQ community namely focusing on transgender people who have experienced an increase in bias and discrimination.  

What are you reading?

Right now, I’m reading three books including A Promised Land by Barak Obama, I Came As a Shadow: An Autobiography by Coach John Thompson, and Gay Bar: Why We Went Out

by Jeremy Atherton Lin. Memoirs like those of former President Barak Obama and Coach Thompson provides an opportunity to look back, appreciate the experience of two people that significantly changed the narrative of the Black and African American experience in the US, and reflect on what more we can do for the betterment of our BIPOC siblings. The other book is a fun read that makes me miss being in my 20s-30s when gay bars were wonderful gathering spots that quickly started to disappear in our modern world.  

Where is the one place in the world you are dying to go?

I am dying to go to Paris. Somehow, I have managed to travel extensively throughout the US and parts of the world without ever making a stop in one of the most visited places. I am most curious about art, culture, food, and the people. 

Who inspires you?

Kids, younger people, and younger queer kids are inspirations. On one hand, I am in awe of the world in which younger people live in today. Their norms and cultural environments are different from the one I grew up in which was less accepting than the one they are growing in today. Spending an afternoon talking to kids about what matters most to them lets me hear firsthand what matters most – and they are focused on the environment, a world without gun violence, and have fewer concerns about creating divisions based on gender identity. 

If you could invite any five people, dead or alive, to dinner, who would they be?

I am overly prepared to answer this question. I keep a running list stored on my phone of the people that I would invite to dinner. While this answer may change daily, today I will go with Dan Savage, José Andrés, Janet Mock, Yamiche Alcindor, and Ashton Mota.

Dan Savage is an author, “Savage Love” advice columnist, podcaster, pundit, and public speaker. He’s also the founder of the It Gets Better Project.

José Andrés who aside from being a great chef, restaurateur, and founder of the World Central Kitchen, a non-profit devoted to providing meals in the wake of natural disasters and crises. 

Janet Mock is a transgender rights advocate. With her work on Pose, she became the first transgender woman of color to write and direct a TV episode. 

Yamiche Alcindor who was born in Miami and is an American journalist, host of Washington Week, White House correspondent for the PBS NewsHour, and a political contributor to NBC News and MSNBC mainly focused on reporting on politics and social issues.

Ashton Mota, became an advocate for LGBTQ+ people of color at 15, as the public face for Massachusetts’ “Yes on 3” campaign, which aimed to uphold a state law that provided protections for transgender people. He is a Black and Latino trans teen who attended an elite private high school, where he fought for the right to use his preferred name and play on the boys’ basketball team.

When you are not working you are…

Spending time with friends, family, and my 14-month Weimaraner, Oliver. When I’m not working, I’m grabbing a bite to eat with friends and family and making sure we take time to catch up and check in on how things are going and on how we can help one another. Oliver walks me and licks my face.

A night on the town is…

A night on the town must include good company, food, wine, LIVE music, or performing art. Those are essentials. 

What advice would you give your younger self?

The advice I would give my younger self would be to encourage Orlandito to save for retirement. I started saving at age 35. While I am fortunate to have done that, I still think that I should have made a more concentrated effort at a younger age. 

Orlando Gonzales (he, el, they) is the Executive Director at SAVE Inc. / SAVE Foundation.