COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

OUR STORIES

Interested in becoming involved on the Peoria Proud Board?

We are always looking for new members, and would love to have you!

 

Nicole Livsey is a Social Worker and loving EVERY minute of it!  If you cannot find her at work, Nicole is out walking the dog with her wife of 6 years, cleaning/organizing, or volunteering within a plethora of community agencies around town. Nicole has a passion for volunteering in the community and within Peoria Proud. She is driven to assist someone in need, which is why she feels blessed to be paid to do something I love, helping people. Nicole serves as a Commissioner for the City of Peoria's Fair Employment and Housing Commission. While not from Peoria, Nicole says Peoria feels like home.    

TELL US YOUR STORY:

OR WRITE TO US:



Nathan recently moved to Peoria after completing his B.S. in biology at The Ohio State University  (Go Bucks!!). Here in Peoria, he is working his way through medical school. Nathan loves to involve himself with the LGBTQ community, and currently works as a leader of the medical school's LGBTQ+ Student Alliance. With the belief that promoting social equality for all people directly improves health outcomes, and therefore social justice work is inherently tied to the medical field. Nathan's other passions include lifting weights, running, grabbing drinks with friends, and jamming out to the latest Ariana Grande music.

Reverend Marcus Fogliano, of Peoria, an intersectional community activist, has been active in numerous not-for-profit organizations and groups in Central Illinois. As the founding President of Peoria Proud, they have stayed on at the end of their term to serve as Vice President of Business to support the board in an administrative role. Marcus also serves Vice President of the Central Illinois Chapter of the Interfaith Alliance, and as the Project Manager for the Unitarian Universalist Association's Commission on Institutional Change. They are a member of the Equality Illinois Community Advisory Committee and worked in the past for Equality Illinois and Illinois Safe Schools Alliance as the downstate organizer.

Reverend Fogliano previously has worked on Your Normal LGBT Film Festival committee in Normal, Illinois and was a march captain during the March on Springfield for Marriage Equality, among a long list of other volunteer activities. As a mixed race, “gender-queer” individual Marcus brings all of their identities to the table in the fight for racial, gender, and economic justice. Their faith drives them to work towards a stronger democratic society, that appreciates the inherent worth and dignity of all people.

Josh is a third year medical student at the University of Illinois who came to Peoria a few years from Chicago. After graduating from Loyola, he worked at the Howard Brown Health Clinic, and he is interested in becoming an infectious disease doctor and working with medically under-served communities. In his free time, he enjoys reading things that aren't textbooks, working out, and eating carbs in his bed while watching Netflix. 

Lars Avis recently graduated as an English student at Illinois Central College while residing in Peoria, IL. He is driven to help people and, as a transgender man, is particularly passionate about issues affecting the LGBTQ community. He enjoys writing poetry, performing music, and hiking.

Trevor is well known as Miss Flo NoMo’. When he isn’t using performing as Miss Flo on stage he is working on giving back to the community. By day he works for Neighborhood House of Peoria and by night his running fundraisers for local charities as Miss Flo.

Rev. Josh Lee serves as the Co-Pastor of an Interdenominational Church in Peoria, while also serving as the Vice-President of the Central Ilinois Interfaith Alliance. He graduated from Garrett Theological Seminary with his Masters of Divinity in May 2019 and obtained his Bachelors from Moody Bible Institute in May 2013. Both of these experiences have exposed him to a wide spectrum of theological and social thought. Josh is passionate about bridging the divide between the LGBTQIA+ community and faith communities. He oversees a coalition of affirming faith communities in the greater Peoria area and works with churches in becoming more open and affirming. 

Bio to be posted soon!

Aisha has lived in Peoria most of her life. She currently working toward certification as a doula is passionate about creating a safer healthier maternity experience for mothers. Aisha has been involved with social justice issues since she was a child and believes in equality for all. Aisha has had many years of involvement with the Central Illinois Black Expo and the Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce.