MADISON, Wis. — Strides for inclusion is a goal for many in the LGBTQ+ community.

Lucia Nuñez, is one of those change-makers on the stage of academia. Currently serving as the Vice President for Equity, Inclusion and Community Engagement at Madison College, she represents two communities: being both Latinx and a member of the LGBTQ+ community.  

Nuñez works closely with school systems to provide equal opportunities for the very communities she’s proudly a part of. 

“I’ve taught a lot at different levels,” said Nuñez. “I think the the connector has always been education [and] to change how organizations look at the ‘other’, because there’s always going to be an ‘other’.”

Cuban-born and with an American state of mind, Nuñez advocates for the growing Latinx population in Wisconsin and the high demand for guidance of first generation students entering higher education. 

“[They’re] asking for English as a second language courses,” said Nuñez. “They’re asking for GED [and] other courses, they’re interested in their education, so we’re seeing an increase in the latino community.”

But even working closely with the Latinx community, it’s this very community that at times struggles to accept part of Nuñez identity. She says sexuality, and sexual orientation can be a complicated topic to discuss among the Latinx community. Personally, she has faced struggles of acceptance growing up in a very strict Cuban household. 

“[It’s a] very traditional household, very traditional roles,” said Nuñez. “My dad worked, my mom worked in our household. As a lesbian in this traditional world, at first, you didn’t talk about it, you didn’t say the ‘L’ word.”

Learning from the challenges each identity can surface, she works to create a safer space for both. 

“You know pride month is labeled pride month for a reason,” said Nuñez. “Feel good about who you are, feel pride in who you are, whether you’re Latina, Latinx, whether you’re LGBTQ, feel pride, that’s important.”

Nuñez has been honored as one of Wisconsin’s most impactful LGBTQ+ community members as well as being named the first director of the department of Civil Rights for the City of Madison.