About Me

André is a latinx filmmaker, educator, and community organizer. He founded the Transgender Oral History Project in 2007, and created a traveling multimedia history exhibition in 2009. Director/Producer of I Live for Trans Education, André developed a curriculum alongside four documentary shorts. I Live reached over 20,000 people through online views, installations, community events, and train-the-trainer sessions. After experiencing homelessness as a youth, Andre went on to help launch El Rescate and co-found Project Fierce Chicago, both transitional housing programs for LGBTQ youth. 

He recorded 500 interviews as part of StoryCorps (2012-2015), including 50 broadcasted segments. The Association of Independent Radio named him one of the voices that will change the face of public media in 2015. In 2016, he appeared on NewCity’s 50 influential filmmakers in Chicago and premiered his first docu-series, Been T/Here, in the inaugural season of OpenTV. 

Andre Directed and Produced America in Transition (2019), a Sundance-backed documentary series exploring community, family, and social issues with trans people of color. The series screened at over 100 venues internationally. Perez created a social impact campaign that brought difficult conversations to the South and Midwest coordinating 65+ workshops, presentations, and lectures at colleges, community centers, and art spaces--all lead by trans people of color. He’s now working as Producer on A Run for More and Field Producer for Desire Lines, both feature documentaries about transgender communities. ​​

Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION

• Marlboro College, BA in American Studies, 2006, Concentration in Transgender Film & History ​
• Proyecto Linguistco de Quetzaltenago, Immersive Spanish for Community Organizers (8 weeks), 2018 ​
• Emerging Executive Director's Track, 2014, Creating Change Conference
• Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training, 2012, the Allied Media Conference

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EMPLOYMENT 

America in Transition (2016-current)
Director/ Producer

• Directed Sundance-backed documentary series exploring love, family, and social issues with trans people of color
• Served as the Executive Producer raising funds from more than 10 major granters (including the Arcus Foundation, GLAAD, and the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture), 400 individual donors, 2 online fundraising, and events
• Organized community engagement campaign with 75+ screenings with 65 partner institutions (including MIT, Allied Media Conference, and Creating Change) in 15 states and 4 countries through a National Screening Day, regional screening tours, and monthly events

Make Lore Inc (2015-current)
CEO & Strategic Communications, Fundraising, and Social Impact Consultant

• Freelance filmmaker, Social Impact Producer, and Strategic Communications Consultant
• Runs solo consultancy focusing on strategic communications, fundraising, multimedia production, and social impact producing
• Manages 10+ corporate, non-profit, and university contracts worth up to $75K annually
• ​Researches, drafts, and reviews grant applications, and manage reporting for private and public grants
• Hires, supervises, motivates, develops and evaluates crew of up to 10 contractors per project
• Works with clients including Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, Keeping it LITE, and A Run for More

Trans Lifeline (2015-2017)
Director of Marketing and Communications

• Spearheaded development strategy that increased annual revenue of Trans Lifeline from $125K in 2015 to $1.14M in 2017, including by cultivating 10,000 new individual donors, working with corporate partners (such as Google and Twilio), and developing successful campaign to top out on all eligible Give OUT Day categories for the first time in Trans Lifeline’s history
• Expanded capacity of marketing, communications, and development teams beyond one staff member by recruiting, training, and supervising pro bono volunteers, including two grant writers, and six social media team members
• Worked with executive team to recruit new board members, coached Board through our first Give or Get, and strategized to leverage in-kind gifts
• Established systems for donor and gift record-keeping, acknowledgment, and reporting
• ​Garnered earned media attention from major mainstream news outlets, including the New York Times, Washington Post, TIME, and USA Today

Storycorps (2012-2015)
Community Engagement Specialist

• Forged 100 community partnerships with racially diverse cultural institutions and community organizations to recruit over 4K storytellers
• Collaborated with partners to plan and execute 30+ public events, exhibitions, and installations
• Facilitated 500 conversations including over 50 that were featured on NPR & WBEZ

VIDA/SIDA (2012)
Empowerment Coordinator

• Led a CDC-sponsored peer-to-peer intervention with Latinx men ages 18-24
• Recruited, trained, and managed a team of 12 youth outreach and education specialists
• Planned and executed events and media campaigns offering culturally competent sexual health education

Trans Oral History Project
Founder and National Director

• A community-driven project took many forms including 100 interviews, a self-publishing hub with 400 titles, 5 multimedia installations, 10 skill shares, 3 residencies, and countless workshops
• Engaged in long term strategic planning,
• Established funding base for projects through grants, donor cultivation, online fundraising, and fee for service contracts
• Engaged and assisted collective members to fulfill their fundraising commitments and deepen their comfort and skills in development practices
• Created, maintained and evaluated systems to support leadership development, volunteer accountability, fundraising, content development, and information organization

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) (2010-2011)
Communications Specialist 

• Developed coordinated communications strategy between Local 1’s 14 constituent cities
• ​Revamped website, spearheaded social media presence, and oversaw design, production, and distribution of printed and online media

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INDEPENDENT FILM & MULTIMEDIA PROJECTS
(See samples under My projects and Clients tabs)

A Run for More (current)
Producer, feature-length documentary, strategic planning, grant writing, grassroots fundraising, editorial input, and social impact strategy. 

Vulveeta (Oct 2019)
Sound Recordist, Mocumentary feature, Bay Area, CA. 

Queerdo (Dec 2018)
Sound Recordist, Narrative short, Oakland, CA. 
Paint Me with Vines of Light (2018)
Sound Recordist, Experimental documentary short, Chicago, IL. 

Chinga La Migra: Abolish ICE (Winter 2018)
Cinematographer and Editor, A multi-city grassroots tour and web series. Film was featured in national and local news outlets including Univision, trending hashtag, introduced abolishing ICE to the national conversation. http://bit.ly/ChingaLaMigraEp1 

Been T/Here (2016)
Director, A documentary web series (105 min total) about trans people of color in love commissioned as part of the inaugural season of OpenTV (Now OTV). http://bit.ly/BeenThereTV 

I Live for Trans Education (2013)
Director, Four shorts (40 min total) and a curriculum about social issues. I coordinated a dozen youth summits and train-the trainer sessions with 400+ youth leaders in collaboration with local and national partners including Lambda Legal, IL Safe Schools Alliance, and Creating Change. 

Transformations: A Hidden Chicago Legacy (2012) Director, Commissioned multimedia piece created in collaboration with the Windy City Times Archive and the Chicago History Museum. 

Chain Reaction (2011)
Co-leader, Participatory audio project with homeless LGBTQ youth about policing. We collaborated to develop a curriculum and segment for broadcast on Vocalo. 

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EXHIBITIONS 

• Coming Spring 2020: Group Exhibition, An Oral History of Aunt Charlie’s Lounge, San Francisco, CA, 2019. 
• Group Exhibition, Brown Paper Wrapper, Logan Center for the Arts at University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 2015 
• Group Exhibition, Making Chances: A Retrospective, Gal- lery 400 at University of Illinois Chicago, 2015 
• Highlighted as part of a curated show featuring awardees 
• Solo Exhibition, Community in Transition: 40 Years of Struggle, Marlboro College, Marlboro, VT, 2009 
• Solo Exhibition, Community in Transition: 40 Years of Struggle, Digital Center for Public Humanities at Iowa State University, 2013 
• Solo Exhibition, Community in Transition: 40 Years of Struggle, Drury Gallery at Marlboro College, 2009 
• Solo Exhibition, Community in Transition: 40 Years of Struggle, Translating Identities Conference at University of Vermont in Burlington, VT, 2009 ​
  

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ARTIST’S RESIDENCIES 

• Docs in Progress Artist in Residence (2017) Washington, DC, a two-week paid residency with two public presentations and a community screening. I represented Docs in Progress at American Film Institute Documentary Festival. 
• SWARM Artist’s Residency (2016), Wisconsin, Retreat for Midwest artists encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and experimentation. 
• Trans History Resides Here (2011)
• Gender & Sexuality Center at University of Illinois Chicago, A two-month residency and solo exhibition incorporating populist art, oral history interviews, archival materials, and four interactive workshops. 

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WORKSHOPS FACILITATED

Intersectionality in our Work

• Nov 2018, Swarthmore College, Philadelphia, PA
• Feb 2018, MA Institute of Technology, Boston, MA
• Nov 2017, James Madison University, Harrisburg, VA 

Forging Families the Work for Us

• Nov 2019, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill • April 2017, GLSEN Youth Summit Springfield, MO
• Oct 2017, Marlboro College, Marlboro, VT
• Oct 2017, Green Mountain Crossroads, Brattleboro, VT 

The Visibility Contradiction: Why Are Trans People Dying in An Age of Celebrity

• April 2019, Sanford University, Stanford, CA
• Oct 2017, Translating Identities Conference, Burlington, VT
• Nov 2016, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 

Drone Live Streaming? The Future is here.

• July 2016, SWARM Artist’s Residency, Rural Wisconsin 

I Live for Trans Education Workshops

• Jan 2016, Creating Change, Chicago, IL
• June2015, United Latin@ Pride, Chicago, IL
• Jan 2015, Creating Change, Denver, CO
• June 2015, Allied Media Conference, Detroit, MI
• Oct 2013, History Center of Thompkins County, Ithaca, NY 

Storytelling and Interviewing 101

• June 2015, Chicago History Museum, Chicago, IL 
• Feb 2015, Chicago House, Chicago, IL 
• I Live for Trans Education Train-the-Trainer
• Oct 2014, IL Safe School Alliance, Chicago, IL 
• May 2014, IL Safe School Alliance, Chicago, IL  
• May 2013, Center on Halsted, Chicago, IL 

Oral History For Social Change

• June 2013, Allied Media Conference, Detroit, MI 
• Movement Building and Breaking
• April 2013, Iowa University, Iowa City, IA
• April 2013, Iowa Public Library, Iowa City, IA
• March 2011, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 

Trans Community Story Share

• Nov 2012, Philadelphia Folklore Center, Philadelphia, PA 
• June 2012, Allied Media Conference, Detroit, MI ​

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SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS 
Keynote

• Nov 2016, Trans Day of Remembrance at the Unitarian Universalist Church, Peoria, IL 
• Back To The Future: A Trans Retrospective in Film
• March 2017, GenderReel, Minneapolis, MN 

A Decade of Collecting Trans Histories

• Dec 2019, Marlboro College, Marlboro, VT
• Dec 2019, Sephora, San Francisco, CA
• Nov 2018, James Madison University, Harrisburg, VA
• March 2015, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 

Growing Up Trans in the South

• March 2017, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC
• March 2017, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
• March 2017, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
• April 2017, Loyola University, New Orleans, LA 
• Contemporary Lessons from Transgender History (Panel)
• Jan 2016, Creating Change, Chicago, IL 
• Documenting Community (Panel)
• April 2019, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 

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EVENT ORGANIZING 
Latinx Artist’s Salon
June 2017, Co-organized and spoke on a panel of latinx queer artists about how cultural and sexual identity shape our artistic practices. 

Chicago Home Theater Festival
May 2016, Co-organized and hosted a curated evening of performances from local youth artists. 

Orgullo en Acción presents: Latin@ Pride Picnic 
June 2012, June 2013, June 2014, June 2015, Co-Produced a picnic with performances, food, and vendors for over 200 people

Queering Black Histories with Our Stories
Feb 2015, Produced audio stories and a listening party for 100 with Chicago Urban League and Affinity 

StoryCorps Chicago OutLoud Launch
Sept 2014, Directed short and co-produced a release party with a storytelling and performance showcase. 

Trans People Making Media: A How To Series
Monthly Feb-July 2013, Recruited trans artists to teach community workshops in topics ranging from web design to comic drawing to video production 

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AWARDS & GRANTS 
2020    
California Wellness Fund, Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ), ($200K)
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, CURYJ, ($30K)
Formerly Incarcerated and Convicted Peoples and Families, CURYJ, ($25K)
San Francisco Foundation, CURYJ, ($20K)
Akondi So Love Can Win Rapid Response Fund, CURYJ, ($10K)
Funder’s Collaborative for Youth Organizing, CURYJ, ($2K)
2019    
Trans Justice Funding Project, TOHP, ($5K)
2018    
National Association of Latino Arts and Culture Adan Medrano Legacy Award, AIT, ($10K) 
Trans Justice Funding Project, AIT, ($7K)
2017    
Chicago Digital Media Production Fund through Voqal, AIT, ($10K)
GLAAD Grand Prize Grantee, AIT, ($5K)
Trans Justice Funding Project, AIT, ($5K)
IL Humanities, AIT, ($2.5K)
2016    
Sundance and Arcus Foundation, AIT, ($20K)
Horizons Foundation, Trans LIfeline, ($10K)
Propeller Fund, AIT, ($10K)
Crossroads Seed Fund, TOHP, ($5K)
2015    
Horizons Foundation, Trans Lifeline, ($10K)
Leeway Foundation, TOHP, ($10K)
Valentine Foundation, TOHP, ($10K)
Chicago DCASE Individual Artist Grant, AIT, ($5K)
Crossroads Seed Fund, TOHP, ($5K)
2014    
Valentine Foundation, TOHP, ($10K)
Propeller Fund, TOHP, ($10K)
Crossroads Seed Fund, TOHP, ($5K)
2012    Chicago Digital Media Production Fund by Voqal, TOHP, ($10K)

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ACCOLADES
2020    The 41 List Honoree
2017    Docs in Progress Artist Residency, BritDoc Queer Social Impact Lab
2016    Newcity’s 50 Most Influential Filmmakers in Chicago
2015    Assoc. of Independent Radio New Voices Scholar
2016    SWARM Artist's Residency
2014    Museum of Transgender History and Art Award 
2013    Trans 100 Honoree
2011     Trans History Resides Here, University of Illinois, Chicago

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SCREENINGS
2019

• 12/13, AIT EP1-2, Marlboro College, Marlboro, VT
• 12/05, AIT EP2, Sephora, San Francisco, CA
• 11/18, AIT EP1-2, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• 6/28, AIT Webseries, Queer Root, New Orleans, LA
• 6/12, AIT EP2, KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival
• 6/5, AIT Webseries, Western Mass Recovery Learning Community, Holyoke, MA
• 4/18, AIT EP1-4, Ingersoll Gender Center, Seattle, WA
• 4/15, AIT EP1-4, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
• 4/12, AIT EP1-4, TransFaith, Philadelphia, PA
• 4/12, AIT EP1-4, Keeping it LITE, Chicago, IL
• 4/10, AIT EP1-4, Trans of Color, Urbana, IL
• 3/31, AIT EP1-4, The Center for Sexuality & Gender Diversity, Bakersfield, CA
• 3/31, Where Is My Refuge? AIT EP1, Reel Q Film Festival Opening Night, Pittsburgh, PA
• 3/31, AIT Digital Shorts EP1, Qflix Film Festival Web Series Block, Philadelphia, PA
• 3/31, AIT EP1-4, Spectrum Queer Media at the Oakland LGBT Center, Oakland, CA
• 3/31, AIT EP1-4, Southern Fried Queer Pride, Atlanta, GA
• 3/31, AIT EP1-4, Open Door, Elgin, IL
• 3/31, AIT EP1-4, Riverfront Museum Megascreen, Peoria, IL
• 3/31, AIT EP1-4, TransKentucky and Pride Community Services Organization, Lexington, KY
• 3/31, AIT Webisodes, Louisville Youth Group, Louisville, KY
• 3/31, AIT EP1-4, GLSEN & GLO Center, Springfield, MO
• 3/31, AIT EP1-4, Storycorps, New York City, NY
• 3/31, AIT EP1-4, The Pinhook, Durham, NC
• 3/31, AIT EP1-4, Ministries Beyond Welcome, Winston-Salem, NC
• 3/31, AIT EP1-4, TransPonder, Eugene, OR
• 3/31, AIT EP1-4, Trans Support Group, Galveston, TX
• 3/31, A Family Matter, AIT EP2, Out in Wyoming and PFLAG, Casper, WY      
• 3/29, America in Transition (AIT) Digital Shorts, Ep1-3, Howard Brown Health Center and Powerhouse Church of Chicago, Chicago, IL
• 3/29, AIT Digital Shorts, Oak Park Library, Oak Park, IL
• 3/30, AIT EP1-4, Qulture Collective, Oakland, CA
• 3/30, AIT EP1-4, Pride Center of West New York, Buffalo, NY
• 3/30, A Family Matter, AIT EP2, DC Area Transmasculine Society, Washington DC

2018

• America in Transition (AIT) Digital Shorts, Ep1-3, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL
• AIT Digital Shorts, Ep1-3, HIPS, Washington DC
• AIT Digital Shorts, Ep1-3, California College for the Arts, San Francisco, CA
• AIT Digital Short Ep1, Keeping it LITE, Chicago, IL
• A Family Matter, Ep2, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
• AIT: A Family Matter, AIT Ep2, Birmingham Southern, Birmingham, AL
• A Family Matter, AIT Ep2, University of Wisconsin, Lacrosse, WI
• A Family Matter, AIT Ep 2, Oak Park & River Forest High School, Oak Park, IL
• Been T/Here Season 1, Philadelphia Trans Health Conference, Philadelphia, PA

2017

• AIT Ep 1-3, Outfest Fusion, Los Angeles, CA
• A Family Matter, AIT Ep2, New Fest, New York, NY
• A Family Matter, AIT Ep2, Series Fest, Denver, CO
• A Family Matter, AIT Ep2, Translations, Seattle, WA
• AIT Ep 1-3, GenderReel, Minneapolis, MN
• A Family Matter, AIT Ep2, Palm Springs LGBT Film Festival, Palm Springs, FL
• Called to Serve, AIT Ep3, Premiere, Chicago, IL
• A Family Matter, AIT Ep2, Open TV showcase at the Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago IL
• AIT Ep 1-3, Translating Identities Conference, Burlington, VT
• AIT Ep 1-3, Gallaudet University, Washington, DC
• AIT Ep 1-3, Joliet Junior College, Joliet, IL
• A Family Matter, AIT EP2, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
• AIT Ep2, Portland State University, Portland, OR
• AIT Ep1-2, Common Grounds, Charlottesville, VA
• AIT Ep2, Kenyon College, Gambier, OH
• America in Transition Episodes 1-3, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT

2016

• Been T/Here Season 1, Philadelphia Trans Health Conference, Philadelphia, PA
• AIT Ep 1&2, Official Launch Party, Chicago, IL
• Been T/Here, Open TV Premiere, Chicago, IL
• Learning to Recognize Myself, AIT EP1, Allied Media Conference, Detroit, MI
• Learning to Recognize Myself, AIT EP1, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN