AZLA Annual Conference
2018 Program Book
Michael Soto: LGBTQ
Presenters:
Michael is an entrepreneur, consultant, and equity and justice scholar. He has worked for more than 20 years in the non-profit, for-profit, and government sectors developing and implementing equitable organizational practices – from operations to fund development to policy development. His professional expertise includes strategic development and planning, marketing and communications, policy analysis and government relations, and political and community organizing. He is a trained educator and facilitator specializing in social justice education, non-profit management strategies, non-violent conflict resolution and mediation, strategic planning, and equitable entrepreneurship.
He attended Arizona State University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Women and Gender Studies and a Master of Science in Justice Studies. His academic work focuses on understanding systemic oppression and working for economic, racial, and gender equity and justice. Additionally, Michael has trained on a wide range of professional skills which he has used to develop a consulting practice for local, regional, and national clients.
Michael is active in his community currently serving on the board of directors for Justice that Works and Poder in Action. He previously served on the boards of Equality Arizona, the Arizona Alliance for Arts Education, Phoenix Pride, Trans Spectrum of Arizona, Generation Equality, Rising Youth Theatre, and the LGBTQ Consortium. He also served on the steering committee for the Human Service Campus, the Arizona HRC Diversity Committee, the AzCA Arts Education committee, the organizing committee for the Arizona Arts Education Census, and as a volunteer for No Mas Muertes, Andre House, and the AzACLU. Michael also served two terms of in AmeriCorps through Public Allies Arizona.
He has taken on the Interim Executive Director position with Equality Arizona to work with the community to develop a statewide policy advocacy and community organizing non-profit that is centered on the needs of LGBTQ Arizonans.