* Rj Robles, M.Div

Rj Robles is a queer and transgender Latinx activist and member of Southerners on New Ground seeking to continue the strong legacy of trans people of color organizing in the South. They hold a BA in Gender & Women Studies and Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago, as well as a Master of Divinity (M.Div) from Vanderbilt Divinity School, where their focus was on the intersections of transgender theology and pastoral care and counseling. From 2016-2018, they served as the coordinator of the Trans Buddy Program, which utilizes trained volunteers to provide emotional support to transgender patients at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. They now work at the YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter as a Bilingual Case Manager helping Latina women survivors of domestic violence. They are also actively in the process of ordained ministry through the Tennessee Disciples of Christ church.