Insights from Leaders in the Field: Building Belonging for LGBTQ+ Latinx Communities in Alabama 

Pride, Purpose, and Place

Pride Month in 2026 arrives at a moment of profound uncertainty for many LGBTQ+ people and immigrant communities with increased attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, heightened immigration enforcement, and growing strain on the social sector’s ability to meet community needs. Yet in the face of these challenges, many leaders are choosing not to retreat; instead, they are doubling down on creating spaces of care, connection, and belonging. 

At TCC Group, we’ve seen that when communities define their own priorities, and funders invest in organizations that build on those strengths, cultures, and lived experiences, ideas transform into lasting impact. We have watched this principle come to life through our work with Jean Hernandez, Executive Director of the newly established Centro de Acceso para Latinos de Alabama (CALA). Jean began her work at AIDS Alabama, leading a program supporting Latinx people in need of HIV prevention and care services, and helping launch Revolución  Evolución en Alabama de Latine (REAL), created to support LGBTQ+ Latinx communities across the state.  

Through these efforts, Jean and her team witnessed something powerful: people were not simply seeking services, but looking for connections, visibility, leadership opportunities, and a place to belong. What began as a programmatic vision evolved into a larger aspiration to create a dedicated space for LGBTQ+ Latinx communities in Alabama, potentially the first of its kind in the state. This June, CALA will move into its new home.

We recently sat down with Jean to discuss leadership, community-building, and what it means to create lasting infrastructure during a time when so many communities are being asked to do more with less.

TCC Group: You’ve spent years serving LGBTQ+ Latinx communities in Alabama. Looking back, what moments helped you realize that the community needed something more than a program, that it needed its own institution? 

Jean: I’ve been doing this work for 15 years, and one of the biggest things we’ve seen is that people need somewhere they feel understood and can be themselves. When we first started REAL, many people were afraid to participate. They would say, “I don’t want anyone to know I’m here.” We focused on creating a safe space, and over time we saw a transformation. The first Pride event was small. The second was bigger. By the third, people who once wanted to stay invisible were now proudly showing up. It’s not just a building. It’s a movement. We are creating visibility, leadership, and possibility for LGBTQ+ Latinx communities in Alabama. As a Latina, a mother, an ally, and someone who has been given opportunities by this community, I feel a responsibility to pay that forward.  

TCC Group: A few years ago, the idea of a dedicated community center for LGBTQ+ Latinx communities in Alabama may have seemed unlikely to many people. What gave you confidence that this vision was possible, and what did you see happening here that others may have missed? 

Jean: The community told us they needed it. People would say, “Jean, we need a space.” Where they could walk in and be greeted in Spanish, where they felt seen and understood. That’s what was missing. This center is not just for the community; it’s from the community. The staff, volunteers, and participants all have a role in building it. We want people to come in and say, “This is my center.”  

We also see the center as a platform for growth. We want partnerships with medical schools, clinics, and other organizations, to bring services directly to the community and ultimately build toward becoming a community health center. The vision is about creating a lasting infrastructure that supports LGBTQ+ Latinx communities for years to come. 

TCC Group: People often think about community centers as physical spaces. In your experience, what does it mean to build LGBTQ+ Latinx community infrastructure in a state like Alabama? 

Jean: It means saving lives, telling people, “You matter.” For us, community infrastructure is about building familia. Family isn’t always defined by blood. We want people to be visible; on the radio, in the media, and recognized as leaders in their communities.  

One of our goals is to develop LGBTQ+ health navigators and support people in for people to gaining skills, training, and leadership experience. We want to invest in people so they can demonstrate to others that LGBTQ+ individuals are leaders, advocates, and professionals. 

TCC Group: As LGBTQ+ immigrants are navigating multiple layers of uncertainty right now, what feels most urgent for the social sector to understand about how these overlapping pressures are affecting people’s daily lives? 

Jean: This is one of the most important issues facing our community right now. We’ve had LGBTQ+ clients deported, and we’ve had clients denied medication. We have people who are afraid to attend medical appointments or are avoiding services altogether.  They are afraid to seek care, and that has real consequences.  

In Alabama, we often feel like we’re swimming against the current. We continue showing up, meeting with legislators, and advocating, even when we know some people are opposed to LGBTQ+ rights or immigrant rights. What I want decision-makers to understand is that these policies affect real people’s lives. We are already seeing troubling trends, including more people delaying care and increases in HIV diagnoses. Public health is at stake. If we stop investing in these communities now, the consequences will be far greater in the future. 

TCC Group: Over the years, you’ve seen firsthand how investments in community-led work can evolve. What lessons do you think funders and nonprofit leaders can learn from the growth of CALA and the communities that helped build it? 

Jean: The first lesson is that support matters; funding matters, but relationships matter just as much. One of my most meaningful experiences was participating in a leadership cohort with other Latinx leaders. It gave me space to take care of myself and connect with people who understood the challenges we face. 

What has also mattered is the way our funders have invested in relationships. They didn’t just provide funding, they got to know our work and became part of our journey. They celebrated our victories and supported us through challenges. When I wrote my first grant application, I had no idea what I was doing. Having people who believed in us and guided us made a tremendous difference in giving me confidence as a leader and helping me believe that this vision was possible. I also want to acknowledge Kathy Hiers, Executive Director of AIDS Alabama. When I told her I wanted to open a center, she helped me every step of the way. 

TCC Group: You have watched community members move from participants, to peers, to staff and leaders themselves. What have those transformations taught you about what’s possible when people are given the opportunity to belong? 

Jean: Leaders have a responsibility to create opportunities for others. Many of our participants have as much wisdom and knowledge as anyone with years of professional experience. That’s why I prioritize hiring people living with HIV, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with lived immigration experience.  

One of the greatest joys of this work has been watching people grow. Those who once sat quietly in support groups become powerful advocates and leaders. Women in our program recently created their own support group, Somos Nosotras where they share resources and respond to community needs through their lived experience. I’ve also witnessed people rebuilding their lives after facing rejection and discrimination, and seeing them find purpose, leadership opportunities, and meaningful work has been one of the greatest honors of my life.

TCC Group: When you think about LGBTQ+ Latinx communities in Alabama five or ten years from now, what would success look like to you? What do you hope exists that doesn’t exist today? 

Jean: Success would mean having LGBTQ+ case managers, community navigators, social workers, and prevention staff dedicated to serving our community. I want us to expand into rural communities, operate a mobile testing unit for HIV and STI’s, prevention resources, and support services across Alabama. I also hope to build a statewide network and local chapters.  

Beyond the services, I want people to feel proud and visible. I imagine murals, businesses displaying signs that show they are safe spaces, and stronger partnerships with LGBTQ+-owned businesses and community leaders. Most importantly, I want people to know they belong. I want LGBTQ+ immigrants and LGBTQ+ Latinx people to walk into a bakery, a coffee shop, a clinic, or a community center and know they are supported. We’re just getting started. Right now, we’re laying the foundation and building trust. But I truly believe we’re creating something much bigger than a center. We’re building something that will continue growing from community to community, and that gives me a lot of hope.