Alexandra Perez-Garcia

Alex Perez-Garcia is a social impact leader who believes in the power of personal narrative and working together to build capacity and infuse equity in our systems. Previously, as Associate Director of Development and Communications at Disability Lead, Alex grew this nonprofit startup organization through high-quality strategic fundraising, community outreach, and internal and external content management. Previously, Alex was a Program Associate at The Chicago Community Trust. There she managed several projects related to the Trust’s commitment to racial equity, disability inclusion, and strategic growth for diverse populations and disinvested neighborhoods. In her tenure at the Trust, she was integral to the incubation and launch of Disability Lead, the only leadership program in the nation that connects leaders with disabilities with civic engagement opportunities. Alex started at the Trust through the Kimpton Fellows program, formerly the University of Chicago Public Interest Program (UCPIP), a competitive one-year fellowship opportunity for graduates interested in launching their career in the public sector at high-impact organizations. As an inaugural member of The Obama Foundation Community Leadership Corps, Alex founded an online community focused on mental health fueled by young voices of color. In the first month launched, the blog, which featured lived experiences of mental illness, including her own, was read by thousands across the country. Because of her work, she was selected as a featured speaker during the 2018 Obama Foundation Summit. She has served as an Ambassador for the Obama Foundation and Chicago200. She is Co-Chair of the Chicago Foundation for Women’s Young Women’s Giving Council. She also serves on the 2020 Census Disability Complete Count Committee for the City of Chicago. In 2019, she was awarded the Young Alumna Award by her high school alma mater. She is a 2020 Disability Lead Fellow. Alex graduated with honors from UChicago with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Public Policy.