REX
Rex Wilde (they/them) is an award-winning nonbinary LGBTQ+ speaker, educator, and business consultant. In March 2019, Rex produced the Transcend Career Fair, the largest transgender career fair in the world. This event, featuring over 75 businesses and 500 transgender & gender diverse participants, received national media coverage from CBS, NBC, and Telemundo.
Originally from Southern California, Rex graduated with honors in Sociology from Chapman University in 2011 and quickly advanced to become a leader in the LGBTQ+ community. From running local and national campaigns for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to creating a prominent workforce development program for the transgender and gender expansive (TGX+) community in Los Angeles as the inaugural Director of Programs at TransCanWork, Rex's work centers the joy & economic empowerment of TGX+ communities.
Since then, Rex has worked as a TGX+ equity consultant, working with organizations across the US on creating systemic change for transgender and gender-expansive communities. With over a decade of experience in facilitation and organizational change, Rex's approach to intersectional inclusion of TGX+ folks has been renowned by organizations including Spectrum/Charter, ADP, and The Getty Institute.
Rex is the standing Co-Chair of the TGX+ Initiative for the National LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) and sits on the Advisory Board of the QTGX Initiative for the Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce (LAGLCC).
Learn more about the work they are doing at www.rexwilde.com.
Liv Brazill is a Los Angeles based musician and actor. She frequently plays local venues as well as tours under her music pseudonym Roxy Green. When she’s not working on personal projects she’s working with students on the spectrum in developing their creative pursuits with Spectrum Laboratories and The Ed Asner Family Center.
Visit her Bandcamp
Garth Herber
Spectrum Laboratory
Co-founder & Head of Music Programs
Garth has been active as both a musician and educator for over ten years. In 2006 he received his Bachelor's degree in Music Composition from Cal State University Northridge. From 2010 - 2012 he was signed as a recording artist with Frenchkiss Records, along with his bandmates (Races). His touring experience and recording credits as a musician, producer, and composer/arranger have included work with many acts (The Janks, Races, The Shivers, Kaely Yuchno).
He has also worked on several television and film projects as a composer (Ordained, Fallen Idols, Sesame Street, Special Olympics, Boys Don't Wear Dresses). He has served as a music instructor at Bridges Academy, a school for 2e students on the autism spectrum; The Miracle Project as music director and composer; and CSUN's Teenage Drama Workshop as composer and music director: The Lex Theatre Company as music director and composer. While working at Bridges Academy, CSUN and The Miracle Project, Garth encountered neurodiversity among many wonderful young artists.
The laughter, creativity, and growth he shared with them moved him toward the role of music mentor and producer. He started Spec Labs with Jason so these vital, unique, and authentic voices can find a place in the entertainment industry and inspire the world!
Past Productions for Neurodivergent Artists:
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/sparrowdena/anime
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ann-postlewaite/1480796898
https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-need-your-eyes-on-me-single/1648523137
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/spencergriffin/mackenzie
https://www.symphonicms.com/album/view/id/4a06a12c0887627971be65721ea990b0
Katy Corbus (she/her) is a queer actor, musician, dancer, and teaching artist. She was raised by two moms in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she discovered a love of theatre and music early; she began performing with local community and professional companies and studying dance and voice at age seven and never left.
After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Emerson College with a BFA in Musical Theatre, Katy spent five years living and working in New York City. In that time she toured nationally twice (42nd Street, A Garfield Christmas), worked at regional houses across the country (Tuacahn Amphitheatre, Playhouse Stage Co.), and taught throughout the city for Mark Morris Dance Group's Adaptive Dance programming. She is also proud teaching artist with DreamStreet NYC, a Brooklyn-based non-profit theatre company for artists with developmental disabilities.
Now building roots and community back on the west coast, Katy seeks to continue expanding her focus into social work and blending art with activism and advocacy. She intends to always find avenues for teaching, learning, and working to broaden the accessibility and inclusivity of artistic opportunities for everyone.
Founder
Hi I'm Lillian Carrier. Super excited to be working with you in making sure you are comfortable and happy in this environment. I'm Autistic myself. You may also want to know about my credentials. I am one of the founders of the nonprofit OurTism that supports autistic adults. I designed most of the programs along with my sister and we work very hard in making sure the space is always accommodating our clients needs. I'm best known as Drea on the show Everything's Gonna Be Okay. I've also done lots of consulting work with making film sets accessible and accommodating to autistic individuals. I am hopeful that I can do the same in this space for you!
Sydney Rogers aka Miss Barbie-Q (she/her)
Moderator/Multi-Disciplined Drag Artist /Cultural Curator/Activist/Advocate/Cultural Competency Consultant
Sydney has been in the entertainment and activist field for over 25 years. She identifies as a Black Trans Femme, bringing more visibility and healing to the TGI (Trans, Gender Diverse, Intersex) community through artivism.
She currently holds positions: Program Manager of the Trans Economic Empowerment Project and Equity Manager of Community Programs at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, Director of the TG/Enby Project, and Founder of Infinite Souls Consultations and Big Mama Story Time. She strongly believes in being trauma-informed and advocates for mental health healing, empowerment, and social justice for all, particularly in the BIPOC TGI communities.
She received the 2023 Williams Insititute/Trans Latina Coalition UniTy Community Leadership Award. She has performed in many theatre performances, international film projects, music videos (Including Lady Gaga), and global social justice campaigns. She has sat on and moderated many panels and discussions with organizations such as the Los Angeles LBGT Center, ONE Institute, LMU, Pomona College, Equality California, and Trauma-Informed LA. She is recently graduated from Simmons University with her Masters in Social Work.
She is a published author of academic books and has been featured in the LA Times, NY Times, and Body.com. She is a storyteller, a playwright, a host, and many things. She has been featured in the podcasts: City Heart Radio, Slut, F*CK YEAH, Delta Work, and Jay Jayro. She recently performed at the Broad, LACMA, and MOCA and has hosted events like Queer Food Fest, The Trans Wellness Center Gala, West Hollywood Halloween, Santa Monica Pride, and her sixth time hosting the AIDS LifeCycle Finishing Line Festival.
Website: MissBarbieQ.com
Twitter/Instagram: @MissBarbieQLA
Alisha grew up in central florida immersed in choir and dance. she went on to study classical vocal performance and music technology at the University of Central Florida. Her interest in low-fidelity recordings and early electronic music inspired her first experimentation with vocal sampling in composition. During this time, she began teaching voice lessons and fell in love with the field of music education. Her teaching focuses on an accessible approach to classical technique in the exploration of any genre, within music production, and in utilizing electronic instruments.
Alongside her experience in a range of electronic acts and classical ensembles, alisha has also participated as an organizer in the artistic community. During her time in Asheville, North Carolina, she co-founded the gallery/event space, Apothecary. It was in this environment that she premiered Lush Agave and performed “Madame”, a reimagining of the aria “Un Bel Di Vedremo” from Puccini’s Madame Butterfly.
Lush Agave became an attempt to bring the themes of tragedy and romance of the operatic tradition into the zeitgeist. It is a merging of classical, technical practice with accessibility of pop music. Her performances aim to break down the barriers between performer and audience, creating a safe and vulnerable space wherein we are invited to ruminate on collective truths, desires, shadows, and grief.
Lush Agave’s debut release aligned with Alisha’s move to los Angeles. songs for a moon, premiered on the label never content in may 2019. two tracks from the ep carried over into a musical short film hidden eden, co-created with wild anima (Berlin). the film and accompanying zine was jointly released in 2021 via sacred sea and never content.
Nina Kasuya (she/her)
Nina Kasuya (UCLA, Ethnomusicology) is a vocalist, educator, and actor based in Los Angeles, California. She recently starred in a production of Frankie and Johnny in the Clair De Lune, and has sung for artists including Teddy Swims, CeCe Winans, and Matoma. Nina can also be heard performing in The L Word: Generation Q, The Good Doctor, and Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
Nina has been a featured educator at Boston Sings A Cappella Festival, Milwaukapella, Los Angeles A Cappella Festival, and the SheSings/WeSing Vocal Festival, teaching a range of classes including 1:1 coaching, group masterclasses, choreography and movement, as well as inclusion-based discussion forums for young artists. After a decade of running the musical theater program at an LAUSD middle school, she currently works with students at Icon Collective College of Music as well as students in her private studio. Nina is a lover of theater and deeply passionate about deepening human connection through music.
Rebecca Louisell (she/her & they/them) is a queer identified writer and director who tells stories of diverse people going through something and coming out the other side stronger.
Visit her website