Lisbeth Meléndez Rivera, MAL, is a 35+ year veteran in social justice movements. Lisbeth has extensive experience organizing and training at the intersections of sexual orientation, gender identity, racial/ethnic identity, faith, and culture related explicitly to communities of color in the United States. She has crisscrossed the globe and the country, training workers and community leaders in organizing, leadership development, and community-building strategies from a grassroots perspective.
Resume
Auburn Seminary, Consultant—2016-Present
Lisbeth has worked with Auburn Seminary as a consultant, facilitator, and participant in activities helping the religious progressive left to deepen its roots in historically underrepresented communities in the faith arena.
As a representative of the Latine community and a faith leader Lisbeth has helped Auburn and other religious institutions and denominations move forward by helping craft series, deliver concise messaging and leave the pulpit to join the pews in the streets for soulful liberation.
Lisbeth was responsible for the overall work of building power, leadership, community, and belonging in our multiracial, intergenerational base across both JVP And JVPA.
She played an integral role in supporting our staff and membership to live out our commitments to racial justice and accountability to our Palestinian partners in the work of the organization while effectively building and leading the staff team of organizers.
Jewish Voice for Peace, Organizing Director—2021
Human Rights Campaign, Director of Faith Outreach & Training—2017-2019
As Director of Faith Outreach and Training, Lisbeth built secular and faith partnerships in the United States and globally within LGBT communities so that organizing campaigns and efforts can be more inclusive of faith leaders.
She Facilitated training, retreats, and strategic sessions at the intersection of faith and LGBT issues throughout the United States and America Latina and continued implementing duties under the Latinx & Catholic Initiatives program
Human Rights Campaign, Director of Latinx & Catholic Initiatives—2014-2017
As Director of Latinx and Catholic Initiatives, Lisbeth's role included recruiting local, regional, and national faith leaders as facilitators for “A la Familia,” a facilitated dialogue curriculum at the intersections of faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, and family, across the United States.
In addition, she created, developed, and produced the award-winning short film “Before God, We Are All Family,” a documentary about Latinx Faith families and their LGBTQ children, winner of the Audience Award at Ethnografilm Festival, Paris, 2013, and others.
Lisbeth represented HRC as spokesperson --including Spanish-speaking media—for issues related to LGBT Latinx & faith issues across the country and led organization-wide communications strategy in response to religious stances around LGBT people within the media, including reactions to the Catholic Church, the Later-Day Saints Church, and the Evangelical movements nationally and globally.
She participated in planning and the founding of the Global Network of LGBT Catholics, an organization engaging at both the local and global levels around LGBTQ Catholic inclusion while also working with activists in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Peru, and Colombia to amplify voices of faith around LGBTQ support and legislative recognition.
FOR A COMPLETE CURRICULUM VITAE PLEASE CONTACT LISBETH AT: info at bqnconsulting dot com