Sarah has lived and worked in all four corners of the United States and has spent two decades working in public education. As a recently out bisexual, Sarah tries to shine a light of love and acceptance wherever she goes. She graduated with a bachelors in Marketing and Management from Western Governors University and is currently located in Dallas, attempting to dismantle the patriarchy whenever possible. Sarah is passionate about women’s rights, education reform, and LGBTQ+ equality. In her spare time, you’ll find her snuggled up with a book next to her plants and cat, or on a long nature hike with her dog and husband.

sanjar kurmanov is a native kazakh-kyrgyz trans activist with 10 years of experience in feminist LGBTQI rights activism, particularly specializing in trans rights. He was born Muslim and raised in the post-soviet Kyrgyzstan. In October 2021, Sanjar has moved to the US for love. Sanjar held several executive, decision-making and advisory roles: former director of Labrys Kyrgyzstan, member of a Grantmaking Panel at International Trans Fund, an interim Board member of Trans* Coalition in the CCAEE, the project manager at Transgender Europe and Com Com member at MamaCash. Living with multiple identities of being a Muslim, immigrant, Queer Central Asian and a trans person, my lived experience has been shaping the ongoing fight to end violence and discrimination against people with intersecting identities.

Iralba is a Dominican-American woman with over 15 years of experience in development and institutional advancement in the non-profit sector. In her role at Astraea, Iralba is continuing her commitment to serving an soliciting support for underrepresented and marginalized communities. Iralba holds a B.A in English from the College of Mount Saint Vincent and attended Cornell’s Institute for Public Policy. When not working, Iralba enjoys getting outside and spending time with her daughter Valentina.

In over 20 years in nonprofit management and development, Kate has purposefully aligned her work with her values. Her professional contributions have supported research, programming, and service delivery in conservation, institutes for social change, accessible housing, LGBTQ advocacy and trauma-informed care. Kate is also a longtime activist for reproductive justice and clinic escort volunteer. In joining Astraea, Kate is thrilled to be part of an organization that both reflects her feminist values and offers an opportunity to further the mobilization of resources for social justice. Kate lives with her wife, two children, and dog. When not playing “hot lava” she enjoys reading, hiking, ceramics, and random gardening. 

Neish McLean is a queer transmasculine activist and philanthropist who is deeply invested in community care, movement resourcing and healing justice. They bring almost ten years of trans organizing and movement building experience to philanthropy.  

Neish provides technical skills and expertise to several international organizations such as Equitas, Giveout, and International Planned Parenthood Federation in the areas of human rights, governance, reproductive justice, and grantmaking. 

Neish’s experience is rooted in the Caribbean and continues to span across the globe. Neish helped to shift the landscape for trans activism within Jamaica as the Co-Founder of TransWave Jamaica. They are committed to strengthening the work of  organizations both regionally and internationally and have worked with organizations such as  International Trans Fund, OutRight Action International, Transgender Europe, and the United Caribbean Trans Network. 

Neish is a sports fitness and adventure enthusiast who also enjoys traveling, cooking, photography and writing poetry. Neish holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management.

Michelle joined Astraea in December 2021 as the Assistant Controller. She brings over 20 years of accounting experience in the proprietary software industry. Prior to Astraea, Michelle worked as a Senior Accountant for SS&C Technologies, managing multiple multi-million dollar portfolios, providing insight and support to external auditors up to and including generation of the financial statements.

Michelle has a BS in Finance from Central Connecticut State University and a MBA – Accounting from Ellis College of New York Institute of Technology. When not working, she enjoys weightlifting, Tang Soo Do martial arts, reading and spending time with family and friends.

Zakiya Robinson, a graduate of Bethel University, is a first-generation Barbadian American. Passionate about creating nuanced opportunities for Black and Brown communities, they previously served as the Director of Policy and Programs for the NYC Unity Project—NYC’s policy and programming office dedicated to supporting LGBTQ New Yorkers. In this role, Zakiya worked to connect community and government to create pathways towards equity for LGBTQ folx. 

Their most recent work has included promoting the health and safety needs for sex workers, launching Unity Works, the country’s largest and most comprehensive workforce development program ever created for LGBTQIA communities, and spearheading a mutual aid fund for TGNCNB New Yorkers.

Throughout their career, Zakiya has intentionally worked to connect vulnerable communities to resources and designed impactful programs that facilitate lasting communal change. Serving as an organizer and program developer, she is passionate about bringing the folx doing the work on the ground to the table to advocate for themselves–employing the philosophy that folx most impacted by policies should be at the table as primary decision makers. In their spare time, Zakiya facilitates a community tax clinic providing low-income communities with access to free financial literacy and tax prep. Zakiya is a native New Yorker, aspiring master chef, and lover of all things Queer and Black.

Sakinaa is a black femme Muslim facilitator and researcher, raised in the south, residing on Lenape and Nanticoke lands. They hold a Bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies from William & Mary. Currently, they are pursuing a Master of Social Service (MSW equivalent) at Bryn Mawr College. They are dedicated to imagining and exploring liberatory practices rooted in transformation, healing, hope, collectivity, and love. In their free time, they enjoy relaxing in nature, making herbal tinctures, and building community with other LGBTQI Muslims.