LGBTQ Center Director Honored with Florida LGBTQ+ Leadership Award
Manny Velásquez-Paredes, director of the University’s LGBTQ Center, has been named a recipient of the 2021 Florida LGBTQ+ Leadership Award by the National Diversity Council for his outstanding leadership and LGBTQ+ advocacy efforts. The award will be presented virtually at the upcoming Florida LGBTQ+ Unity Summit on June 2.
Recipients of the Florida LGBTQ+ Leadership Award are celebrated for their leadership characteristics in the LGBTQ+ community, contributions to creating a culture of LGBTQ+ inclusiveness in the workplace, championship of LGBTQ+ protections in both the community and the workplace, and sustainable record of influencing positive change in the LGBTQ+ community.
Manny is an award-winning, experienced marketing and personal branding manager, with nearly a decade of experience working in professions focused on multicultural diversity and LGBTQ communities. His experience includes providing training and education to organizations, communities, and government agencies on gender identity and how to serve the LGBTQ community and advocacy. In addition, Manny has years of experience working with and mentoring young people, as well as developing programming and workshops to help students with gender identity issues, coming out, bullying, financial literacy and selfcare.
Manny serves as a mentor on the Board of Directors for the New York Chapter of Prospanica, where he also held the positions of Marketing VP, Executive Vice President and President. Manny has also served on the MBA Advisory Board for Monroe College in New York and was honored by Latino Leaders Magazine chosen as one of the Top 25 Latino Leaders in New York. He was the first recipient of the NLGJA (National LGBTQ Journalists Association) Excellence in Travel Writing and was also awarded the Empire Star Public Service Award for his work within the Hispanic and LGBTQ Community.