Today we’d like to introduce you to Ricardo Negron-Almodovar.
Hi Ricardo, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, in the south of the island. There I obtained a Master’s Degree in Education and went to law school to obtain my Juris Doctor. I became a licensed attorney in Puerto Rico in 2015 and shortly thereafter moved to Orlando.
Since then, I’ve worked with multiple community organizations to empower Latinx communities in Florida through language access education and civic engagement.
On June 12, 2016, my life was impacted in ways I never expected: I was present at Pulse Orlando when the mass shooting started.
As a survivor of the 6/12 tragedy, I’ve dedicated my efforts to uplift LGBTQ+ and Puerto Rican voices. That led to co-founding a nonprofit organization -Del Ambiente- focused on highlighting Puerto Rican queer voices in Florida and providing assistance to those most impacted by COVID.
Currently, I manage campaigns for All Voting is Local, a voting rights organization that focuses on dismantling barriers to the ballot box.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has not been smooth, but not without its good moments. Being a survivor of a mass shooting takes an emotional toll, particularly as those acts of violence become much more frequent. And being a voting rights advocate in a time when it’s become such a polarized topic leads to a sense of hyper-awareness because you know that there are dangerous people out there that oppose all the work you’re doing. This coupled with being gay in a state that has become more and more hostile towards LGBTQ+ communities, is definitely draining.
However, I’ve found strength in like-minded individuals that share my values and in my friends and family that drive me to go on.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am currently the FL Senior Campaign Manager for All Voting is Local. We’re a nonprofit, nonpartisan voting rights organization that fights to dismantle barriers to the ballot box and ensure a working democracy for all. In Florida, our work revolves around ensuring voters have the best access they can to exercise their right to vote, and in my case, I focus constantly on ensuring voters whose primary language is Spanish are having their needs met.
Additionally, I co-founded an organization that focuses on the holistic development of the Puerto Rican and Latinx LGBTQ+ community. We do so through educational activities and occasionally offering assistance to those in need.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.allvotingislocal.org
- Instagram: @allvotingislocal @delambiente.fl
