Leonardo Gamboa (he/him/él) is a multiracial fronterizo who recently moved to Tucson. He closely identifies with the US/MX border and the Chihuahuan Desert, where he comes from. He became a naturalized citizen in his teens and is committed to community justice through impactful, community-focused, and community-led activism.
Leonardo holds a Master's in Communication, focusing on health communication research throughout his career. This advanced education has equipped him with a deep understanding of cultural dynamics, which he integrates into his professional endeavors.
With over six years of experience in cultural and sociological research and the public health sector, Leonardo is a seasoned qualitative methodologist specializing in equitable and inclusive community strategies. He has contributed to national, federally-sponsored projects to improve infrastructure for Community Health Workers (CHW) nationwide. Additionally, he has led projects to tailor training, marketing materials, and campaigns to the Latinx/e sector for organizations such as the Melanoma Research Foundation, the University of Texas at San Antonio, the University of Texas at El Paso, and WayToServe®.
As a Program Manager and Evaluator at Amistades, Inc., Leonardo leads an environmental justice and health equity project funded by the EPA. He also implements program evaluation for all other programs at Amistades, Inc. using culturally responsive practices that involve a critical, innovative, and inclusive approach.
Fun facts: Leonardo's favorite pastime is perfumery; he speaks Spanish and thinks being neurodivergent is like having a superpower.