#itrans*

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Meet Noah Alvarez, a liaison from within the community and one of the iTrans* highlighted personalities/life stories. Noah Alvarez is a 20-something afro-latino transman, residing in Los Angeles, California who has a passion for writing, speaking, and mentoring on equality and the state of today's youth. Noah’s love for people and passion for healthy, whole living has influenced his mission of fresh outreach within the trans* community and in his every day life.  Along with being a dedicated partner to his wife, Ryder and a loving companion to their dog Shaka, Noah is dedicated to bringing light and exposure to successful, positive LGBT* individuals who are building their empires and changing the way society relates to, and interacts with transgender people. Noah is a dynamic empowerment speaker and youth life coach who helps individuals reach and maintain a 100% life. He is actively speaking and teaching on the mind and hearts of transgender youth, and pursuing work with LGB* groups to help them become more earnestly involved in the movement towards total equality for trans* people.  Noah is also co-founder and contributor for WeHappyTrans.com and runs the Men of Excellence weekly prayer conference call for all masculine-identified persons within the transgender community. He runs his own blog where he offers open mentorship for young transmen and also uses Youtube as a way to share his personal journey as a man of the trans* experience.

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Meet the First Assistant Director & Production Manager - DESIREE "DESI BEE" RICHARDSON Desiree Richardson, AKA "Desi Bee", is an entrepreneur and mutifaceted artist. Raised in Aurora, Colorado, Desi's strong intuition prompted a move to Los Angeles in 2010. In early 2011, she decided to once again follow her inner voice and passion to persue a career in photography & videography. Since then, she has established herself in the LA music video production community, having worked with major video directors such as Ray Kay, Tim Nacashi, and Eric Wright.  Her work has been featured on networks such as VH1 Soul, BET, and AOL MUSIC BOX.  Desi’s creative nature has led her down a myriad path, with involvement in the developmental, production, and post production stages as a camera operator, assistant director, casting director and editor.

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Meet the Producer - MADISUN LEIGH Madisun began her broadcasting career as an intern for WJZZ, Bell Broadcasting’s premiere Jazz station in Detroit, Michigan in 1992 before moving on to WZEE/Madison, and WMGN. She also held onto a full-time television career, serving as Technical Director for the FOX affiliate WMSN. Soon afterward she relocated to Lincoln, Nebraska where she was Program Director at KNET. Madisun Leigh possesses a very thorough understanding of the Radio and Television Broadcast Industry, having held management positions in Programming, Music, Marketing and Promotion. She has now broadened her portfolio to include Video and Film Production. Starting in 1997 she took listeners through their workday with Smooth Jazz and friendly conversation on V98.7, WVMV/Detroit, Michigan. She established an in-office listening audience of 1/4 million, consistently in Arbitron's top five (adults 25-54, adults 35-64) and then went on to become the listener’s number one choice in the evening and eventually Morning Co-Host and Producer.  In 2012 she continues with CBS on Smooth Jazz V98.7 HD2 WDZH, (the first HD radio station in the country to show up in Arbitron) and SmoothJazzDetroit.com weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Madisun is also one of the featured talents of The eScapes Television Network, an exciting entertainment concept that combines radio & HD television. She’s currently a Voice Actor for Brilliance Audio and Simon & Shuster, and a Producer for Endangered Creations. Her most recent projects include co-producing Verve Forecast’s Artist Ledisi’s music video “So Into You” from the Grammy nominated release Pieces Of Me, and voice acting all of the characters in “Paris Noire” by Amazon Encore speaking in French, Ecclesiastical Latin, German, and a Martiniqan Patois. Madisun Leigh also owns Michigan and LA based Marketing, Promotion, & Public Relations Firms, MLE and ATTN:PR, whose clients & partners include, CBS Radio, Results Advertising, Music Allies, Wolverine Bar Association, Kim Choi Inc., Spirit Productions, Canine Companions and Fusicology.com Further endeavors include the creation, production and hosting of a weekly talk show, “City Dish” on 107.5 WGPR-FM. She is also the co-creator and co-founder of the weekly event and brand known as “Kiss My Jazz!”.  Madisun counts BMW USA, Pepsi, Infiniti Motors USA, Quizno’s, Aveda, Viactiv & Cornerstone Schools among her endorsement clients.

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Meet the Associate Producer and Marketing & Promotions Manager - COURTNEY WILSON Courtney is proud to call Detroit, MI her hometown. From 1st grade through university, she attended private schools in the motor city, earning a bachelor of arts degree in Mass Communication and English Literature from University of Detroit-Mercy. Years later she entered a masters degree program at Detroit's Wayne State University where she majored in Anthropology. Courtney enjoyed a successful, award-winning career in capital equipment, biopharmaceutical and medical device sales. After much soul searching, she made the decision to change course and follow her true passion in the public relations and promotions arena. Over the years she has resided in New York City and Los Angeles.  In 2010, Courtney came on board as the CEO & Director of Business Development for MLE/ATTN:PR, a full-service marketing, promotions and public relations firm. Courtney possesses a sharp mind for deconstructing and detailing the intricacies of social issues and intersections of identities. Her background as a proactive and visible advocate for LGBT acceptance and human rights, coupled with her drive and determination to ensure that no one group of people feels less than another is what piqued her interest in working on the “iTrans*” project. Courtney has an engaging sense of humor, a witty gift of gab and a talented and creative spirit. Courtney is the proud mother of 3 wonderful, amazing children and the pet parent of a Chihauhau puppy. She now calls Los Angeles home.