“This Work Is Personal”: A Q&A with Luis Roman on Identity, Advocacy and Community

Luis Roman didn’t plan to become a changemaker. But what began as a post-college internship focused on LGBTQ+ immigrant integration quickly evolved into a career at the intersection of advocacy, policy and community health. From launching the CityKey municipal ID program to shaping equity strategies at the Pritzker Foundation, Luis has built a path defined by impact. Now a consultant and co-chair of the LGBTQ Community Fund at The Chicago Community Trust, he is channeling his lived experience and leadership into building opportunity, shifting systems, and ensuring LGBTQ+ voices are not only heard but centered in the work of building a more equitable Chicago. Luis’s journey is a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful work begins when you follow the unexpected.

In celebration of Pride Month, we sat down with Luis Roman, co-chair of the LGBTQ Community Fund at The Chicago Community Trust, to talk about his journey, his vision for the fund, and the power of showing up as your most authentic self in every space you enter.

You are the co-chair for the LGBTQ Community Fund. Why is this type of service to the LGBTQ community important to you?

Luis Roman: For me, this work is personal. Even as a child, I faced exclusion and mistreatment because of how I expressed myself. Those moments stuck with me, and ever since I’ve carried this drive to make sure that kind of humiliation doesn’t happen to other young people like me. I started out doing grassroots organizing LGBTQ+ and immigrant rights work in community spaces. Over time, I realized that while direct action is important, so is funding. The work happening in our communities needs resources to thrive and grow. Being in a position now where I can help direct those resources through the LGBTQ Community Fund is both a privilege and a responsibility that I take very seriously. It’s about protecting people, investing in our future, and making sure no one experiences what I did without knowing there is a community fighting for them.

What do you hope to achieve under your tenure as co-chair? Is there something you’ve already achieved that you want to share? 

LR: Last year marked the completion of our three-year grantmaking strategy, which was grounded in a community-driven needs assessment. That strategy helped us focus our resources on where they were most needed. But now in 2025, we are entering a new chapter. We’re taking a step back to evaluate our impact, listening closely to our grant partners, community members and stakeholders to understand what’s working, what’s missing, and how we can deepen our support. My hope as co-chair is that we emerge from this process with a renewed vision, one that not only increases impact, but also reflects the evolving needs and dreams of our LGBTQ+ communities in Chicago. I want to see the fund not just to defend what we’ve built, but to support LGBTQ+ organizations that are pushing boundaries.

What advice would you give to up-and-coming leaders who are either  interested in joining the LGBTQ Community Fund or maybe they just want to get more involved in LGBTQ-related organizations and issues? 

LR: Don’t be afraid to challenge the systems, even the ones that seem like allies. That’s where real leadership begins. At its best, philanthropy should be a space for creativity and pushing boundaries. We can’t just respond to what is broken. We must ask why it’s broken in the first place and who is being left out of the conversation. So, my advice is to be bold. Ask the hard questions. Who is missing from the table? Why are they missing? And what are we doing to change that? At the same time, find your people. This work can be isolating and we need each other to stay grounded. Even when it feels like you’re alone in a room, you are not. You carry your community with you, and when we bring others along with us, that is when real transformation happens.

In the spirit of Pride Month, are there any icons or leaders, past or present, who inspire you? 

LR: People like Marsha P. Johnson who stood at the forefront of the gay rights movement when it was dangerous to even exist as a trans woman of color. She and others like her gave everything to their communities. That kind of courage and community-centered leadership continues to inspire me. Closer to home, Julio Rodriguez, the founder and current board chair of ALMA (Association of Latinos Motivating Action). He has been a mentor throughout my journey in Chicago and has shown me what it means to lead with integrity. I also want to honor Marco Bojorquez, one of my earliest mentors. I met him when I was in high school. Marco was living with HIV and was deeply involved in HIV/AIDS advocacy. Marco taught me to lead authentically, without compromising who I am. He passed away during COVID, but his impact on me and so many others will live on.