Amanda McAllister-Wallner (She/Her) joined the California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network in 2016. Prior to working at the Network, Amanda was a Health Policy Fellow and the Policy and Operations Manager at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, where she coordinated research, advocacy on coalition work on a variety of policy issues affecting the LGBTQ community, including immigration, women’s health, LGBT youth homelessness, and regulating the “troubled teen industry.” She has a Master of Public Policy from UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs and a bachelor of arts in political science from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she headed the nationally recognized Campus Democrats organization.

Mandy Taylor (She/Her), joined Health Access in 2017. Prior to joining the team, Ms. Taylor provided case management services at Transitional Living and Community Services, helped develop WEAVE’s Anti-Trafficking Program for minors, supported foster youth with clinical therapy at The Children’s Receiving Home, and was the first Director of Programs at The Sacramento LGBT Community Center. With ten years of experience providing mental health and community services, Mandy looks forward to using her expertise to advocate for LGBTQ mental health policy. Mandy has a Master of Social Work from California State University, Sacramento, where she is currently and an adjunct instructor.

Ms. Taylor uses social justice and strengths based approaches to empower community involvement. She believes supporting the mental health of the LGBTQ community includes approaching issues through a lens of intersectionality. Mandy eagerly collaborates with stakeholders in marginalized LGBTQ communities to develop culturally supportive interventions, training, and policy. She believes that queer people of color, the trans community, the economically disadvantaged, and folks living with disabilities deserve comprehensive care that addresses all aspects of their experience.

DANNIE CESEÑA (He/Him), CA LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network Program Coordinator, joined Health Access in 2018. Dannie has worked with non-profits for over 10 years in program development and advocacy. He is passionate about LGBT Healthcare and is a World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH) member. Dannie is a national speaker where you may find him at various LGBTQ health conferences such as GLMA, has trained major hospitals and community clinics on LGBT healthcare disparities with recommendations on fixing the system, guest lectured at  universities and medical schools, and provided pro bono legal services with a volunteer legal team.

Dannie has been awarded Community Icon of the Year by Orange County Pride, Pro Bono Community Partner of the Year by UC Irvine School of Law, the Diversity Spirit Achievement Award by City Career Fair, The Courage Award from the Orange County Hispanic Bar Association and the Beacon of Light Award from the City of Costa Mesa. He has been recognized by Congressman Lou Correa, Assembly Member Cottie Petrie-Norris and the Orange County Board of Supervisors for his work in LGBTQ Health Care and Advocacy.

He is a graduate of CSU Long Beach with Bachelor Degrees in English and Political Science, and is a graduate of National University with a Master Degree in Public Health. On his spare time, he enjoys hiking and traveling with his wife and dog.

Isaias Guzman (He/Him), CA LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network organizer, joined Health Access in 2018. Isaias received a B.A. in Political Science and Chicano Studies with an emphasis on issues of race, gender, and sexuality from the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to joining the team, Isaias was a paralegal with a non-profit organization advocating on behalf of low-income, homeless, and/or HIV+ people in obtaining public disability benefits. Isaias also has an extensive experience organizing with queer and trans youth for racial and gender justice in the education system across local, state, and national boundaries. As a youth trainer for the GSA Network, he assisted in empowering LGBTQ youth and youth of color to become agents of change in their communities through youth-adult partnerships. At the Los Angeles LGBT Center, Isaias worked with LifeWorks LA to introduce culturally competent and comprehensive sexual health curriculum addressing issues of HIV/AIDs, PrEP, PEP, and youth legal rights. Most recently, he has organized the first-ever leadership summit in the East Bay tailored to the unique needs of LGBTQ youth of color. Isaias is excited to continue and advance the health and well-being of the queer and trans* community by advocating for LGBTQ health equity.

Isaias was born and raised in Southeast Los Angeles to Mexican immigrant parents. He enjoys dancing, learning about Queer Latinx art, culture and performance, and exploring new hiking trails during his free time.

Ariela Cuellar (she/her) joined the California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network in 2021. Ariela received her B.A. in Communications with a minor in Sociology from the University of California, Davis.

Prior to joining the Network, Ariela was the Sacramento LGBT Community Center’s Community Engagement and Marketing Strategist, where she helped amplify the Center’s services and programs through multi-media outreach and by leading tours of the Center to community members, donors and stakeholders. Ariela is very passionate about creating communications content that is rooted in social justice advocacy and that represents the identities of all folks under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella.

Ariela grew up in Vallejo, CA and is a proud second generation Salvadoran-American. She identifies as latinx, queer, femme, leo sun, taurus moon, gemini rising, and a dog mom. On her spare time she can be found hanging out with friends, her partner, at local dog parks, and practicing photography.