Joaquin Lopez is a performing artist and counselor whose work is grounded in personal transformation, self-expression, and Latino Queer identity. He holds a passion for producing cultural events that honor Latin American heritage and Latino Gay culture. In June of 2019, he released UNIVERSO, an electro-pop album that pays homage to his coming-of-age as a gay man. As an actor and performer, he has worked with theatre companies: Milagro, Sowelu, Hand2Mouth Theatre, BagNBaggage, WP Theater in New York, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

Joaquin served as the Arts & Culture Manager and the Manager of Leadership Development during his time at Latino Network. He is the first recipient of the Espiritu Award presented by Milagro in 2014 for his contributions as a performer, producer, writer, and volunteer for the theatre. From 2009 through 2019 he founded and led, VOZ ALTA, a storytelling project that features the stories of Latino community members through poetic narratives, performed live on stage by actors and musicians. Joaquin has served on the board of The Hollywood Theatre, and was the Mayoral Appointee for Open Signal (2016-2018). He is the oldest son of the Lopez family who for twenty years has run La Bonita Mexican restaurants in the Alberta Arts District, Overlook Neighborhood, and SE Division Neighborhood.

Joaquin received his B.F.A. in Theatre Arts from Southern Oregon University and he holds a Master’s in Counseling from Portland State University. He runs a counseling private practice specializing in men’s issues, personal development, and the bicultural Latino experience. Recently, he was appointed by city council as Creative Laureate for the City of Portland.

When not at the office, Joaquin spends time reading, walking, playing the guitar, singing, and writing poetry. He enjoys time with friends and family, especially his nieces and nephews who keep his spirit young.