Veronica Fernandez

Veronica Fernandez’s career combines show business and advocacy for the Transgender community for over 10 years. She has appeared in numerous stage productions and musicals, with her most recent role portraying Bamby Salcedo, a prominent Transgender Activist and community leader in the acclaimed musical “Arena: A House Musical.”

Veronica serves the Transgender community through her role as the Program Manager of the Transgender Health Program at St. John’s Community Health, where she facilitates and implements programs that serve the community, particularly Transgender Women of Color who are often marginalized, ostracized, and criminalized. She also leads “TARA” or Trans Addressing Recovery and Addition, which is a monthly recovery space for Trans and Gender Non-Conforming individuals.

As an extension of her capacity as Program Manager, she conducts the Transgender Cultural Competency Training and LGBTQ+ Sexual Harassment Training for all staff at St. John’s Community Health as well as external agencies in the Southern California region. She also plays an instrumental role in developing programs and services that address the extreme pressing needs of the community such as housing, employment, and legal advocacy.

She also a Board Member of LA CADA, which advises elected officials and civic leaders on critical issues facing the Transgender community such as public awareness on addiction, public safety, and emergency trauma response. In this role, she is able to affect policy change and legislation that advances the empowerment of the Transgender community and allows them to live fulfilling and enriched lives by influencing Trans-inclusive policies throughout the city.

Not only does she serve the Transgender community via her professional capacity; she also serves the community through her creative side. As Assistant Stage Manager at Casa 0101, the premiere creative venue in East L.A., she gives voice to members of the community from all walks of life, and challenges viewers to move past their pre-conceived stereotypes and see the commonalities that we all share as human beings. She has also worked on diverse projects such as voiceover work for Pixar and Netflix and has also starred in the short film “Casa Virginia”.

Veronica is a staunch supporter of recovery and serves as a facilitator at the weekly Royal Palms alumni meeting that brings together those who have successfully rebuilt their lives. Veronica serves as a model for those who are striving to achieve success in their life, and provides encouragement, knowledge, and mentorship to all she meets.