Samy Nemir Olivares

Samy Nemir Olivares is a genderqueer Latinx writer, speaker, communications strategist, and passionate advocate for human rights and social justice. Born and raised in Puerto Rico to a Dominican father and a Puerto Rican mother, both of whom lived with disabilities, Olivares’ early experiences with bullying and inequality fueled a lifelong commitment to activism. From childhood, Olivares became an outspoken advocate for Latinx, LGBTQ+, immigrant, and women’s rights, as well as youth and education. Their career began as a journalist and photojournalist, with their work appearing in outlets such as The New York Times, Huffington Post, Vogue, Teen Vogue, and many others. Olivares is also a sought-after national speaker and facilitator, addressing topics like gender, race, DEI, leadership, and personal development at major venues including the United Nations, CUNY, Cardozo Law School, Accenture, and Planned Parenthood.

In 2016, Olivares served as the nationwide Latinx strategist for the Clinton presidential campaign, later working on economic, social, and racial justice campaigns at the Center for Popular Democracy, a national community organizing nonprofit. In 2018, Olivares ran for office in New York City and was elected District Leader, before running for the New York State Assembly. Today, Olivares is an advocate at Lambda Legal, a civil rights nonprofit focused on LGBTQ+ people and those living with HIV, and consults through Cuir Strategies, a communications and personal development firm they founded. Through their project THRIVE, Olivares also empowers LGBTQ youth through mindfulness, healing, and mental health initiatives, fostering personal transformation and social change.

Olivares’ dedication to community service extends beyond professional work. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Olivares co-founded Bushwick Ayuda Mutua, a mutual aid network that grew to hundreds of volunteers and has since fed over 30,000 immigrant and low-income families in Brooklyn. Olivares currently serves on the boards of several organizations, including United We Dream, Equality NY, ALPFA Pride+, and the Gay Latino Collective. Recognized for their leadership and impact, Olivares was named to the Power Latino 100 in 2021 and the Brooklyn Power 100 and Pride 100 in 2022 by City and State. Outside of work, Olivares enjoys salsa dancing, painting, traveling, going to the beach, and attending drag shows in Brooklyn, where they currently reside.