Quito Ziegler

Quito is an artist and a storyteller, a big-picture thinker, a 4th generation New York Jew and veteran Dreamer.  They are a proud transgender individual who lives visibly at the center of the gender spectrum.  Current projects include organizing a weekly intergenerational family dinner at Sylvia's Place, the queer youth shelter, and curating a permanent collection of human rights photography at the Open Society Foundations, where they have worked on and off since 2001.  They are also currently directing their first feature film.

My passion as an activist comes from...

Actually, truly believing that is it possible for us to create a better world together with dignity, beauty, humor and courage -- and by "us" I mean, anyone who is willing to show up and do the work, and be accountable to themselves and their communities, over time.

I joined Third Wave Fund's board because...

I wanted to be more intentional about crossing the conversations I hear in philanthropy and activist spaces, with the conversations I hear in radical queer culture.  I want to help build a strong, interconnected, sustainable and imaginative movement at local, national, global, environmental and cultural levels.

Looking to the future, I'm most excited about...

Using the arts to bring about a cultural shift in the way gender is perceived and structured, while never losing sight of the bigger picture : deeper issues of misogyny, racism, and economic injustice -- in addition to the health of the planet and ourselves.