Meet our new BAAITS Staff!

Introducing our new BAAITS staff! Read below to get to know them a bit better!

Auria Martinez (She/Her) I am an Indigenous queer woman born in Oaxaca, Mexico! I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and continue to heal from the trauma inflicted on my body. Alongside that pain, I have also experienced unconditional love, magic, beauty and community throughout my life.  Through my healing journey, I have learned the power in naming my pain, expressing my feelings and speaking my truth.  For the past six years, I’ve worked with youth and adults to cultivate spaces of emotional connection, joy, and resilience. My work is informed by my experience as a facilitator, educator, restorative justice practitioner, community builder and my beautiful ancestors.

Maurice Montoya (He/Him)

A multidisciplinary artist, organizer, and facilitator whose work is inseparable from his queerness and Chicano identity. Raised between San Francisco on Ohlone Land and Sacramento on Miwok and Nisenan Land, he carries the cultural wisdom of these places into his creative and community-centered practice. A first-generation Sacramento State graduate, Maurice grounded his work in Ethnic Studies, Cultural Preservation, and advocacy, and since 2021 has supported Indigenous, Chicanx, and Latinx-serving organizations, coordinating over 25 events across the region—from Elk Grove Pride to summits with the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians. At the heart of his work is a deep commitment to solidarity, storytelling, wellness, and movement building, with a focus on Indigiqueer and Two-Spirit communities and a vision rooted in collective liberation and cultural healing.