Legendary Athletes Foundation engages Social Justice Artist, Cindy Montoya, to lead its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiative: “INSPIRE CHANGE”.
Cindy Montoya is a native of Southern California and a proud first-generation Mexican-American college graduate. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from UCLA and was the first Latina to be chosen captain of the elite UCLA dance team. Cindy’s career continued after graduation where she performed as a member of the National Basketball Association Cheer-leading team for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Two years ago, Cindy shared her story as a gun violence survivor publicly and soon after became a leading gun violence prevention advocate. She serves as the Survivor Member Lead for the California Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. As a Moms Demand Action Volunteer she has traveled to Washington DC is to meet with Senators and Representatives to push for more research and stronger gun sense laws, and most recently traveled to our state Capitol to advocate for more funds for California violence intervention and prevention programs, programs proven to break the cycle of violence.
While Cindy’s professional body of work, as an artist, includes performing and choreographing for international concert tours, film productions, as well as television shows and national commercials, and collaborating with such talents as Paula Abdul, George Michael, director David Fincher, and comedian Dave Chappelle, as an educator, Cindy has similarly devoted much of her energy into serving as an advocate for public awareness and education of gun violence and social justice.
During her 25-plus year teaching career, she served on the faculty at Orange County High School of the Arts, Glendale City College, Pasadena Polytechnic School (Poly) and the dance director at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy (FSHA). Additionally, she serves on the selection panel for the UCLA dance team and has been invited to teach at studios and dance conferences around the world.
Cindy has proven that she is a creative professional with an astute ability to blend art and social justice into meaningful youth programs while integrating a focus on mindfulness and social emotional learning.
Achievements and recognition’s:
- Congresswoman Judy Chu’s 2019 Woman of the Year, Sierra Madre
- Panelist Speaker – Mom’s Demand Action Round-table with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Presidential candidate, Senator Cory Booker
- Sandy Hook 6th Anniversary Memorial Panel Speaker, 2018
- Membership Lead: California Leadership Team Mom’s Demand Action
- Speaker for San Gabriel Valley Wear Orange Day Chapter Event.
- California Legislature Assembly Certificate of Recognition, 43 District
- Mentor: LEAP (Leadership, Excellence, Accelerated Potential) UCLA Summer Program
- Panelist – Hacking Creativity, 2016 – – Roundabout artist collaboration idea lab for artist activists to discuss ways to use artistic talents for social change.
For more information email:
info@legendaryathletes.org