About Alex Villafuerte
Alex Villafuerte is San Diego Pride's Marketing & Communication Manager. He oversees the marketing for all of Pride's events & programs. Outside of Pride, he has a love for the outdoors, the San Diego brew scene, and naps.
Let Me Introduce You To…
LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO…..
Diedrea Lewis (DL), Pride Festival Dispatch Co-Coordinator
She / Her / Hers
Born and raised in Ennis, Texas, Diedrea has lived in San Diego for the past 27 years. She has one daughter and one granddaughter, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from San Diego State University.
AND
Howard Menzer (HM), Pride Festival Dispatch Co-Coordinator
He / Him / His
Born and raised in ‘da’ Bronx, Howard has lived in San Diego for the past 39 years. He was married for 30 years, has 3 children and 5 grandchildren. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations / Marketing as well as a Master’s in Education with an emphasis in Reading and Literature both from Ashford University.
What are your job titles and what do you do at the Festival?
DL / HM – Our titles are Pride Festival Dispatch Co-Coordinators. We are Dispatch at the Pride Festival. If you get a radio at the Festival, you will have gotten it from us. We are responsible for the more than $50,000 dollars worth of radio inventory. We check radios out and then check them back in. We provide radio users with a basic radio tutorial to ensure proper radio etiquette. We make sure the radios are charged and ready for service and monitor radio channels and provide communication support.
How long have you been volunteering with Pride?
DL – This will be my third year with Pride. I started volunteering in 2015 as part of the Dispatch team.
HM – This will be my second year with Pride. I started volunteering in 2016 as part of the Dispatch team.
Why do you volunteer with Pride?
HM – I like to get involved in my community and give back. Whether I am working in my Synagogue, at the LGBT Community Center Cyber (Computer) Center, or with Pride, volunteering allows me the opportunity to serve and meet others.
DL – Volunteering keeps me stay centered. Volunteering helps me ‘keep the fire alive.’ It keeps me hopeful and optimistic.
What are you reading right now?
HM – Lately I’ve been devouring mystery novels, especially supernatural mystery novels.
DL – I don’t read novels, but I do enjoy reading news and current events. I like to read about different perspectives on current events, so on any given day I’m reading three or four newspapers such as the New York Time, the LA Times, and the Washington Post.
What’s the last movie you saw (DVD or in the theatre)?
DL – Oh boy, I’m not a fan of current movies. I like the movies of the 1950s and 60s – the big production spectaculars such as “The Ten Commandments.” I mean the parade of stars in these movies was fantastic, and then the dialogue and acting – I could watch one of these movies every day. Stop by the Dispatch booth during the festival and we can quote Charlton Heston movie lines.
HM – “Snatched” with Goldie Hawn. She just cracks me up. I laughed out loud.
Coffee or tea?
DL – Either. I love lemon / mint tea, but I also love the energy buzz from coffee.
HM – Coffee. Dark and strong.
What are you listening to right now?
HM – I’m listening to 96.5, KYXY adult contemporary music.
DL – Oh, I’m listening to just about a little of everything, from the 1940s to today. I like it all.
What should people know about you?
DL – I sing. I sing RB, pop and jazz. I was in a top 40 cover band called Broad Band.
HM – I am an Eagle Scout and was the National Director of a group called ‘Scouting for All’ that advocated the restoration of unbiased values of scouting to allow full participation for youth and adults regardless of their spiritual beliefs, gender, or sexual orientation.
When you aren’t volunteering with Pride, where might you be found?
HM – I’m 80 years old, and I try to enjoy each day. I try to get to the gym every day, and I volunteer at the San Diego LGBT Center’s Cyber Center.
DL – Working, singing and enjoying life. I’m an optimist. Life is good.
What advice do you have for someone coming to Pride?
DL – Have fun. Let go, and enjoy yourself. Pride is fun, but be safe and celebrate with a friend.
HM – Take your time. Do the full festival loop. Enjoy the sights, smells, and sounds. Take it all in and don’t judge.
What are you looking forward to for Pride 2017?
HM – This is only my second year volunteering with Pride, so the festival is all still new to me. I look forward to seeing how the festival works, how it all comes together. Of course I look forward to seeing old friends from last year and to making new friends this year. And by far, my favorite part of Pride, what I most look forward to, is working for two days, side by side with her one and only, her highness, her majesty – Miss Diedrea Lewis.
DL – Oh man. That Howard, he just keeps it real. I look forward to the spectacularness of Pride – the colors, the sounds and the people.
Author’s Note:
While writing about Diedrea and Howard, I was listening to YouTube, and somehow Queen’s song “Radio Ga Ga” came on. I’m struggling to figure out which of these two is “radio ga ga” and which is “radio goo goo.” I think, Diedrea is “ga ga,” and Howard is “goo goo.” What do you think?
If you’re interested in volunteering with San Diego Pride, we’d love to have you! Please follow the link below to learn more about how you can be involved in your community!
Be Part of the Pride Family!
If you’re interested in volunteering with San Diego Pride, we’d love to have you! Please follow the link below to learn more about how you can be involved in your community!
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