About Us
Our Mission:
At Arianna’s Place, our mission is to uplift and empower LGBTQIA+ people, especially those from underserved and marginalized communities, including trans women of color. We create safe spaces, build community, and advance justice through programs, advocacy, and support.
We are committed to dismantling systems of oppression and inequality through advocacy, direct support, and unapologetic love. Our work is rooted in the belief that every person deserves dignity, healing, and the power to lead their own life with pride and purpose.
We don’t just embrace change. We lead it together, ensuring that the most vulnerable and often overlooked members of our communities have access to the resources, care, and opportunities they deserve.
Our Vision:
We envision a world where LGBTQIA+ people, especially those from underserved and marginalized communities, live free from discrimination, violence, and barriers to health, safety, and opportunity.
A world where all communities are empowered, systems are just, and every individual is celebrated for who they are. Arianna’s Place strives to be a catalyst for this change, building a future rooted in dignity, equity, and unstoppable resilience.
Our Core Values
Arianna’s Place believes that every person’s identity, liberty, and dignity are never negotiable.
We stand firmly against all forms of discrimination, violence, and stigmatizing actions directed at LGBTQIA+ individuals, with a special focus on trans and gender-diverse people, especially those who are most marginalized.
We are committed to equal rights and equitable access for all, ensuring that every person has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of race, immigration status, socioeconomic background, or ability.
We believe that everyone deserves access to comprehensive health services, preventive care, testing, treatment referrals, and supportive programs for HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, and overall wellness. No one should be excluded because of their gender identity, legal status, or lack of insurance.
At Arianna’s Place, serving our community is both a responsibility and a privilege. Through advocacy, direct support, and community-led initiatives, we strive to create safe spaces, amplify underrepresented voices, and empower individuals to live authentically, proudly, and with purpose.
Get To Know Us
At Arianna’s Place, we are the only service and advocacy organization dedicated to supporting and empowering transgender women of color in Florida, Puerto Rico, and wherever there is a need for these services.
We provide a range of essential programs, including outpatient HIV/AIDS testing, social work support, legal name change services, referrals for legal assistance, access to personal medical care, and emotional health support.
Our programs also serve trans men and offer shelter for trans women who have been detained by ICE or previously incarcerated. We provide GED scholarships to help community members earn their high school diploma, personalized guidance for technical career paths, and support for entering the workforce.
We train transgender and LGBTQIA+ community members in advocacy, empowering them to engage politically, support elected leaders, and influence policies that improve well-being, access to healthcare, and HIV/AIDS services.
Recently, we have expanded into digital programming on social media to connect deeply with our community and local leaders, creating new opportunities for education, support, and empowerment.
At Arianna’s Place, we are community members working for our community.
Meet Our Team
Arianna Lint
Joseph Gabriel Cepeda Acosta
Arianna Lint
Executive Director, Arianna’s Place
CEO, Miss Trans Star International
Arianna Lint is a proud trans woman of color, immigrant, and lifelong advocate for justice. She is the founder and executive director of Arianna’s Place, a grassroots, community-led organization founded in 2015 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, dedicated to empowering transg
Executive Director, Arianna’s Place
CEO, Miss Trans Star International
Arianna Lint is a proud trans woman of color, immigrant, and lifelong advocate for justice. She is the founder and executive director of Arianna’s Place, a grassroots, community-led organization founded in 2015 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, dedicated to empowering transgender and gender-diverse people, especially trans women of color, through safe spaces, community building, and justice-driven advocacy.
Originally from Peru, Arianna experienced firsthand the barriers to healthcare, housing, safety, and acceptance that continue to impact many in the LGBTQIA+ community. Rather than accept these injustices, she chose to confront them, turning her lived experiences into action. Her vision and leadership have transformed Arianna’s Place from a small support network into a recognized leader in trans rights, HIV prevention, legal advocacy, and community empowerment across Florida and Puerto Rico.
Arianna’s work spans health services, housing and resource navigation, peer support, cultural competency training, and public policy advocacy — all rooted in intersectionality, trauma-informed care, and a philosophy of unapologetic love. She also serves as CEO of Miss Trans Star International, further amplifying trans visibility, leadership, and global community empowerment.
Arianna believes that meaningful change happens when communities lead. Under her guidance, Arianna’s Place has become more than a nonprofit — it is a movement, a family, and a catalyst for lasting social change.
Jack Neilsen
Joseph Gabriel Cepeda Acosta
Arianna Lint
Deputy Director, Arianna’s Place
Director, Miss Trans Star International
Jack Neilsen is a dedicated advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and trans visibility, with a strong commitment to creating opportunities for empowerment, celebration, and inclusion. As Deputy Director of Arianna’s Place, Jack works alongside founder Arianna Lint to expand the
Deputy Director, Arianna’s Place
Director, Miss Trans Star International
Jack Neilsen is a dedicated advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and trans visibility, with a strong commitment to creating opportunities for empowerment, celebration, and inclusion. As Deputy Director of Arianna’s Place, Jack works alongside founder Arianna Lint to expand the organization’s reach, strengthen community programs, and advance the mission of uplifting transgender and gender-diverse people.
In addition to his leadership at Arianna’s Place, Jack serves as the Director for Miss Trans Star International, a prestigious pageant that celebrates the beauty, talent, and resilience of transgender women on an international stage. Through this role, Jack champions representation and pride, helping contestants share their stories, embrace their identities, and inspire others.
Jack’s work bridges advocacy, community building, and cultural celebration, reflecting his belief that visibility and empowerment go hand in hand. Whether coordinating grassroots outreach or organizing high-profile events, Jack brings compassion, creativity, and unwavering dedication to everything he does.
Joseph Gabriel Cepeda Acosta
Joseph Gabriel Cepeda Acosta
Joseph Gabriel Cepeda Acosta
Operations Director, Arianna’s Place, Puerto Rico
Joseph Gabriel Cepeda Acosta is a licensed attorney and the Operations Director for Arianna’s Place in Puerto Rico. With a deep commitment to human rights, social justice, and underserved communities, Joseph focuses on advancing the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals, Black communities, and oth
Operations Director, Arianna’s Place, Puerto Rico
Joseph Gabriel Cepeda Acosta is a licensed attorney and the Operations Director for Arianna’s Place in Puerto Rico. With a deep commitment to human rights, social justice, and underserved communities, Joseph focuses on advancing the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals, Black communities, and other marginalized groups. He brings expertise in criminal law, civil law, and nonprofit operations to ensure that Arianna’s Place delivers effective programs and services.
Joseph earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences with a concentration in Law and Society from the University of Puerto Rico in Carolina, where he was also a student-athlete. He completed a Master’s in Criminal Justice at the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, researching the impact of parental education on youth criminality. He then earned his Juris Doctor from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Law, participating in the Advanced Academy of Human Rights and Humanistic Law at American University Washington College of Law in Washington, DC. During law school, he served as President of the Hispanic National Bar Association PUCPR, contributed to the Puerto Rican Law Journal, and was an active member of the Student Council.
Passionate, disciplined, and dedicated to justice, Joseph ensures that Arianna’s Place’s programs—from advocacy and health services to legal support and community education—reach those who need them most. He also engages in legislative work, policy development, and private consultations.
Contact: 787-900-5117
Doing the right thing, at the right time.
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Welcome to ariannasplace.org
Who We Are
Community-Led Leadership
Community-Led Leadership
Arianna’s Place is dedicated to meeting the needs of the Trans community, today and for generations to come.
We serve as a hub for connection and collaboration, bringing together diverse voices and organizations to address local challenges while inspiring greater giving and volunteerism.
Through building lasting resources and endowments,
Arianna’s Place is dedicated to meeting the needs of the Trans community, today and for generations to come.
We serve as a hub for connection and collaboration, bringing together diverse voices and organizations to address local challenges while inspiring greater giving and volunteerism.
Through building lasting resources and endowments, we ensure that vital programs and grants will continue to support the community well into the future. Guided by leaders deeply rooted in the community, our mission is to strengthen nonprofits, nurture emerging organizations, and champion impactful initiatives. As community needs evolve, we remain flexible, redirecting resources to where they are needed most.
Community-Led Leadership
Community-Led Leadership
Community-Led Leadership
Arianna’s Place is powered by community, for community.
Our team is made up of people with lived experience and a deep understanding of the issues, opportunities, and resources that shape the Trans community. Guided by a local board of directors, we work together to address challenges, create solutions, and strengthen support systems.
We
Arianna’s Place is powered by community, for community.
Our team is made up of people with lived experience and a deep understanding of the issues, opportunities, and resources that shape the Trans community. Guided by a local board of directors, we work together to address challenges, create solutions, and strengthen support systems.
We also help donors connect with the community in meaningful ways, ensuring their giving has the greatest impact where it’s needed most.
Volunteer With Us
Community-Led Leadership
Give to Create Change
Your time, energy, and skills can change lives. By sharing what you know and giving back to the community, you help create a stronger, more supportive future for everyone.
Join us and discover just how big of a difference you can make.
Give to Create Change
Community-Led Leadership
Give to Create Change
Your Gift Creates Lasting Change
When you give to Arianna’s Place, your support goes where it’s needed most—helping to build sustainable solutions and address the root causes of poverty and inequality.
Donations make it possible for us to deliver vital programs for the Trans community in South Florida and Puerto Rico. Your gift supports i
Your Gift Creates Lasting Change
When you give to Arianna’s Place, your support goes where it’s needed most—helping to build sustainable solutions and address the root causes of poverty and inequality.
Donations make it possible for us to deliver vital programs for the Trans community in South Florida and Puerto Rico. Your gift supports initiatives in protection, education, health, sanitation, disaster relief, and economic empowerment, as well as the innovation and infrastructure needed to keep these programs strong.
Together, we can create a safer, healthier, and more equitable future.
