ALUMNI PROFILE

Giving Hope a Home

Cesar Toledo is dedicated to helping LGBTQ youth succeed

By Annie Cao

F or Cesar Toledo, what first started as a curiosity about the world has evolved into a commitment to leadership and advocacy. After graduating from UCR in 2014 and volunteering for the Peace Corps in Uganda, Toledo joined the Harris-Walz presidential campaign as deputy LGBTQ+ engagement director. Today, he serves as executive director for the Wanda Alston Foundation, a nonprofit supporting homeless LGBTQ youth in Washington, D.C.

Toledo was raised in Ramona, California, a small town outside San Diego, where he watched his immigrant parents work multiple jobs to support their family.

“When they arrived in this country, they had nothing in their pockets but hopes and dreams,” Toledo said. “It was their work ethic that inspired me to chase my dreams and achieve what my parents never had the opportunity to do.”

Spending time between California and Mexico, Toledo witnessed the cultural and political differences on both sides of the border. In high school, he attended a Model United Nations conference, which sparked an interest in international diplomacy and inspired him to pursue higher education.

After applying to several universities, Toledo decided on UCR. He recalls his undergraduate years coinciding with a challenging time for LGBTQ rights, but building a support system on campus gave him strength and a sense of belonging.  

“I felt unsafe and isolated, so finding a place to be myself was critical,” he said. “Walking into the dorms blew me away because of how many people were first-generation students and looked like me. Hearing their stories helped me build a community, and that was possible because of the rich environment at UCR.”

Toledo credits Ronald Loveridge, professor of political science and former Riverside mayor, for illustrating the importance of local government and influencing his path to Sacramento, where he interned for then-Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom through the UC Center Sacramento program.

“The reality is, the local government has an impact on everything we do, and it was his classes that furthered my involvement in it,” he said. 

During his internship, Toledo focused on state advocacy and witnessed the overturning of Proposition 8, the state constitutional amendment intended to ban same-sex marriage.

“When marriage equality was legalized in the state of California, I saw firsthand how such an important issue was celebrated,” Toledo said. “It made me appreciate the importance of policymaking and community because it was a long, hard-fought battle.”

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in global studies, Toledo traveled to Uganda in 2016 as a Peace Corps volunteer and spent two years teaching phonics to young children. Hearing stories from his parents about growing up in rural Mexico without running water or electricity and wanting to better understand life in developing countries is part of what inspired him to join.

Upon returning to the U.S. in 2018, Toledo became the political director for the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, helping to elect hundreds of LGBTQ leaders to office across the country. He built on this momentum by joining the Harris for President campaign in 2024 as deputy LGBTQ+ engagement director, where he successfully led an LGBTQ+ mobilization program. After the campaign ended, Toledo joined the Wanda Alston Foundation as executive director in April 2025.

“Forty percent of all homeless youth in D.C. identify as LGBTQ, so it’s more urgent now than ever for folks to address this crisis,” he said. “By leveraging my experiences, it led to an incredible opportunity to lead a local nonprofit.”

The Wanda Alston Foundation, founded in 2008 in honor of LGBTQ+ activist Wanda Alston, provides a housing and workforce program, as well as counseling services, to homeless LGBTQ youth. The transitional housing program accommodates up to 20 residents at a time across 10 apartments. Residents receive personalized support as they work towards finding stable housing, completing their education, or securing a job.

At the foundation, Toledo leads a small team and wears multiple hats; in addition to his day-to-day responsibilities, he oversees fundraising and communications efforts. Thanks to his dedication, the organization has raised $300,000 in the last year. 

“This is my first time serving as an executive director, so it’s a lot of responsibility,” Toledo said. “But I’m going to advocate and champion these issues to ensure this community is supported.”

After making major strides in his professional career, Toledo is shifting focus toward his personal life. 

“I have a fiancé, and we have a dog,” he said. “I’m happy and thriving. I’m looking forward to getting married, purchasing our first home, and starting a family. Those are my big goals on the horizon.”

For the next generation of LGBTQ youth, Toledo hopes to impart a simple message:

“It gets better,” Toledo said. “Despite where you are, you can pick yourself up and build your support system, and I promise, it gets better.”