This past June, the New York City Council and Council Member Erik Botcher honored the life and legacy of civil rights activist and LGBTQ+ trailblazer David Mixner by co-naming a street corner after him. The Mixner LGBTQ+ Equal Rights Fellowship, housed at the Powell School’s Office of Student Success, stands as a testament to David Mixner’s profound impact and enduring legacy.
“David Mixner advocated for marginalized people for his entire life, from the civil rights movement of the 1960s to the fight for LGBTQ+ equality. His uncompromising sense of justice guided him toward fighting for ending the Vietnam War, promoting nuclear disarmament, and fast-tracking the development of effective AIDS medications. His work was incredibly impactful, and I am glad the city recognized this and memorialized him in a way befitting a true hero,” shared Jennifer Light, Co-Director of the Mixner LGBTQ+ Equal Rights Fellowship.
Jennifer Barnes-Balenciaga, a ’25 Mixner LGBTQ+ Equal Rights Fellow, represented CCNY and the fellowship at the naming ceremony. Reflecting on David Mixner’s impact, she shares: “David Mixner’s legacy is one of courage, advocacy, and groundbreaking leadership in the fight for LGBTQ rights. The fellowship that bears his name is more than an honor — it is a call to action. It represents an investment in the next generation of changemakers who are committed to building on the foundation he laid. As a recipient and proud Woman of Trans Experience, I understand deeply the urgency and responsibility of that work. David Mixner did not just open doors — he helped build the rooms where LGBTQ people could be seen, heard, and valued. His impact in political organizing and human rights work has inspired countless others to continue pushing for justice, not just in theory, but in practice. That is the tradition I am proud to stand in.”
Barnes-Balenciaga, who is currently enrolled at Hunter College, has an extensive resume as an activist and policy maker. She is currently a Commissioner for the NYC Commission on Gender Equity, and also the Director of the Crystal La’Beija Organizing Fellowship.
Barnes-Balenciaga is excited to join the Mixner Fellowship cohort this upcoming semester, and expands on the relevance of the fellowship for both her personal and professional trajectory: “I am committed to using my platform, my voice, and my lived experience to expand access, opportunity, and equity for trans and queer communities, particularly Black and Brown trans youth who remain among the most vulnerable in our society. Through advocacy, policy work, and community-based organizing, I intend to carry forward David’s legacy by ensuring that visibility is never where our work ends. We must create structural change that moves beyond symbolic inclusion and leads to material outcomes: safety, housing, healthcare, education, and employment for trans and queer people. This fellowship allows me to continue that mission with the resources, mentorship, and network needed to scale impact. I do not take that lightly. My goal is to ensure that the spaces I enter — and the ones I help shape — are more just, more inclusive, and more transformative than those that came before.”
Barnes-Balenciaga reflects: “In honoring David Mixner’s legacy, I also honor the many trans and queer leaders who never received fellowships, who never had institutional support, but who still dared to create change. I walk in their footsteps, and I work for a future where their contributions are recognized, resourced, and remembered. This is not just a personal journey — it is a collective responsibility. And I am deeply proud to be part of that ongoing movement for justice.”
