Lauren Garcia (she/her) is the Executive Director of Queer Cultural Center (QCC). She is a nonprofit executive and cultural leader with proven experience building artist-centered institutions and guiding organizations through periods of growth and transition.

Prior to QCC, Lauren led NorthStar Church of the Arts through a significant organizational transformation, overseeing fundraising, operations, communications, and strategic planning. Her leadership strengthened internal systems, expanded public visibility, and supported the long-term sustainability of multidisciplinary community-rooted programming.

Lauren’s work sits at the intersection of art, strategy, and movement building. Her background includes senior leadership in publishing and media, statewide housing and homelessness advocacy, and the design of public programs that integrate creative practice with political education and community care. She holds an MS in Sociology and is a practicing artist and musician committed to building resilient, autonomous, sustainable cultural institutions.