I’m Phoenix Lara, and That’s What I Do is more than a phrase—it is a lifelong commitment to visibility, advocacy, and community care. I am a Two-Spirit visionary of the Yaqui Tribe who dared to form partnerships with majority communities to open doors for our Two-Spirit relatives and change the narrative of invisibility. The word “No” has never been part of my vocabulary when it comes to justice, culture, and collective liberation.

Since 1999, I have worked side by side with Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits (BAAITS) to ensure our voices are heard in spaces that were once closed to us. My leadership has included serving on Native American boards such as BAAITS, Intertribal Friendship House, the Save Legacy campaign, and the Native American AIDS Project—always centering community wellbeing, visibility, and sustainability.

I am the original drumkeeper for the BAAITS Two-Spirit Drum, where I still sing, in addition to singing with Sweet Medicine, Two Eagles, Red Tail Drum, and Turtle Women Rising. Since 2010, I have led drum circles in San Francisco and Oakland and taught traditional songs.

Alongside my cultural work, I bring over 25+years of experience in community-based support and co-counseling, learning directly through mentorship with Nola Hadley Torres. This foundation informs my work, offering HR support for community businesses, nonprofits, and grassroots organizations. I specialize in people-centered practices—supporting teams with communication, conflict navigation, policy development, and culturally responsive workplace care. My approach honors lived experience, relational accountability, and systems that allow both people and organizations to thrive.

I am also a writer and published poet. I believe poets are powerful—and sometimes dangerous to those in power—because we dare to speak truth, look beyond the façade, and name what must be remembered. Our voices, dreams, histories, and creations matter for generations to come.

We are the ones our ancestors have been waiting for.