North Carolina Dinner

As seen on ABC, TBS, and Last Comic Standing, Dana Goldberg is a force of nature on stage. With performances at the San Francisco International Comedy Competition, The Comedy Festival produced by TBS and HBO, and the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, her quick wit and playful stage presence have earned her loyal fans across the world.

In addition to headlining theaters and festivals, Dana has performed at and emceed hundreds of high-profile events, sharing the national stage with luminaries like President Barack Obama, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Meryl Streep, Carol Burnett, Sir Elton John and countless others. Combining her gift of humor with humanitarian efforts, Dana has raised over $70M for non-profits around the country in the fight for LGBTQ rights, women's health, and HIV/AIDS education and prevention...just to name a few. With over 150,000 followers, Dana was recently named to Out Magazine’s Out100 List, Curve Magazine’s Power List and GO Magazine’s 100 Women We Love.

She is the co-host of the top-rated news podcast The Daily Beans (250,000 weekly downloads) and is currently developing her first TV pilot with Soto Productions (Tony Award winning Suffs The Musical and Laura Benanti’s Nobody Cares).

Councilmember JD Mazuera Arias represents Charlotte’s District 5 on the Charlotte City Council, one of the most diverse, international, and culturally rich communities in the city. Elected on a platform centered on equitable investment, community empowerment, and transparent governance, he is committed to ensuring that East Charlotte receives the resources, attention, and long‑term planning it has historically been denied.

He made history as the first Latino and first Gen-zer elected to the Charlotte City Council. Born in Colombia and raised in East Charlotte to Colombian immigrant parents, JD’s lived experience as a bilingual, LGBTQ+ former Dreamer deeply informs his approach to public service and community advocacy. He is a proud produce of CMS public schools and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Queens University of Charlotte and a Master of Public Administration from NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. 

Before his election to City Council, JD built a distinguished career at the intersection of policy, advocacy, and nonprofit leadership. He supported global tech policy as a Lead in Kyndryl’s Global Government Affairs & Policy team, national policy as a Senior Government Affairs Assistant at The Century Foundation, and served as a Public Policy Fellow with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute at the Aspen Institute’s Latinos & Society Program and the office of U.S. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, where he focused on immigration, racial equity, and economic justice. 

On Council, JD champions and focuses on transparent and communicative governance, equitable economic development, and community-centered public safety while working to ensure that every resident’s voice is heard in city policy and planning. His historic 34-vote win reflects the power of organizing and the growing diversity of leadership in Charlotte. He is a strong advocate for equitable investment, transparent government processes, and policies that protect the dignity and rights of all residents.

During his free time, JD loves to explore the global taste of restaurants in East Charlotte, listening to Bad Bunny, drinking Colombian coffee, and spending time with his loved ones.

MacGregor VanBeurden is a bold and emerging leader in North Carolina’s LGBTQ+ movement, committed to building power in communities too often overlooked. As the founding president of the LGBTQ+ Democrats of Catawba County, he transformed a vision into a dynamic local caucus, raising thousands of dollars for advocacy and launching the Newton Rainbow Festival to expand visibility and belonging in rural Western North Carolina.

He currently serves as the Western North Carolina Representative for the LGBTQ+ Democrats of North Carolina and as the Blue Ridge Regional Director for the Carolina’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce, strengthening connections between LGBTQ+ advocates, business leaders, and community partners across the region.

In Charlotte, MacGregor has reimagined fundraising through high-energy community events such as Power to the People and Let Them Eat Cake, raising thousands of dollars for grassroots organizations. His leadership reflects a fearless commitment to shaping a more inclusive and empowered South in a fearless manner.

Asheboro Latinxs Services (ALS) is a community organization based in Asheboro, North Carolina, dedicated to empowering and accompanying Latinx, LGBTQI+ communities and people living with HIV/AIDS in rural areas. Through direct services, community education, leadership opportunities, and advocacy actions, ALS works to reduce barriers, strengthen holistic well-being, and guarantee dignified and culturally relevant access to essential resources. Our programs focus on health and well-being, education, civic engagement, LGBTQI+ rights, immigrant rights, and language justice.

In addition, ALS carries out ongoing HIV prevention work and health education with the community, creating safe, accessible, and judgment-free spaces to talk about sexuality, self-care, testing, reliable information, and routes to support. This approach seeks to break stigmas, combat misinformation, and reduce the fear that many people face when approaching health services, promoting a culture of care and respect for all identities.

We are a trans-led organization and guided by the community. We hold monthly meetings with volunteers, staff, and community subgroups, including LGBTQI+ support groups, trans spaces, and different community groups, to listen, assess needs, and make collective decisions about programming. Our flagship program, Empoderadxs, is an annual leadership academy that accompanies cohorts of trans Latinas and other LGBTQIA+ people in a formative process, strengthening health, leadership, and professional development skills to build resilience, solidarity, and community power.

Under the leadership of Tania Jimenez, Founder and Executive Director, ALS is a trans-led organization that is born from lived experience and deep love for the rural community of North Carolina. Tania, a trans and immigrant woman with roots in Asheboro, returned to her community with the determination to expand access to resources, strengthen leadership, and defend the dignity of the people most impacted by stigma and exclusion. Alongside her, a committed team and a diverse base of volunteers and community leaders sustain programs that integrate direct support, HIV prevention, healing, education, and community organizing, demonstrating that care, solidarity, and collective power can transform lives.