Name: Elia Chino

Nominating Organization: FLAS, Inc., Fundacion Latinoamericana De Accion Social, Inc.

Elia Chinó has called Houston home for over 37 years. During that time, she has forged a reputation as a determined health and wellness advocate who works tirelessly to educate people about preventable diseases, behavioral health, and mental illness. After losing many close friends to HIV/AIDS, Elia decided to take action. The result of her desire to help end the devastation wrought by this disease in the Latino community was the founding of the Fundación Latinoamericana de Acción Social, Inc. (FLAS).

Chinó is a former City of Houston Community Planning Group (CPG) member and chair for the Latino HIV Task Force. She has repeatedly been recognized for her tremendous efforts to create a healthier environment for members of the Latino community in Houston. In 2006 she was a guest speaker on Sabado Gigante, an international TV program on Univision, and was named Anonymous Hero by host Don Francisco in 2006. Other accolades include Certificate of Honor (2006) by Houston Health and Human Services; Telemundo’s Heroes Hispanos (2009); OutSmart magazine Top LGBTQ Latino Leader (2016); Premio Revolución Award (2016); and the Jefferson Foundation Award (2016) for her outstanding public service. In 2018 she was nominated by the General Mexican Consulate and received Community Leader Award for International Women Day. Most recently, Chino was named Transgender-Gender-Nonconforming and Nonbinary Advocate(2019) by the POZ MAGAZINE and PREMIO OHTLI (2021) by the federal government of Mexico.

Elia continues to be a sought-after consultant and presenter due to her reputation for excellence in HIV/STD and Viral Hepatitis Prevention. As she looks to the future, her dreams and hopes are that together we will decrease the health disparities in Houston and surrounding areas.