Alex Sanchez 
LEAB Chair

Alex Sanchez (he/él) is a transgender Mexican-American community advocate who grew up in rural Fresno county. He is currently serving as the Chair of FMCoC’s Lived Experience Advisory Board. The LEAB strives to ensure that people who have previously or are currently experiencing homelessness are in the room when decisions that will affect them are being made. Alex has been working in housing justice and reform for six years within marginalized communities. He came to begin this work as a way to fight for survival when enduring violence and discrimination while experiencing homelessness. His advocacy work also includes educating and advocating for: equitable access to health care, anti-discrimination practices, reproductive health education, and mental health access. As a program coordinator, Alex works with young Latinx men in the LGBTQ+ creating safe spaces to discuss the intersectional identities and experiences of being a young brown GBTQ+ person in such a conservative part of California. He is also the chair of Trans-E-Motion that works with the transgender, nonbinary, and gender expansive communities of the Central Valley. This work is largely focused on offering peer support, low barrier rental relief, and resources for gender affirming care to the community

Audra Hewlett
LEAB Secretary

Audra Hewlett is a native of Thornton Colorado and moved the San Joaquin Valley in 2005 to join her best friend who is from Fresno.  Audra pursued her degree in accounting and graduated in 2007 with her associate degree from Heald College.  In 2011 due to unfortunate circumstances, she became homeless for a period of 8 years.  During those years, she became well-known with the unhoused community and was the voice of reason to many.  In 2019 she was offered permanent supportive housing through Turning Point and continues to reside there today.  Audra does not forget her time being homeless and when the opportunity presented her to become the secretary on the LEAB board she was honored and accepted. Audra works a full-time job and is a doggie mamma to 6 dogs that she acquired during her time being homeless.  Audra strives daily to utilize her voice so the unhoused will be given fair and equal opportunities for housing.

Terrence Prayer
Posthumous Member

Mr. Prayer was a native Californian who traveled nationally and has experienced hardships and homelessness intermittently with varying outcomes.  He was originally from the San Diego area and lived in several other counties throughout the state.  His most recent homeless experience began in 2021.  Retiring from his job due to health reasons, he lost his employee housing and found himself without the resources to relocate.  He reached out to both the Veteran’s Affairs Dept and Fresno Housing Authority for help.  Because of their assistance and guidance, he secured long term housing and services. He joined the LEAB so that he could share what he considers a success story to show others that the system can also work for them.  During his time as a member, he was dedicated to assisting the LEAB in lifting the voices of the homeless and participating in the activities that advocated for services.