Luz Márquez Benbow, is a Black Boricua adult survivor of child sexual abuse, incest and rape, and an abolitionist in the making that is guided by survivor leadership and working at the intersections of gender, race, and violence. As a former Just Beginnings Collaborative Fellow funded by the Novo Foundation and Ms Foundation from 2016- 2019, Luz was able to focus on her Black Latin community and childhood sexual abuse. During this time Luz formed the International Alianza de Mujeres Negrx (#IamNegrx), a survivor network of Afrolatin/AfroCaribbean to advance policy and movement building toward ending child sexual abuse and sexual violence across the Diaspora. Luz has been an anti-rape policy advocate since 1998, where she worked on statewide anti-sexual assault issues at the NYS Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NYSCASA). In this capacity Luz worked with State leaders, State agencies, colleges, and statewide advocacy groups to develop policies that ensure the safety of New Yorkers and that support survivors. In 2003, Luz co-founded the National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault (SCESA), in her role as co-founder and Associate Director of SCESA, Luz co-led the legislative efforts for the development of the Culturally Specific Grant program within the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in 2005 and 2012. This historical grant program provides resources and supports for Communities of Color led organizations across the U.S in addressing violence against women. Luz co-published a research journal on Afrolatinas and Child Sexual Abuse : Delida Sanchez, Luz Márquez Benbow, Martha Hernández-Martínez & Josephine V. Serrata (2019) Invisible Bruises: Theoretical and Practical Considerations for Black/Afro-Latina Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Women & Therapy; and was a contributing author to, LoveWITHAccountability: Digging Up the Roots of Child Sexual Abuse by Aishah Shahidah Simmons. Luz is the proud mother of 3, raised in East Harlem and a first-generation Black Puerto Rican, which infuses her intersectional analysis concerning race, gender, and violence.