Rafael is the co-creator and co-writer of the autobiographical play, N*gger Wetb*ck Ch*nk, which has received acclaim from the New York Times, LA Times, Denver Post, and has won awards for its advancement of social justice in the arts.In 2016, Rafael was named a Sundance Episodic Story Lab Fellow for his original TV family sitcom, Illegal, inspired by his life as a former undocumented American.In 2015, the LA Times honored Rafael with the Emerging Leader Award at the annual Latinos de Hoy Ceremony at the Dolby Theatre. Also in 2015, he was named Alumnus of the Year by Mt. San Antonio College, and contributed to a new book entitled, Portraits of the Dream: The Importance of Investing in Undocumented America, which promotes Dream Act legislation in Washington D.C.Rafael is the Founding Executive Director of Edward James Olmos' Latino Film Institute Youth Cinema Project, an authentic project-based learning program that develops self-advocacy, creativity and leadership in public schools through the art of filmmaking, and paves the way for Hollywood's multicultural future.Rafael received his BA and MA from UCLA's School of Theater, Film & Television, where he received the Natalie Wood Acting Award. He is an alumnus of the CBS Diversity Comedy Showcase, and is a past recipient of the Dell'Arte Comedy Award from the Kennedy Center. Show less «