PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Gabriela has over 13 years of experience working in nonprofit organizations. She currently works as the community connector for the Community Campus Partnership at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus.

As a youth organizer for the Denver Center for International Studies in Montebello, she assisted with engaging students in decision-making and conducted a listening campaign. She was also a family program coordinator for Aurora Community Connection and a teaching assistant for St. James Catholic School, where she helped in the Kindergarten class and did interpreting for Spanish-speaking families. Gabriela was a youth and parent organizer for the Metro Organizations for People, where she trained volunteers and youth to build community relationships and taught effective team building skills across race.

In her work for the Annie Casey and Piton foundations, she promoted different learning styles to meet student needs; identified and recruited residents, groups and organizations to participate in community story circles; and promoted unity and organized work across racial, age, gender, language and class identities. Gabriela was a consultant for the Denver Foundation Strengthening Neighborhoods Program; she was assigned in the Aurora Public Schools as a leadership coordinator to increase the involvement of parents, students, and teachers with their communities, supporting the culture of care and restorative justice practices.

Gabriela has participated in several training programs, including: restorative justice practices through ReSoulionaries, and Colorado State University; social action projects and Hispanic youth ministry through the Archdiocese of Denver; and community organizing through Pacific Institute for Community Organizing (PICO).

She currently assists CCS with recruiting Latino community leaders and educators, developing our restorative justice program, and networking and facilitation.

EDUCATION

  • B.A., Law and Society and Minor in Communications; Colorado Woman College, University of Denver, Denver, CO; 2014
  • Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Mexico