ABOUT

Currently serving as the Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County, Gabriela Trigueiro, MPP has been deeply involved in leading organizational rebuilding and expansion initiatives. Gabriela is a proud fourth-generation Californian, whose grandparents immigrated as farmers in the Sacramento area. Her professional work has centered on promoting equity and increasing access to education, healthcare, and public transportation. Gabriela has been a long-time immigration rights advocate for undocumented and mixed status families. Gabriela previously worked as a consultant for local businesses, governments, officials, and advocacy groups focused on finance and compliance in the counties of Santa Cruz, Monterey, Alameda and Contra Costa. 

Gabriela received her Masters of Public Policy from Mills College - a queer and womxn-led college in Oakland - and during that time, she consulted for the City of Oakland's Public Ethics Commission and for the Canal Alliance in Marin County. Gabriela also has a degree in Spanish Literature and Dance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and la Universidad de Sevilla. Gabriela began working in youth programming in 2003 and was staff for UW-Madison's College for Kids, a yearly summer program that began in 1979 bringing over 11,000 youth to campus for learning and exploration. Gabriela previously worked in health and human services with University of New Mexico's Continuing Education on coordinating projects ranging from a SAMSHA-funded training program for substance abuse counselors, to establishing new workforce development training for entry-level health care workers, collaborating to create a inter-tribal case management curriculum, and creating new courses for traditional healers and curanderos to share their work.

Gabriela was a former performing artist company member and grant writer at the National Institute of Flamenco. Gabriela was also a faculty member of Ballet Hispánico in New York City and in California, she has been an instructor for Arte Flamenco, Sacramento Ballet, San Francisco's ODC, Mission Cultural Center for the Arts -- and in Santa Cruz, at the  International Academy of Dance and the Tannery Arts Center. 

Currently, Gabriela is expanding the service area of Big Brother Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County. This year, the agency will be renamed and has already began serving Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito counties.

Gabriela is a volunteer for the elementary school where her son attends and the local chapter for Moms Demand Action (a part of Everytown for Gun Safety). 

Gabriela also serves as a city commissioner for the City of Santa Cruz's Commission for the Prevention of Violence Against Women.