Gavrielle Reyes

Gavrielle Reyes (She/Her/Ella) is deeply invested in doing power differently and helping folks heal. She is firmly rooted in the belief that community building requires grace for ourselves and each other, as we are all ancestors in training. She received her BA in Film, minoring in Gender Studies, from Hunter College. Gavrielle was among the 10% of applicants selected for the first Social Justice Fellowship through the Leadership for Democracy and Social Justice initiative of the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership at City College of New York and the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, where she developed her skills in civic engagement and advocacy. 

She got her start working with youth at Bella Abzug Leadership Institute (BALI), first as an intern and then as their Program Coordinator. While at BALI, she served as point person for the STARS Citywide Girls Initiative - a NYC Council funded grant worth $1.4 million and consisting of 9 other non-profit partners with a reach of over 6,000 young folks. Her fondest memories are from supporting the development and execution of Self Care Saturdays, a Nike collaboration, along with youth-led town halls and other activations that championed the holistic well-being of student leaders. The partners and community members she had the pleasure of collaborating with, the majority of which being Black & Brown women, taught her how to live her values and anchor in joy as resistance. She was also able to champion sexual assault prevention by collaborating with SafeBAE and facilitating peer-to-peer support. 

Working with young people invested in building a better world jump started her personal healing journey. Gavrielle first engaged with youth in Denver through her role as Program & Recruitment Associate at Minds Matter Colorado under their former Executive Director, Kate Brenan. She is grateful to have been a part of a beautiful community of students, volunteers, and educators under Kate's heart-forward leadership. Her highest aspiration is centered on providing individuals and communities with tools and resources to support healing and liberation from the many oppressive systems and practices that undermine our humanity. Considering the role that the adultification of children of color has played historically, she also feels it is our obligation to guarantee opportunities to be kids. Anchoring in the fact that caring creates resilience, on an individual and community level, she is deeply honored by the opportunity to walk alongside the Youth on Record community at the intersection of creative education and mental health.