Celebrating Latine Leaders: Gabriela Garcia Perez

"We are in a time where divisiveness is very prevalent and I think the reason why is that we are not having many interactions with each other from different cultures or socio-economic backgrounds."

Gabriela Garcia Perez

Founder and director of Community Integration Mentoring Program

Hometown: East Haven, CT

Gabriela founded the Community Integration Mentoring Program, which pairs English-speaking students in one town with Spanish-speaking students/English Language learners in others, primarily in Fair Haven, though it is more than just helping students learn English.

"We want to unite these communities," said Gabriela. "We are in a time where divisiveness is very prevalent and I think the reason why is that we are not having many interactions with each other from different cultures or socio-economic backgrounds. So that is something my program focuses on, to bring students together and to teach everyone in the group that they all can do something for their community."