Gabriela Diaz

I am a recent graduate from the University of California, Merced where I obtained a bachelors of arts degree in psychology. I am the fifth out of seven siblings and the first in my family line to graduate thus far. My parents emigrated from Jalisco and Guanajuato, Mexico to the United States in pursuit of a better life. Now I get to live out the blessing of being Mexican American. Through the struggles of being first generation to growing up in a family of divorced parents and personal mental health challenges, I have discovered my story and core values.

Now with my involvement in City Ministry Network and their Latino Leadership Initiative, I am discovering what it means to me to be a Latina women of faith. As a result, I have introduced the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality course to my local community with the aim to help leaders become more well-rounded in their faith, emotional health, and service to others.

Having been born and raised in Modesto, I look forward to serving the city I grew up in.

As a NextGen on Board Fellow, Gabriela is serving a two-year term on Cricket’s Hope’s Board of Directors beginning July 2021.