Deputy Director
Hometown
Salt Lake City, Utah
What was your favorite hobby or extracurricular activity as a child, and did you pursue it further later in life?
Dance was my favorite hobby as a child. I joined a dance team in 4th grade and fell in love with the art form. Since then, I have learned many forms of dance and have had the opportunity to perform and compete in jazz, modern, latin ballroom, salsa, and bachata. I feel most like myself when I dance.
What was your favorite meal or dish that your family would make, and do you still enjoy it today?
Homemade flour tortillas are my favorite food of all time. I still make them but they never turn out quite like my Grandma Archuleta's.
What was your favorite thing about being a child, and do you try to hold onto that spirit as an adult?
I loved discovering, exploring, and learning. As a kid, the world unfolds before you and I find the same still happens as an adult. I love having new experiences, exploring new places, and learning about life and this planet we inhabit.
What was the most challenging experience you faced as a child, and how did you overcome it?
As child I experienced a mix of poverty, substance abuse, racism, and discrimination. My response to that was to fight for justice and advocate for marginalized communities, especially as many people continue to experience poverty, substance abuse, racism and discrimination.
What was the most valuable lesson you learned as a child, and how has it influenced your life today?
The unconditional love and support from my parents gave me a sense of stability even when we were experiencing instability. As a parent, I strive to give the same unconditional love and support to my children.
Biography
Gabriella Archuleta (Gabe) is a long-time advocate for justice and equity for marginalized communities. She spent many years serving the immigrant and refugee communities and survivors of violence and human trafficking. Gabe has over 17 years’ of experience training victim advocates, attorneys, judges, tribes, and community members on domestic violence, diversity, equity and inclusion, and Immigration and Federal Indian Child Welfare laws. In her Director of Public Policy role at YWCA Utah, she advocates for laws and policies that center race and gender equity in the areas of domestic and sexual violence, child care, housing, mental health, and reproductive justice.
Gabriella’s work is inspired by growing up in Utah in a bi-cultural and bi-racial Mexican American family. As a first-generation college student, she overcame challenges navigating higher education and now holds a joint Juris Doctor and Master of Public Policy degree as well as a Bachelor of Speech Communication and Spanish from the University of Utah. A dancer at her core, Gabe has a deep love for many dance styles including salsa and bachata, and the joy and freedom that comes with rhythm and movement. She deeply cherishes her role as mama, wife, sister, auntie, cousin, daughter, and granddaughter.
