CATHOLICS FOR CHOICE CELEBRATES PRESTIGIOUS ROCKWOOD FELLOWSHIP AWARDED TO GABY GARCIA-VERA
WASHINGTON — Today, Catholics for Choice, which lifts up the voices of the majority of Catholics who believe in reproductive freedom, is celebrating States Program Manager Gaby Garcia-Vera, who has been honored by the Rockwood Leadership Institute as one of their 2021 Reproductive Health, Rights, & Justice Fellows.
The Rockwood Leadership Institute recently announced its new class of fellows:
“This fellowship brings together 24 leaders from across the nation, an exciting cross-section of the movement that spans different strategies, demographics, and regions. It is designed to give leaders an opportunity to delve deeper into their leadership development and build stronger partnerships for a greater impact on the reproductive health, rights, and justice movement.”
Catholics for Choice President Jamie L. Manson said the following:
“Gaby has been an extraordinary leader in the reproductive rights space, not only through his exemplary work with our organization but in the wider repro movement, particularly in voicing and amplifying intersectional advocacy for marginalized communities. The Catholics for Choice family is incredibly proud of Gaby and grateful for his ongoing labor and leadership on these issues.”
Gaby Garcia-Vera is a Queer Latinx Puerto Rican with more than 15 years of organizing across social justice movements. A master facilitator, with a focus on racial equity through a pro-Black lens, immigrant rights, and LGBTQ Liberation, Gaby believes in centering his passion for innovation, connection, and vulnerability as a model for leadership. Gaby currently serves as the states program manager at Catholics for Choice, working to advance the moral, ethical, and religious case for protecting reproductive, health, rights, and justice as a Catholic value. For nearly a decade, Gaby has been part of the leadership team for Union=Fuerza Latinx Institute, a one day convening aimed at bringing Queer and Trans Latinx organizers from around the country together to help advance their leadership in fundraising, campaigns, and culture shift work. Previously, Gaby co-founded the Coquí Language Collective, a Florida-based worker-owned collective working to promote language justice through interpretation and translation service. Gaby has also formerly served as executive director of GetEQUAL and the FL Field and Advocacy Manager for the Latina Institute.
Catholics for Choice shapes and advances sexual and reproductive ethics that are based on justice, reflect a commitment to a person’s well-being and respect and affirm the capacity of all people to make moral decisions about their lives.