I am a first generation formerly undocumented high school graduate and the daughter of migrant farmworkers who went from one of the poorest rural areas in California to earn 3 degrees in higher education. My degrees have helped me dedicate myself to a life of service to my community. I teach Chicana/o Latina/o Studies at a public institution for a living while supporting my spouse through school, a Native American disabled veteran, and raising our daughter. Over the years, I have been active in supporting my community not only by educating young people to create social change through activism, art, writing, and any career avenue they choose, but also as a matriarch who shows up for her family and community in all times of need. My family has been active in supporting local, national and transnational mutual aid efforts throughout the COVID shutdown, the George Floyd uprising, and through the recent ICE surge in the Twin Cities. We have donated thousands of dollars to these efforts and to causes that we believe in because we believe in a mutual aid ethic as Indigenous people.

There is a looming deadline!!! The government is changing the rules to income-driven repayment plans on July 1, 2026. It is important that Gabby finish her loan payments before this date or her payment could significantly increase, making it less probable for her to repay and be forgiven!

We are now asking for your help for Gabby - Gabby grew up in an impoverished family without any means to attend college except for applying for scholarships, financial aid and taking out student loans. To this day, her parents still don't own a home and have sparse retirement savings. Over her 16 year trek through higher education, Gabby took out student loans to sustain herself as a student and to help her parents and siblings sometimes with meeting very basic needs. As a public servant for more than a decade, she is now only 2 payments away from loan forgiveness, but is finding it difficult to make them at the moment given that she is the sole breadwinner and is sustaining her family while continuing to grapple with not having access to any inter-generational wealth. Being debt free from student loans would change this family's life, it would free up income so that they could start saving and make needed repairs to their home.

Gabby's birthday is coming up on May 31st. In lieu of gifts, contribute to helping Gabby wipe out her student debt. She is two payments away! She has always said that her degrees and everything she has achieved as an award-winning Assistant Professor who has served and mentored mostly first generation BIPOC students, are the result of the community-driven love and support that sustains her.

The goal is $950 - $900 for the payments and $50 to cover GoFundMe fees.