BOOST is turning 15! We will be highlighting our BOOST Bloggers, Ambassadors, Leadership Team members, and Partners weekly through the end of the year to say ‘thanks’ to our outstanding team members for their contributions to the in and out-of-school time community.
As we approach our 15-year anniversary, we are reminded of how much we value and appreciate our TEAMBOOST partners and want to share their stories – their journeys through the in and out-of-school time field, their goals and accomplishments, career highlights, and a few fun things about their lives.
Learn all about our BOOST Ambassador, Gabriela Delgado
Gabriela is the Senior Manager of Grants Services at the San Diego County Office of Education in San Diego, CA. She will facilitate a Pre-Conference Academy “Demystifying the World of Grants” on Tuesday, April 25, at the 2023 BOOST Conference in Palm Springs, CA.
How did you enter the OST, expanded learning, and/or educational field?
One of my first jobs as a Teacher Assistant involved developing lessons on various topics and visiting after school programs to serve students directly.
What motivates you to do this work?
Back in the day, I was a student who attended the Boys & Girls Club. I want to make a difference for others the same way people made a difference in my life.
What are you currently reading or watching?
The Hate You Give.
Share some of your greatest accomplishments.
Professional: Completing a 3-year service learning project that transformed a school from “blah” to “amazing”- the project included countless murals of colleges and universities around the country. Working with students, families, and teachers to make an impact was priceless!
Personal: Completing a Spartan race. I thought I was going to die but I persevered and finished the race!
What are some big goals you are working toward?
As a grants professional, my current goal is to develop resources and systems that cultivate direct impact for students furthest from opportunity.
What are your top three leadership qualities?
1- I know when to speak up and when to keep my mouth shut 🙂
2- Listening (like really listening, not just nodding my head and saying “uhuh”)
3- Being genuine. I like to lead from a place of love, as cheesy as that sounds. I genuinely care about people and their well-being. I’ll do whatever I can to support their growth.
Name a leader that you admire and why?
Malala Yousafzai- her ability to push through fear in order to speak up and advocate for the rights of girls is humbling. She identified her purpose early in life and has not deviated from it one bit.
Share an inspirational quote that resonates with you.
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”- Maya Angelou
As a child, what were your career aspirations?
I wanted to be the President of the United States (I was heartbroken when I found out that you have to be born in the US).
What causes are you passionate about?
Supporting girls and women of color; making a meaningful difference in my community
What is one of the highlights of your career?
Developing and offering a conference that honored the work that women do in education, community-based programs, etc. I was able to offer this for 9 years!
How do you show kindness to others and/or share ways others have shown kindness to you?
I acknowledge them by their name. I say hello to people (even the ones who are cranky).
What career legacy do you want to leave?
The grants and programs that I helped develop will serve as ripples that lead to significant and meaningful impact for young people.
What’s the biggest mistake you made on the job and what did you learn from it?
I made the mistake of assuming that all people who work with kids are always honest. I learned that no matter what other people do or don’t do, I can only control my response to it.
Tell us what you had for breakfast!
No breakfast but for lunch I had a turkey sandwich with avocado.
Click the image below to learn about Gabriela’s Pre-Conference Academy and meet her at the 2023 BOOST Conference!
Thank you, Gabriela, for being a wonderful BOOST Ambassador and for sharing your leadership with us!