Claudia Gonzalez

Central Valley Policy Associate

Central Valley California

Email Claudia

Claudia is a community organizer and educator in California’s Central Valley. Originally from Los Angeles, Claudia grew up in the Bay Area, and has made Merced her home for the past several years. A graduate of Merced College, she went on to study at UC Berkeley, where she was a Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholar and majored in Social Welfare. Since returning to the Valley in 2014, her work has focused on empowering youth, organizing, policy advocacy, and supporting incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people in the Central Valley.

Raised with strong social justice and political foundations, Claudia has been involved in many movements, most notably the formerly incarcerated people’s movement, and now holds the distinction of being a Soros Justice Advocacy Fellow. Through her Soros Justice Advocacy Fellowship, Claudia launched the first wrap around reentry program for formerly incarcerated womxn and girls in the entire Central Valley, Formerly Incarcerated Xingonas (FIX). Prior to joining Root and Rebound, Claudia lead the Girls & Womxn of Color program for the Youth Leadership Institute in Merced, the first Gender Justice youth group in the area, and helped mobilize efforts behind the #MErcedToo campaign.  

Dedicated to social justice work, Claudia hopes to continue movement-building, healing, and organizing, and desires to attend Law School. In her spare time, Claudia enjoys traveling, drawing, and spending time with her two German Shepherds, Daisy and Lobo.

Claudia Gonzalez

Central Valley Policy Associate

Central Valley California

Email Claudia

Claudia is a community organizer and educator in California’s Central Valley. Originally from Los Angeles, Claudia grew up in the Bay Area, and has made Merced her home for the past several years. A graduate of Merced College, she went on to study at UC Berkeley, where she was a Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholar and majored in Social Welfare. Since returning to the Valley in 2014, her work has focused on empowering youth, organizing, policy advocacy, and supporting incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people in the Central Valley.

Raised with strong social justice and political foundations, Claudia has been involved in many movements, most notably the formerly incarcerated people’s movement, and now holds the distinction of being a Soros Justice Advocacy Fellow. Through her Soros Justice Advocacy Fellowship, Claudia launched the first wrap around reentry program for formerly incarcerated womxn and girls in the entire Central Valley, Formerly Incarcerated Xingonas (FIX). Prior to joining Root and Rebound, Claudia lead the Girls & Womxn of Color program for the Youth Leadership Institute in Merced, the first Gender Justice youth group in the area, and helped mobilize efforts behind the #MErcedToo campaign.  

Dedicated to social justice work, Claudia hopes to continue movement-building, healing, and organizing, and desires to attend Law School. In her spare time, Claudia enjoys traveling, drawing, and spending time with her two German Shepherds, Daisy and Lobo.

Why do you come to work at Root & Rebound every day?

As a formerly incarcerated woman, it is important that I create opportunities for other formerly incarcerated women and help illuminate the pathway for those just beginning the healing and transformation process. 

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