Gerrlyn Gacao grew up in Stockton California never understanding just how under served her community was. Her schools had few resources, her neighbors lived in section 8 housing, and there was a large homeless population in her neighborhood. After leaving to go to the University of California San Diego, and majoring in urban planning, she began to understand that the injustices that had been normalized in her upbringing were just that, unjust. So she studied the many aspects of what it takes to make a city thrive and what parts of it can help to make individual’s lives better, whether that be access to fresh foods nearby or having a place for the community to gather where they will not be criminalized for loitering. Along with this, it became clear to her that the way that our communities are built can perpetuate historically oppressive systems. Within her, a fire was lit. She saw that, “There is a life that is better and you can actually do something about it and fight for it.” And there are people out there who can help you do that.
Gerrlyn found that she had a passion for organizing these communities, building strong bonds between residents and herself, or residents with each other. It was empowering. It awakened strength, vibrancy, and voice within places often silenced. Through her passion, she found a career and she is now the Lead Community Organizer for the American Civil Liberties Union of the San Diego and Imperial Counties, where she devotes her time and energy into helping others to help themselves. However, to help herself, she makes sure that she always leaves some of that time and energy to travel, music, relaxation, and her beautiful, scruffy dog Lily. Gerrlyn believes that, “if you can be an organizer, you can be anything.” In the future, she hopes to take her passion a step further by getting her master’s degree in Community Development. Later, she hopes to oversee and implement new community development programs, but she knows that her background in community organizing will always stay with her in the things that she values, the way that she thinks, and the beautiful relationships that she has built with others.
My interview with Gerrlyn very much opened a window to what my life may look like in the future. I believe that Gerrlyn and I have a lot in common. We are both passionate about fighting for justice and community, but we are also passionate about traveling, food, music, and dogs. This was cool because I was able to understand how she balances these things. I really loved getting to ask her about career paths after organizing and how to make time for yourself while still helping others. I know that this is a relationship I will always cherish and I know that Gerrlyn will continue to be a mentor of mine long after my Junior internship is over.