Gloria Cruz is a passionate public servant with over 20 years of experience in actively developing policy and advocacy with a race and equity framework. She has also been a lifelong activist for LGBT and Immigrant rights, being a member of both communities. She was born in Michoacan, Mexico, and migrated to the United States as an unaccompanied minor at the young age of 10. Gloria is currently the Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Coalition For Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA).
A glass ceiling breaking activist and organizer, Gloria was deeply involved in the 1994 student walkouts, in opposition to CA Proposition 187; and was also active in the campaigns for in-state tuition for immigrant youth (AB 540), and fighting for the DREAM Act.
A graduate of San Diego State University, previous to CHIRLA Gloria served at the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties where she focused on education equity, immigrant rights, LGBT rights and police accountability. Followed by service at the San Diego City Council under President Georgette Gómez and at the San Diego County under Supervisor Terra Lawson Remer. There, Gloria served the City of San Diego and subsequently the County as the Director of Community Engagement, Public Safety & Binational Affairs. During her tenure in local government, she brought forward legislation against the Trump administration affirming San Diego’s commitment to welcome immigrants and refugees.
Gloria is a Hispanas Organized for Political Equality Leadership Institute (HLI) 2019 Fellow and University of San Diego’s Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice Alum. She is also a graduate of Yale University’s School of Management Women’s Leadership Program.