Her Story
About Gabriela
Gabriela Silverio is a nonprofit leader, community organizer, and advocate with nearly three decades of experience advancing programs and services that support children, families, and underserved communities. As Director of Bridge Builders Community Partnership Inc. in the Bronx, she leads the development and implementation of community-based initiatives focused on family stability, youth development, health access, advocacy, and social services. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to empowering communities and creating opportunities that improve quality of life for working families.
Throughout her career, Gabriela has built a reputation for bringing people together to address complex community needs through collaboration, innovation, and grassroots engagement. Her experience spans nonprofit management, community organizing, public health outreach, youth justice advocacy, and program development. She has successfully designed and expanded programs that connect families to critical resources, including health insurance, housing assistance, food support, workforce development, and youth leadership opportunities. Under her leadership, Bridge Builders Community Partnership has experienced significant organizational growth, expanding its impact and strengthening its capacity to serve the Highbridge community and beyond.
Gabriela holds a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and is a Certified Application Counselor through the New York State Department of Health. A bilingual leader fluent in English and Spanish, she is passionate about mentoring emerging professionals, developing future community leaders, and fostering partnerships that create sustainable change. Whether coaching staff, facilitating workshops, securing resources through grant development, or working directly with residents, Gabriela remains dedicated to building stronger, healthier, and more connected communities.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Gabriela
01What do you attribute your success to?
The lives that I get to touch when working in human services - seeing young adults or even families in crisis flourish - that's what I take every day and that continues to push me. That's why I try to at least do two workshops or two collaboration or coalition meetings, because through the workshops I get to see the transition when they are doing that 10-week series. I see them communicating, moving - it's a process. Being a part of that and witnessing my work put things in action and progress is what drives me. I believe that we are all born with many potentials and many opportunities, but sometimes because of systems or things that surround us, we are not able to explore and exploit the max of us. So if I can be the guide to someone to explore and maximize who they were born to be, and then see them flourish and be that, that's an accomplishment and it's a transformation and a healing. Because people heal people - that's the only way.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
In the nonprofit world in general, it doesn't matter which area, especially in human services - when you start, I say you are not going to see the riches or the economic wealth of it. But you will see a transformation of wealth. The human service work is the best university of life that you can touch or be part of. Working with passion and doing everything that you do with the heart, it's just coming to fruition. Anywhere that I could either impact a young person to either straighten their life or see their potential, because I believe that we are all born with many potentials and many opportunities, but sometimes because of systems or things that surround us, we are not able to explore and exploit the max of us. So if you can be the guide to someone to explore and maximize who they were born to be, and then you see them flourish and be that, that's an accomplishment and it's a transformation and a healing.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is building and sustaining a grassroots nonprofit in an increasingly competitive funding environment. Many organizations serving vulnerable communities face significant funding shortages, making it difficult to expand programs and meet growing needs. At the same time, I see a tremendous opportunity to build strong community partnerships, engage local stakeholders, and develop innovative approaches that create lasting impact for the youth and families we serve.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Staying grounded and connected to my community and people is essential to me. I try to keep a balance in my work because if not, I lose the essence of what I like to do, which is being in touch with my community and people. I take at least twice a week to either host a workshop or host a collaboration or coalition meeting where I'm on the ground, besides my coaching, supervising, and managing data. I believe that we are all born with many potentials and many opportunities, and if I can be the guide to someone to explore and maximize who they were born to be, that's an accomplishment and a transformation and a healing. People heal people - that's the only way. Anywhere that I could either impact a young person to either straighten their life or see their potential is important to me, because sometimes because of systems or things that surround us, we are not able to explore and exploit the max of us.
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