Meet Gabby, our new intake coordinator

Here at API Legal Outreach, we get dozens of inquiries a week from people in need of our services. With a range of help needed, languages spoken, and counties represented, our intake team are our “first responders” who work with these potential clients and help determine if we’re able to support them with our services.

We’re excited to have a new addition to our intake team, Gabby, who is based in our San Francisco office. A second generation Filipina-American immigrant, she identifies both the Bay Area, where she was born and raised, and Manila, where her parents are from and she still has family and friends, as home. Gabby cultivated passion for social justice work through her Jesuit high school and college educations, which embrace the value of being a person “with and for others.” A graduate of Georgetown University, she has focused on working with underserved migrant and immigrant communities. A perfect fit for APILO, if you ask us!

In her own words…

What excites you about working with APILO and the communities we serve?

I’m excited to contribute to a legal nonprofit organization that has a longstanding history among Bay Area community members of upholding tenets of social justice and serving hands-on diverse underrepresented groups. As someone who is interested in law, I was impressed by APILO’s comprehensive offering of legal practice areas (immigration, elder abuse, domestic violence, and more) and look forward to learning more about each one. Finally, I feel lucky to work alongside a warm and dedicated team that is knowledgeable and passionate about the work they do.

What expertise and interests do you bring to the organization?

Having different work experiences in immigrant/migrant services at both domestic nonprofit and international federal levels have taught me so much prior to coming into this role. As a nonprofit youth program coordinator in San Francisco’s Chinatown district, I worked on my resourcefulness, interpersonal skills, and community building as I focused on centering the needs and interests of our immigrant students and youth volunteer base in our programs. From my most recent position working abroad for the first time at the Philippines Department of Migrant Workers, I meticulously polished my work ethic and learned to not be afraid of challenging myself with new tasks and situations I haven’t encountered before. While they are multifaceted and countless to name, I think that many aspects of my previous roles have helped me to become well-rounded and will assist me in interacting with clients and handling my workload with diligence in this frontline position.

What are your passions beyond work?

I am passionate about music! I have been singing since I was in high school and have been teaching myself the guitar. I love going to concerts or supporting live music gigs of any genre whenever I can.

Thanks for your time Gabby, and welcome to the APILO team!