Tobias Vasquez
YOUTH LEADERSHIP COORDINATOR (they/them/he/him)
Tobías Pablo Vasquez is a self-identified Brown, Queer, Chicanx Community Organizer and Educator born in Anaheim, California with substantial lived experiences in Southern California and the East Bay. They began investing more into social justice work during their undergraduate career in Berkeley, California and have since taken those learnings into various community spaces throughout Southern California.
As the Building Bridges Program Coordinator for School Leadership, Tobías supports youth in their social justice education and leadership through the Conscious Classrooms and Building Bridges Clubs Alliance programs at CCEJ. This entails curating educational and reflective spaces for students to dialogue and organize for just school climates, where all students can thrive. Previous to their role at CCEJ, Tobías served Queer and Trans youth in the historically conservative Orange County by visiting them at their Gay Straight Alliance school clubs, where they helped students facilitate social activities, educate their peers on California pro-LGBTQ+ Ed Code, and uplifted the advocacy work they were doing on campus, such as advocating for teacher trainings and allowing name and gender changes to be reflected on school records for Transgender students. These experiences in school settings inspired and paved the way for Tobías to continue the work of utilizing education, dialogue, and connection as a practice for liberation and healing where it may have not been founded or cultivated thoroughly before.
Previously a volunteer facilitator for Conscious Classrooms, Tobías fell in love with the work CCEJ is engaged to and is now elated to support and grow alongside the youth, staff, and community committed to this transformational heart work. They intend to build intergenerational bridges on school campuses and communities where marginalized youth and adults feel included and inspired to share their stories and advocate for justice.