Season 5, Episode 2: Gabriela Cervantes - Public Policy & Advocacy in the Child Care System

Welcome to Season 5, Episode 2! During this episode we're excited to kick things off with a special guest who has dedicated much of her career to advocating for the rights and well-being of children and families, especially those from equity-seeking communities. We were honoured to spend time with Gabriela Cervantes, a public policy, and advocacy specialist with OXFAM Canadaand The Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC. Tune in to learn:How inclusive child care policies advance gender equity.Why community-driven solutions matter in policymaking.Gabriela’s journey from Ecuador to shaping Canadian social policy.Look at the Where's Childcare? campaign.Help push for a Quality $10aDay Child Care Systemnow!Have a look at THROUGH THE LENS: A Photographic Exploration of Exclusion, Inclusion, and Belonging in the Child Care System  by PIRS.Gabriela is a public policy and advocacy specialist with over eight years of experience driving gender equity, child care, and social protection initiatives across Canada and globally. Originally from Ecuador, Gabriela immigrated to Canada at 18 and has since earned degrees from UBC and Maastricht University, shaping her career around justice-centered, evidence-based policymaking.Gabriela currently leads the Inclusive Child Care for All project at Oxfam Canada, influencing federal policy through research, movement-building, and advocacy. She also serves on the board of the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC, championing universal child care as a cornerstone for gender equality and societal well-being.Her work bridges grassroots voices with systemic change, centering women, children, and equity-seeking communities in decision-making. Outside of her professional life, Gabriela enjoys crocheting, cycling, weightlifting, and exploring human-centered design.