Janel Gonzalez

Coordinator - HYPE Center

Janel Gonzalez is a proud Youth Founder, Advisory Board Member, and Center Coordinator of Freedom Forward’s HYPE Center. Before Joining Freedom Forward, Janel worked as a Youth Advocate at the SPARK Initiative and Youth Coordinator at Boys & Girls club of San Francisco’s Mission Clubhouse.

As the fourth generation of San Francisco’s Mission District, Janel came to this work to lead youth in identifying how to break patterns of generational trauma and advocating for their own healing and needs.

She is also passionate about supporting young people into learning about their self-power and becoming confident around providers, higher-ups, and authority figures. 

She is excited to be able to connect with young people and advocate for those who had similar barriers growing up in San Francisco that she expierenced.

She also loves that her Freedom Forward teammates acknowledge the importance and urgency of its mission while still having a lively and fun environment.