Gerson was born in Honduras and migrated to the United States at just six months old. Raised in the Bay Area by his single mother, with the support of his older brother, he grew up curious and eager to learn. Over time, he developed a deep appreciation for teaching and the incredibly powerful role that educators play in shaping lives.
After graduating high school, Gerson attended Skyline College, where he was selected as an Unlocking Futures Fellow. Through this program, he worked with Skyline’s Undocumented Community Center, designing and facilitating events that supported undocumented students. The sense of solidarity that he found there helped solidify his commitment to advocacy and collective care. In Gerson’s second year, he was elected Vice President of the Associated Students of Skyline College. In this role, he helped support over 35 active clubs, organize campuswide events, serve on key college committees, and grow as a student leader.
Gerson graduated from Skyline College and is transferring to the University of California, Berkeley, where he will major in Cultural Anthropology. His long term goal is to become an educator who can create a classroom environment where students are empowered to transform their lives. His passion for learning, storytelling, combined with his interests in history and food science currently guide his academic path.
As a DreamSF fellow, Gerson is placed at La Raza Centro Legal. There he will work with the Affirmative Immigration Department and will gain hands-on experience with various forms of relief, such as naturalization, adjustments of status, family-based petitions, U-Visas, SIJS and VAWA. He will also participate in outreach and community clinics to better understand trauma-informed, client-centered advocacy.
