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Boards and Commissions Fellowship: Meet Gabriel Cervantes

Graphic with logo and text for Climate Justice Leadership Academy
Photo of Gabriel Cervantes

Gabriel Cervantes is a passionate community leader on a mission to make public transit in Colorado more accessible and equitable. He was recently appointed to the Regional Transportation District (RTD) Citizen Advisory Committee, and is ready for the future of Colorado’s transit system.

He is also part of Conservation’s Colorado’s Boards and Commissions Fellowship, gaining the knowledge and skills needed to make a real impact in decision-making spaces.Through the fellowship, Gabriel has expanded his understanding of governance, policy and community advocacy. We chatted with Gabriel to learn more about his journey, why he applied to the fellowship and his vision for a more just and sustainable transportation system in Colorado.

Tell us about your background?

I’m from South Thornton and co-founded the Six-Siblings Foundation to support underserved students through scholarships and mentorships. As a first-generation college graduate, I now work in finance with nearly a decade of service-industry experience.

Why did you apply for the Boards and Commissions Fellowship?

I believe strong communities benefit from guidance and knowledge. I became interested in the fellowship after being appointed to the Thornton Arts, Sciences and Humanities Council (TASHCO) and wanted to learn how to be an effective board member and representative of the community.

What has been the most inspiring class you’ve learned in the fellowship?

The session with Rep. Lorena Garcia was especially inspiring. It focused on leveraging resources without exploitation and taught communication skills to control conversations respectfully.

If you had to name two reasons why people should apply to the next cohort, what would they be?

It empowers individuals from marginalized and excluded communities to understand board functions. It also equips you with tools to build trust and become an effective community leader.

What environmental issues are you most passionate about?

I’m passionate about density, transit, Indigenous sovereignty and equity. One of the most insightful things I learned was from Conservation Colorado’s Latino Climate Justice Policy Handbook is that Latinos rely on public transit more than any other demographic, and communities of color are the largest group employed by public transit systems. This shows that we must unite in this fight for equity.

What inspired you to apply for the RTD Citizen Advisory Committee?

I’ve always loved transit and disliked the need to drive. Growing up, I frequently took the bus with my brother, and by the age of 14, I was riding it on my own. RTD has always felt special to me and I want to get involved to understand how it works on a deeper level. This will help me advocate for the community and hold the agency accountable.

What do you plan to accomplish in this committee?

I want to highlight two main goals. First, the many people who would prefer to use transit but are forced to drive. I’m one of them — I’m not a good driver, but I can be productive while using transit. Second, I aim to build partnerships with community organizations focused on transit equity to ensure RTD better serves underserved communities and includes them in decision-making.

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