Abigail Resendiz-Zuniga
Community Advocacy and Accessibility Coordinator, Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice
Candidate Responses:
Nomination completed by Sylvia Gribbell:
Please summarize the reasons you are submitting this nomination.
Abigail has extensive experience working with immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. She has work experience that has centered the voice of survivors and worked to address barriers that have impeded access to justice, social services support and basic needs for the most vulnerable survivors. Her training and education as a social worker in legal settings has enabled her to see policies and laws that have limited access to survivors, especially those with intersectional identities. She has consistently sought out opportunities to raise the voice of those she serves and advocated to make sure they have voice and choice in decisions that will have an impact on the survivor and their family. She has actively sought positions that allow for collaboration and innovation to address macro-level challenges survivors continue to face.
How does this person’s values align with the Partnership, including centering underrepresented voices?
Abigail (Abi) has co-developed curriculum that focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion as part of her role as a practicum instructor of master level social workers placed in a a legal setting as part of a legal team supporting survivors of domestic violence. She approaches her work in a culturally-responsive and trauma-informed manner that honors clients’ diverse intersectional identities with respect to power dynamics. Presently she serves as the Accessibility Coordinator and has experience reviewing policies, procedures and protocols to ensure that all survivors have access to services.
Application completed by Abigail Resendiz-Zuniga:
Describe your participation in the Partnership’s regional networks, policy committees, peer learning circles and other components of our Membership community.
Currently, our organization utilizes the CPEDV DV training to ensure our Community Advocacy team is trained in best practices related to survivors. I, myself, have completed the training and have found it impactful, especially the forum discussion posts from other professionals. I take the training, every year, to assure our data collection tools (surveys) are capturing the message of each module. In the past, I have attended the LA regional network meetings as well.
Describe your skills, experience or interests that can benefit, strengthen or increase capacity of the Board.
I am a professionally trained social worker focusing on legal aid non-profit work for most of my career. Because of this role, I am often apart of a multi disciplinary team and able to assure trauma informed legal services are provided. It is often clients who are victims of dv, sa and ht have not had any interactions with legal professionals and thus might be intimidated. Because of this, I am able to build rapport with client quickly and able to assure they are validated and heard as an expert in their experience rather than deferring to the “expert” in the room. Because of my extensive work and training I am able to understand the impacts of trauma on the person and the mind. Additionally, I am able to recognize and understand the impact of systems on a survivor’s psyche, drive and ability to heal. My social work code of ethics mandates I honor the dignity and worth of each person. I take this to heart and attempt to implement this in any interaction or project I might lead. By having this ethical mandate, it allows me to focus on the humanity and the impacts of my actions, a systems actions, a law/policy’s consequences on a person. And that is taxing but it a mandate that follows me in each facet of my life.
What does leadership mean to you? How do you demonstrate leadership?
Leadership should be transformative. I believe a good leader needs to be transformative and brave. They need to lead by example, assuring risks can be taken and inspire others. They need to trust their team. I demonstrate leadership by educating my team in the work in a trauma informed manner. Take the ego out. The survivor is the expert in the room. I believe by speaking truth to power, I assure that around me is a safe space. Bravery in a leader is essential to a team. Creating a safe space for a team is essential. How can a leader lead when your team is not allowed to bring their authentic self? These topics are awkward for folks and are often not pushed because of the awkwardness. I thrive here.
Describe how your relationships can enhance the work of the Partnership and the Board (for example, with policy-makers, media outlets, culturally specific communities, and the broader community). Tell us how you intend to cultivate those relationships on behalf of the Partnership.
Any social worker can tell you that the social work world is small. But the legal aid social work world is even smaller. Because I have been involved in legal aid work for the majority of my professional career I have been able to cultivate relations with other social workers, attorneys and legal professionals. In addition, my work has exposed me to different geographic areas, such as LA County and Orange County. This has allowed me to participate in roundtables, community focused groups, and survivor based work in multiple geographic areas. I intend to cultivate those relationships by being present. By showing up. By spreading the Partnership and Boards goals. Transparency is key. Transparency can be a helpful tool in rapport building and can help solidify those relationships.
