#HerStory with Gabby Traverso

Gabby and Partner, Kainsly.

By the time you’re reading this, I’ve been in Toledo for four months (if it’s been longer than that, hello time traveller!).

At first, what lured me out of my little town in California was my partner. But after flying over again and again, I started to absorb the rich, bustling culture of Toledo, and soon the Midwest felt like a home away from home.

The longer I stayed, the more Toledo spoke to me as the right city to grow and navigate my early adulthood while building connections and working towards a steady career (small town girl moving to the big city - cliche, but true!). 

Thus, I packed up my things just a few weeks after graduating from Sacramento State University and officially moved to Toledo! But something unexpected happened- the weight of being a stranger finally hit me. My friends and family weren’t waiting for me to come home after a few weeks or months; this is my home, one in which I felt awkwardly moved in with the essential furniture. I knew that to make my mark here, I had to work with an organization that would facilitate my desire to learn and contribute my strengths to the community. As fate would have it, the Women of Toledo were the ones I resonated with the most.

Gabby's first outing with the Women of Toledo's team, Nina, Lisa, and Julia, Board President, Nichole Beltran, and Professional Fellows from Mongolia, Uchka and Oyu!

Everyone has made me feel welcomed and belong, like I’ve been in Toledo for years. Every day, I appreciate all of the kindness, patience, and collaboration that flows throughout our offices, and I can’t underestimate how grateful I am for the opportunities I’ve been offered to develop my skills to help the organization and the community. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting other nonprofits and businesses around downtown and learning about the different areas around Toledo, understanding the intricacies the city has to offer a little better. The more I learn about the Women of Toledo, the more disbelief I have for the giant impact the organization has made on the community and how many opportunities they’ve provided for girls and young women, many of which I wish I had growing up in Ione.

As hard-working educators, carpenters, artists, and administrators, I looked up to all of these women in my family for their casual resistance towards traditional beliefs that snuffed those roles from us. When I work with the Women of Toledo, I see them empowering young girls and women with that same determination to realize themselves and their drives, giving them a variety of resources that also help in my journey as an incoming woman of Toledo. 

And although I still stutter or hesitate when asked about the local area, I know that without the Women of Toledo, I wouldn’t have had the confidence or initiative to explore this new home as much as I have. While I’m still determining my place here, I want to do my best to help the organization and be involved with my new neighbors. Thank you to the task team for the overwhelmingly warm welcome.

Watch out, Toledo; I’m here, I’m queer, and I can’t wait to absolutely hate dealing with ice and snow!

Gabby Traverso is currently our Program & Office Assistant, supporting our office operations under the Executive Director and assisting our Program Manager and team with program planning. She received her BA in English from Sacramento State University, Class of 2025, enjoys various tasks, and is devoted to assisting others in the workspace. Gabby is passionate about fostering an inclusive, safe environment where motivation thrives. We are excited to welcome Gabby to our team and 419community!