She | Her | Hers
New York, New York
Hi! I’m Cristina Tanzola. I currently live in New York City, but I’m originally from Texas. I love reading, going for walks around the city, and drawing. I’m also bilingual in English and Spanish!
I joined FosterClub because I wanted to advocate for and empower the voices of youth from foster care to help make positive changes in the community. I was really drawn to FosterClub's work when I saw how crucial lived experiences were in pushing for legislative changes. My goals are to always support representation and ensure that all voices are heard and empowered. FosterClub’s inclusivity and focus on the voices of Lived Experience Leaders is important to the advocacy I want to achieve.
Cristina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Anthropology from the University of Texas, San Antonio, and a Master’s degree in Women’s History and Gender Studies from Sarah Lawrence College. Her Master’s thesis focused on issues facing undocumented women, the history of immigration law, and the challenges in reporting assault and abuse. Cristina continues to support immigrant rights in her work and advocacy. Before moving to New York, Cristina worked at a state-funded nonprofit in Texas that provided scholarship funds to unaccompanied refugee minors and youth from foster care, which was crucial for her to learn about the needs of these determined youth. After earning her Master's from Sarah Lawrence College, she worked at a New York nonprofit supporting survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking as a volunteer, where she met with Programs staff and researched human trafficking issues, particularly as they intersected with youth. She then worked as a Bilingual Paralegal Advocate, assisting clients with various family law and immigration law needs in both Spanish and English. In September 2019, Cristina joined the Human Trafficking Program as Director, working with clients who were survivors of both sex and labor trafficking. She closely collaborated with her team of case managers to provide services including financial benefits, referrals, and peer support groups to help clients feel supported and empowered.
