Gabriela Zapata-Alma

Gabriela Zapata-Alma is the Director of Policy and Practice for Domestic Violence and Substance Use at the National Center for Domestic Violence, Trauma & Mental Health and a Lecturer at The University of Chicago, Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. She is a 2012 graduate of the Crown School in the Extended Evening Program. 

Gabriela brings 15 years of experience working with survivors of domestic violence and other trauma, providing direct services, training, advocacy, and consultation, and leading programs using a trauma-informed approach, Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction, Gender Responsive Care, Housing First, and third wave behavioral interventions. 

Gabriela has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Health & Medicine Policy Research Group’s 2018 Health Award and the Illinois Association of Addiction Professionals chapter of NADAAC’s 2017 Rising Star Award.

Gabriela has provided training and technical assistance related to serving marginalized communities impacted by trauma and other social determinants of health locally, nationally, and internationally.