“Gianfranco (Gian) Cornejo Gizzi (any pronouns) is a community engagement, outreach, and organizing professional. Currently serving as the Community Engagement Specialist for WATCH CDC, a longstanding nonprofit in Waltham, MA, Gian spends their days connecting clients with basic needs and fundamental resources internally and in the area, helping them to navigate the housing system in the US, and strengthening his organization’s relationships with agency, public, and religious partners. Gian was born and raised in El Salvador, where early on he started working towards a more inclusive, equitable, and equal world by collaborating with local community-based organizations.
During his time at Clark, Gian dedicated most of his undergraduate experience to supporting his peers as a Resident Advisor, advocating for the Clark community’s needs and wants as a CUSC member, and welcoming new Clarkies through the Admissions Office. Off campus, he also contributed to the work of All In Energy (AIE), a clean energy nonprofit that functions as the lead vendor for MassSave (Massachusetts Clean Energy program for justice communities), traveling from the East to the West of the state to promote renewable energy at the local government level and among communities. Through AIE, Gian confirmed his passion for community work, leading him to where he is now professionally.
As a recent B.A. graduate from Clark University, Gian is eager to be part of the impact CLAA makes on campus by utilizing her community engagement background and skill set with building up relationships with active student, staff, and faculty agents, understanding what students need from the alumni network, and recollecting relevant data that CLAA co-leaders can use for their work and planning.”