The daughter of Mexican immigrants, Gricelda de la Cruz was born in California and raised in Kannapolis, NC. She holds a Bachelor's in Liberal Arts and a Master’s in Public Administration from UNC Charlotte. Gricelda has dedicated her career to supporting immigrant children, from aiding unaccompanied minors in Charlotte to working at an emergency shelter in San Diego. Now the Office Director for CWS Charlotte, she leads efforts to connect children with vital community resources and serves on the board of Latin Americans Working for Achievement.