Gabrielle Gonzales, daughter of Matthew and Georgiana Rael of Questa, has always put faith and family at the center of her life.
Growing up in Questa, Gonzales spent time with her immediate and extended family year-round, not just on major holidays. One highlight from her childhood was the “lamb jam,” a tradition started by her grandfather, Malaquías Rael Sr.
“My grampo loved family time and so did my grandma Lucy,” Gonzales said. “They would butcher a lamb a few times during the summer, and it brought my whole family together. It was a big party and I hope someday we can get back to that.” For Gonzales, those gatherings formed the bedrock of her childhood—an experience she shared closely with her younger brother, Matthew.
“It didn’t matter if family members were my first or fourth cousins; we were always together. I just loved it,” she said. “It made me feel so proud to be part of my family. They are good and humble people who make serving their community a priority.”
Gonzales, a 2015 Questa High School graduate, initially moved to Albuquerque to study business at the University of New Mexico (UNM). After some time, she realized business wasn’t her path. She took time off to reset and figure out what she truly wanted to do. Realizing she was called to serve her community and protect its most vulnerable members, she returned to UNM and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2023.
Her initial interest in combating human trafficking eventually led her to a career dedicated to protecting children at the state level. Since January 2022, Gonzales has worked with the New Mexico Department of Justice in the Internet Crimes Against Children unit, where she serves as the program coordinator. In her role, she coordinates with law enforcement task forces statewide and acts as a liaison to ensure funding is managed properly.
“I truly love my job. I know a lot of people can’t say that but I really do,” Gonzales said.
Moving from a small town to Albuquerque for college brought some culture shock, but she credits the way she was raised in Questa with shaping her character and work ethic.
“My parents would always tell me to be the first to say hi to someone—not to stand off in the corner and be shy, but to talk to people,” Gonzales said. “I think growing up in a small town shows you that you need community and the value of hard work.”
That desire to gather people started early. When she was 4 or 5 years old, she managed to memorize her relatives’ landline numbers and called the entire family to invite them over for a party. Her parents had no idea until her tía called her father to ask what food she should bring to the house.
“I’m like my grampo—always wanting to be with my family,” she said.
Gonzales counts her parents, her brother Matthew, and her husband, Isaac Gonzales of Taos, as her primary advocates. She also looks up to her grandmothers, Lucy and Della, and her cousin Malaquías Rael Jr., or “JR.”
“I have always looked up to JR since we were kids. Sometimes I think of him as an older brother,” Gonzales said. “Even to this day, I consider him to be a huge role model to me, not only in life but as a person. And my grandmothers are both super strong and hard workers. They are the ones that fuel all of us.”
Today, Gonzales and her husband are raising two children, Diego and Elicia. While they live in Albuquerque, their roots remain firmly up north.
“We visit Questa and Taos every chance we get,” Gonzales said. “I want to get back to northern New Mexico at some point and give our children a chance at small-town living.”
In the meantime, Gonzales stays grounded by a phrase she and her cousin Lucas share: “live life living.”
“It helps remind me to live life loving my family and not spend my life working away,” Gonzales said. “I want my kids and husband to see that I love my job, but I always want to show them what is truly important—and that is family at the end of the day.”