Mariela Gavino – Owner, I Love You So Much Books

Mariela Gavino is the owner of I Love You So Much Books in Richmond, VA. Originally moving to Richmond to attend VCUarts, Mariela has stuck around to call this city her home. She began her bookstore journey with popups at local shops and vintage markets on the weekends. Word got around and it quickly grew into the brick and mortar space that resides in Northside. ILYSM Books prides itself in showcasing unique, hard to find titles that you might not find at big box stores. 

Laura Dobbs – Director of Policy, Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia

As the Director of Policy at Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia (HOME), Laura Dobbs spearheads HOME’s state and local legislative advocacy. Rooted in HOME’s commitment to eradicating housing and lending discrimination, Laura engages in a systems change approach to advocacy. Since joining HOME in 2023, Laura has advanced policies to ensure everyone has equal access to quality, safe, and stable housing in opportunity-rich communities.

Prior to joining HOME, Laura served as the Deputy Director of the Center for Housing Advocacy at Virginia Poverty Law Center. There, she advocated for the rights of low-income renters through policy advocacy and litigation. Laura started her career as a voting rights attorney in Durham, North Carolina where she connected with voting advocates and communities across the south to preserve and advance equal access to the ballot and fair maps. She earned her J.D. from William & Mary Law School and B.A. in Industrial Design from North Carolina State University College of Design.

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