At the Hispanics in Philanthropy’s annual convening, SFF leaders participated on a panel exploring the partnership between Bay Area Latinx Leaders and SFF and the impact it has had on the Bay Area ecosystem. The panel, Building Power and Latinx Investments: A Partnership Model Between Bay Area Latinx Leaders and the San Francisco Foundation, drew a standing-room-only crowd.
Moderated by SFF’s Jes Montesinos, the high-energy discussion focused on the history, purpose, structure, outcomes, and long-term vision for the relationship. Fred Blackwell shared that SFF’s Board of Trustees was interested in and saw the value in building a deeper relationship with Bay Area Latinx leaders. This led to the development of the Latino Kitchen Cabinet (LKC) which is composed of 15 Latinx leaders who advise the SFF on issues and opportunities facing Latinx communities. The LKC guides the foundation on increasing impactful investments such as the new $3 million Latinx Power Building Initiative. Some of the issues explored include Latinos as essential workers who carried the economy during Covid, immigration, affordable housing, building an equitable and just economic recovery, and strategies for leveraging investments to Latinx-led and Latinx-serving organizations.
Attendees from around the country seemed especially interested in learning how they might use this model in their communities.
Participants included:
- Ani Rivera, Executive Director, Galeria de la Raza
- Fred Blackwell, CEO, San Francisco Foundation
- Jes Montesinos, Senior Director, San Francisco Foundation (moderator)
- Reverend Miguel Bustos, Trustee, San Francisco Foundation
- Rita Mancera, Executive Director, Puente de la Costa Sur
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