Contact: Ling Woo Liu, lliu[at]sff.org
San Francisco Foundation Announces 2023 Community Leadership Award Winners
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Since 1963, The San Francisco Foundation’s Community Leadership Awards have recognized the Bay Area’s most creative, innovative, and community-driven leaders who address the region’s most pressing challenges. This ongoing award celebrates the foundation’s legacy of amplifying voices that are reimagining and transforming our community. We are proud to announce the 2023 winners. This year, each winner will receive $20,000 from the foundation and be recognized at our 75th Anniversary event:
Pastor Paul Bains is the founder and chairman of United Hope Builders and WeHOPE. Pastor Paul is a leader and mentor and has been working with his community for over two decades. He has been leading the congregation of Saint Samuel Church in East Palo Alto since 1999, where he speaks on issues of affordable housing, food insecurity, and workforce development. He is deeply rooted in his community and the region.
Hamdiya Cooks-Abdullah has over 30 years of experience working on issues facing women in prison. She is a former prisoner who served 20 years in the federal prison system and recently retired from her position as Administrative Director at Legal Services for Prisoners with Children in Oakland, CA. Hamdiya continues to advocate on behalf of women inside, as well as upon their release. One of her current accomplishments is becoming a member of the SAFE House Network.
Corrina Gould (Tribal Chair for the Confederated Villages of Lisjan Nation), was born and raised in the village of Huichin, now known as Oakland CA. She is the co-founder and lead organizer for Indian People Organizing for Change, a small Native run organization and the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust, an urban Indigenous women-led organization within her ancestral territory. Through the practices of rematriation, cultural revitalization, and land restoration, the Land Trust calls on Native and non-Native peoples to heal and transform legacies of colonization, genocide, and to do the work their ancestors and future generations call them us to do.
Anne E. Price is co-president and founder of The Maven Collaborative. She previously served as President of The Insight Center for Community Economic Development. Anne was one of the first national thought leaders to examine and push for narrative change in addressing race, gender, and wealth inequality. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, The Nation, TIME, The Washington Post, The Mercury News, and other publications.
“Our community depends on leaders on the ground to push for greater equity throughout our region,” said Fred Blackwell, CEO of San Francisco Foundation. “As we celebrate our 75th anniversary this year, we continue our tradition of shining light on individuals and organizations committed to tackling systemic issues here in the Bay Area and working to make life better for everyone.”
For more information about SFF’s Community Leadership Awards, visit sff.org/cla.
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About the San Francisco Foundation
The San Francisco Foundation is committed to a Bay Area where everyone can get a good job, live in a safe and affordable home, and exercise their political voice. The foundation advances its work through grantmaking, partnerships with donors, policy advocacy, and impact investing.
