SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The San Francisco Foundation (SFF) announces today three new appointments to the Board of Trustees. Rev. Miguel Bustos, The Episcopal Church’s manager for Racial Reconciliation and Justice, Holly Kernan, Chief Content Officer at KQED, and Lateefah Simon, President of the MeadowFund, have all been appointed for five years.
“We are thrilled to welcome Miguel, Holly, and Lateefah to our Board,” says Fred Blackwell, CEO of the San Francisco Foundation. “Each brings with them extensive experience in philanthropy and community building, and we are fortunate to work with them in these leadership roles.”
Born and raised in the Mission District of San Francisco, Rev. Miguel Bustos has a unique blend of public and private sector experience, transforming challenges into opportunities. Recently, Rev. Bustos was appointed The Episcopal Church’s manager for Racial Reconciliation and Justice for the United States and in Latin America. Prior, Rev. Bustos was Chief of Global Initiatives and Director of GLIDE’s Center for Social Justice. Currently, he is on the Board of the MTV Staying Foundation and is an Emeritus Board Member of Hispanics in Philanthropy. And he serves at Cathedral Deacon at San Francisco’s iconic Grace Cathedral.
“As a native San Franciscan, born and raised in the Mission District, I have known of the generosity and influence of the San Francisco Foundation my entire life,” says Bustos. “In times of struggle within my community, as a child, I benefited from many of the foundation’s investments that enabled community-based organizations to meet the community’s needs. From the free food program at Good Samaritan to my first summer job through Horizons Unlimited, I am one of many proud examples of the foundation’s investment in the San Francisco Bay Area. Therefore, it is an honor to join an esteemed group of trustees and offer my small contribution to the great work and legacy of the foundation.”
Holly Kernan is KQED’s Chief Content Officer. Holly has had a long career as an award-winning journalist, television and radio host, an executive producer, and an editor. She previously worked as a producer for KQED’s Forum and as a director and producer for The California Report. Holly also launched a journalism-training program at Mills College, where she taught public interest reporting classes.
“SFF was the first funder of KQED, way back in 1954, so the idea that maybe I could give back to SFF was intriguing,” says Kernan. “I am very interested in the direction that Fred has set, to center equity and to reimagine philanthropy. I’m excited about the opportunity and humbled by the challenge.”
Lateefah Simon is a nationally recognized advocate for civil rights and racial justice in Oakland and the Bay Area. She has served as President of Akonadi Foundation since 2016. That same year—driven by Oscar Grant’s death—she was elected to the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors as President. Lateefah spearheaded San Francisco’s first reentry anti-recidivism youth services division under the then-District Attorney Kamala Harris’ leadership. In 2022 Lateefah Simon was welcomed to the Akonadi Foundation Board of Directors as she transitioned from President of Akonadi to lead the MeadowFund.
“I am excited to be joining the San Francisco Foundation’s Board of Trustees during a time when racial equity and economic justice remain a critical focus of the agenda in philanthropy,” says Simon. “I believe in the strategic vision of the foundation and am honored by this opportunity.”
