Bob Uyeki

Why do you do what you do?

My parents and their families were among the 120,000 Japanese Americans who were forcibly removed from their homes and incarcerated in Internment Camps by the United States government during World War II.  The fact that my mother and father were born in America and U.S. citizens did not protect their civil and constitutional rights during an era of wartime hysteria and racial scapegoating.  Because of my family’s history with structural racism, I was raised with an understanding that I have a responsibility to stand up against forces of marginalization and oppression and work to create a world where everyone can participate, prosper, and belong.

What drew you to serving on the board?

I’ve had the privilege of being in relationship with SFF for more than 30 years – first as a grantee when I was running the San Francisco Asian American International Film Festival, as a member of the SFF program staff in the mid-nineties, and as a funding partner and frequent collaborator over the past 20 years in philanthropy.  SFF has always been grounded in values of justice, inclusion, and community.  Under Fred Blackwell’s leadership, SFF has boldly and unapologetically set racial equity as its North Star and committed to using all of its assets – financial resources, networks and connections, and leadership – to achieve it.  I’m excited to have the opportunity to continue my relationship with this amazing institution and resource for the Bay Area.

How would you describe your role as a board member?

My role as a board member is to act as a prudent steward of the foundation’s resources, help formulate policy and strategy, support Fred and our amazing staff in achieving our desired goals and impact and always put the voices and lived experiences of our community members at the center of our work.

Full Biography

Bob Uyeki is a retired foundation executive with more than 30 years of experience in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors in the Bay Area. Bob was the longtime CEO of the Y & H Soda Foundation, a private family foundation committed to promoting racial equity, advancing economic justice, and protecting immigrant rights in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. He previously worked at the East Bay Community Foundation, the San Francisco Foundation, and as the Director of the San Francisco Asian American International Film Festival. Bob has served on the Board of Directors of the East Bay Community Foundation, Northern California Grantmakers, the Foundation Consortium for California’s Children and Youth, Rise Together Bay Area, the Family Independence Initiative, and the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation. He has also served on the Advisory Board of the Bay Area Local Initiatives Support Corporation, the Advisory Board of the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy, the Founding Board of All in Alameda, and the Funders Advisory Committee for the City of Oakland’s Department of Equity and Strategic Partnerships. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Asian Health Services, a federally qualified community health center, and Mu Films, a documentary film production and education nonprofit. Bob holds a B.A. from Amherst College and a MPA from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.