Sergio Garcia
SFF Trustee, and Chief Executive Officer of Garcia Strategic Advisors LLC
Why do you do what you do?
Growing up in South Central Los Angeles, I witnessed first-hand how redlining policies, economic disinvestment, and police brutality worked in tandem to marginalize communities of color. This experience during my formative years instilled a deep grounding in values of justice, inclusion, and community – values that I have adopted throughout my legal career and in my service on nonprofit boards. I also have a strong desire to have impact — to advance racial and economic equity in a significant way by supporting organizations that focus on the most marginalized communities in the Bay Area.
What drew you to the foundation?
Of course, it all starts with Fred. When he asked, I felt compelled to take his invitation to serve seriously. I have long been drawn to the SFF’s commitment to advancing racial equity, and I have seen first-hand how its community-driven approach to building a more equitable and just Bay Area works in practice.
During the pandemic, I had the privilege of collaborating with Fred and other SFF leaders to identify opportunities and critical needs of Latinx-led and serving organizations through a powerful group of partners and leaders that evolved into the Bay Area Latinx Power Building Initiative. With its financial resources and thought leadership, SFF has facilitated the strengthening of power-building and advocacy among Latinx – and all BIPOC-led organizations. SFF serves as an exemplary model for other foundations throughout California and across the country.
I’m excited to have the opportunity to continue my relationship with this amazing institution, and I look forward to working with SFF leadership to accelerate the foundation’s impact across the region because the needs have never been greater.
How would you describe your role?
My role on the SFF Board is to provide oversight over the foundation’s programs and resources and contribute to policy and strategic planning. In addition, I aim to support Fred and the talented SFF team in achieving their strategic goals while prioritizing the voices of marginalized communities in every aspect of the foundation’s work.