Meet our Program Officer, Daniel, who helps build on the network’s work supporting youth, families, and communities while strengthening partnerships, advancing programs, and using data to inform equitable solutions. 

Learn more about Daniel below.

What is the most pressing issue for California’s boys and men of color today? 

One of the most pressing issues for California’s boys and men of color is the lack of sustained support systems that address both personal development and economic opportunity. Too often, young men navigate challenges without consistent mentorship, spaces for healing, or pathways that affirm their identity and self-worth. 

At the same time, there is a critical need to connect them to clear career pathways that lead to long-term economic mobility.  

What is one call to action for your philanthropic peers to support and sustain this work? 

At a time when efforts to support boys and men of color are increasingly being challenged or dismantled, there is an urgent need for funders to come together, align, and act. We cannot wait for tragedy to mobilize attention and resources. Instead, we must invest now in preventative, long-term solutions and build systems that can endure and thrive even in challenging political climates. 

What keeps you hopeful about the future? 

What keeps me hopeful is seeing people from all backgrounds come together to organize, engage, and take action, from talking with neighbors to volunteering, showing up to meetings, and advocating with local leaders. I am especially inspired by young people finding their voice and stepping into leadership. This growing multigenerational and multicultural solidarity across race, class, and gender shows that meaningful change is not only possible but already underway. 

 One thing you’ve read, watched, or listened to lately that inspires you or your work?  

“Hearts and Hands: Creating Community in Violent Times” by Luis J. Rodriguez