Sobrato Philanthropies Appoints Camille Llanes-Fontanilla as Vice President, Silicon Valley Programs
Sobrato Philanthropies Appoints Camille Llanes-Fontanilla as Vice President, Silicon Valley Programs
San Jose, CA - Along with our partners at Sobrato Philanthropies, we are thrilled to announce that Camille Llanes-Fontanilla will join Sobrato Philanthropies as the organization’s first Vice President, Silicon Valley Programs on September 1, 2021.
After 11 years at SOMOS Mayfair this is an exciting opportunity for Camille. Her transition to Sobrato Philanthropies is in direct alignment with SOMOS’ mission of leadership development and deep, local impact, as well the value we place on women of color represented and leading in our ecosystem.
As Executive Director of SOMOS Mayfair, Camille leveraged her understanding of community needs and assets to build a unique organization and culture based on resident-led solutions. In her tenure at SOMOS Mayfair, she led sizable growth, built deep community partnerships, and has raised over $25 million. She has 16 years of experience in nonprofit management and has extensive executive training from Harvard Business School, CompassPoint Next Generation Leaders of Color, Rockwood Art of Leadership, and On the Verge.
This is an opportunity for Camille to carry her lived experience, rootedness in community and unique ability to connect people, organizations and systems for broader and deeper philanthropic impact in our Silicon Valley region.
“I have had the pleasure of working with the Sobrato team for many years as a member of the organization’s grantee community and I could not be more excited to take this next step,” said Camille. “Sobrato Philanthropies is committed to making a meaningful difference in Silicon Valley, informed by those most impacted by the challenges we are working to solve and I can’t wait to be part of that process.”
SOMOS is a strong and stable organization with a deep leadership bench, a nationally recognized program model, and direct community impact for thousands of East San Jose residents. Camille’s departure provides an opportunity to advance internal home-grown leaders: during the transition period SOMOS will explore and assess a co-directorship model with Saul Ramos, Deputy Director, and Victor Vasquez, Director of Organizing & Policy, co-leading the organization as acting Executive Directors. Saul and Victor combined have near 12 years of leadership tenure at SOMOS.
“I have full confidence in the SOMOS Board, staff and Promotores to lead us through this transition,” said Julie Ramirez, Chair of SOMOS Mayfair’s Board. “This movement we are building in Mayfair is bigger than any one individual: SOMOS will continue to generate strong leaders and build local power. I am proud of what we have created together and am confident that a new generation of leadership will continue our mission of supporting children, organizing families, and connecting neighbors to uplift the dreams of this community.”
Camille serves on the Board of Directors for The Health Trust and SPUR San Jose; is a founding member of the Si Se Puede Collective; and is on the leadership and policy teams for the East San Jose PEACE Partnership and the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications and a minor in Ethnic Studies from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from San Jose State University.
Camille was born and raised in East San Jose where she remains deeply embedded and is raising two young children in this community with her husband, Ryan. She remains authentically committed to working alongside neighbors to collectively address our most pressing social justice issues and co-create a better future for our communities.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Chelsey Prewitt | ccartwright@somosmayfair.org