sf.citi is excited to introduce you to the four newest members of our One City Forum. For those of you who need a refresher, the One City Forum is a group of 11 leaders spanning San Francisco’s tech and nonprofit sectors. They work with the sf.citi team to plan quarterly events that bring all corners of our San Francisco Bay Area community together to discuss and tackle the City’s pressing challenges.
Launched in 2016, the One City Forum has been the force behind some of sf.citi’s most well-loved and well-attended events. Our Forum members work with sf.citi to produce our tremendously popular speed networking event, Breaking Into Tech, and our annual holiday volunteer event, One City Gives. In recent years, they’ve also collaborated with us to host important conversations about issues like sexual misconduct, workplace mental health, and the future of social impact in an increasingly remote world.
In short, the One City Forum allows sf.citi to keep a pulse on issues affecting the broader San Francisco community. To help us continue forging cross-sector partnerships and conversations in San Francisco, sf.citi is excited to welcome two tech and two nonprofit members on the One City Forum. Each brings a unique perspective and wealth of expertise to the role, all while sharing the One City Forum’s commitment to bettering San Francisco.
Learn more about our new One City Forum members below.
Fred Blackwell
CEO, San Francisco Foundation
Fred Blackwell is the CEO of the San Francisco Foundation, one of the largest community foundations in the country, working hand-in-hand with donors, community leaders, and public and private partners to create thriving communities throughout the Bay Area. Since joining the foundation in 2014, Blackwell has led it in a renewed commitment to social justice through an equity agenda focused on racial and economic inclusion. An Oakland native, Blackwell is a nationally recognized community leader with a longstanding career in the Bay Area. Prior to joining the foundation, he served as interim city administrator for the city of Oakland, where he previously served as the assistant city administrator. He also worked as the executive director of the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency and director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Development in San Francisco.
Blackwell serves on the board of the Independent Sector, Northern California Grantmakers, the Bridgespan Group, the dean’s advisory council for UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design, and the community advisory council of the San Francisco Federal Reserve. He is a visiting professor in the department of City and Regional Planning at UC Berkeley and the Co-Chair of the Committee to House the Bay Area (CASA). He holds a master’s degree in city planning from UC Berkeley and a bachelor’s degree in urban studies from Morehouse College.
Why are you excited to join sf.citi’s One City Forum?
Multi sector partnership and collaboration is essential to any serious problem solving in our community and the table that sf.citi has set provides just the right venue for that work. I’m honored to join the hard-working and innovative people already at the table and hope to make a contribution to making San Francisco an even better place to live, work, and play.
—Fred Blackwell, San Francisco Foundation
Amanda Lenaghan
Head of Social Impact and Community Engagement, Cruise
Amanda Lenaghan has a deep passion for bringing people and organizations together to drive positive change in their communities. Her career spans 15 years of cross-sector collaboration in corporate citizenship, volunteerism, philanthropy, and nonprofit management. As Head of Social Impact at Cruise, an all-electric self-driving car service, Lenaghan is responsible for building meaningful social impact programs that influence how emerging technologies can benefit our communities, starting here in San Francisco.
Previously, Lenaghan led programs engaging 20,000 employees across 170 cities in their communities while at Charles Schwab. Lenaghan’s background also includes nonprofit consulting and fundraising, as well as serving on multiple nonprofit boards. Personally, she enjoys running, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Why are you excited to join sf.citi’s One City Forum?
I’m honored to join sf citi’s One City Forum to join voices and work collectively with local nonprofit, philanthropic, and corporate leaders. I believe the best solutions are generated from diverse perspectives, listening to community needs, and empowering local nonprofits and organizations—the One City Forum is a great way to do just that!
—Amanda Lenaghan, Cruise
Bita Nazarian
Executive Director, 826 Valencia
Bita Nazarian has been the Executive Director of 826 Valencia since 2013. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English and her master’s degree in Education from UC Berkeley before joining the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) where she served as teacher and administrator for 18 years. Nazarian first encountered 826 Valencia as a teacher at Everett Middle School, which hosts an 826 Writers’ Room. She later became principal for James Lick Middle School and collaborated with 826 to open a second Writers’ Room. Nazarian joined 826 Valencia’s Board of Directors in 2006 and served for five years—three as President.
Since becoming 826 Valencia’s Executive Director, Nazarian has significantly enhanced the organization’s programs and evaluation systems and expanded its reach across the City. For several years, Nazarian supported new school administrators by facilitating a class for UC Berkeley’s Leadership Support Program, which trains and supports equity-focused school leaders. She is currently Board Chair for the New School San Francisco.
Why are you excited to join sf.citi’s One City Forum?
I’m excited to join the One City Forum because it is imperative that we build coalitions to work collaboratively to address our City’s most pressing challenges. I look forward to forging partnerships that meet the educational needs of the youth we serve and to uplifting students’ important voices for a broader audience.
—Bita Nazarian, 826 Valencia
Orlando White
Head of Community Development in North America, LinkedIn
Orlando White has dedicated the last six years to executing community programs across LinkedIn’s largest office sites, working collaboratively to establish LinkedIn as an asset in every community where it operates. His work exists at the intersection of real estate, public policy, and community outreach and supports LinkedIn’s ability to meet and invest in its local communities. Every member of the community deserves to be heard—White listens and collaborates with communities to ensure LinkedIn operates as a valued neighbor.
Before working at LinkedIn, White spent time at the Brookings Institution, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Department of Justice, and the Center for American Progress.
Why are you excited to join sf.citi’s One City Forum?
I’m honored to join the One City Forum as its newest committee member. I’ve admired the individuals who serve in this capacity for many years and couldn’t be more excited to work alongside them. My intention in this role is to put equity and justice at the center of our efforts to make San Francisco work better for everyone.
—Orlando White, LinkedIn
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