Fernando Fernandez Leiva
Fernando Fernandez Leiva, born and raised in Chile, South America, comes from a working-class family led by strong women, including his mother and grandmother, alongside his two younger brothers. With a rich background in Political Science, Fernando has held significant leadership roles in Chile at both local and federal levels, demonstrating a lifelong commitment to fostering structural changes and empowering communities through an environmental and ancestral lens. Transitioning to the nonprofit sector, Fernando’s journey took him to Cochabamba, Bolivia, to work on a Jesuit church farm. Here, he immersed himself in learning and supporting indigenous urban agriculture practices, marking a pivotal shift in his career toward community engagement and sustainable development. His move to the United States saw him managing La Mesa Verde, an urban gardening and food justice program. In this role, Fernando deepened his involvement in community engagement, fostering collaborations that influenced policymakers and promoted food justice. With over a decade of experience in political science, Fernando specializes in cross-functional leadership and program management within government and nonprofit settings. He excels in delivering client services to local and regional government agencies and implementing impactful social engagement strategies. His proficiency in cross-functional team leadership and management of multi-project initiatives is underscored by a focus on problem-solving and strategic alignment. Fernando’s expertise extends to intervention methodologies for social planning and successful volunteer recruitment, alongside a keen ability in social media management to build stakeholder partnerships and enhance community organizing. Being bilingual in English and Spanish, he facilitates effective communication across diverse environments, further enriching his capability to lead and engage. His background is particularly aligned with roles that emphasize grantmaking and strategic resource investment, where he has spent over five years contributing to philanthropy and nonprofits. Fernando exhibits strong project planning and management skills, ensuring deliverables are achieved on time and within budget. His commitment to high accountability is evident in his due diligence with grant fund investments, and his strong written and verbal communication skills enable effective engagement with both internal and external stakeholders, ensuring the success of projects he undertakes. Fernando Fernandez Leiva’s career is a testament to his dedication to community empowerment, environmental sustainability, and the pursuit of social justice, making him a valuable asset to any organization aiming to make a significant impact in these areas.