(she/her) Iris Garcia is a Program Officer at Akonadi Foundation and currently co-manages the All in for Oakland Initiative to end the criminalization of young people of color in Oakland. Her grantmaking focuses on transforming youth justice in Alameda County. She also jointly manages Akonadi’s So Love Can Win rapid response fund.
Prior to joining Akonadi Foundation Iris worked at the Global Fund for Women, supporting international efforts to end violence against women and advance women’s rights globally. Her previous professional experience includes work with the New Field Foundation and Thousand Currents. She is the Co-Chair of the California Criminal Justice Funders Group, a Steering Committee member of Hope & Heal Fund, and Board Treasurer for San Francisco Women Against Rape.
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Iris’ work has focused on mobilizing resources for collective activism that advances social change and addresses systemic injustice. She remains committed to a vision of liberation and community safety based in healing and love.
Outside of work, you can find Iris studying at a local dance studio; she believes deeply in the transformative power of dance and derives much joy from her dance community.
Iris can be reached at Iris [at] akonadi.org or at (510) 663-3867 x301.