The 2nd Annual Women of Courage Awards
Philanthropic Ventures Foundation celebrates the awardees of the second annual Women of Courage Award! On June 30th the 2021 Women of Courage Award Ceremony was held to celebrate the awardees’ accomplishments and contributions, often in the face of enormous obstacles, and to encourage and support their work in the future.

“We all have a role to play in our community, and we are never too young
to speak up and be heard. And we must speak where decisions are made
-- or better yet, to be part of the decision-making itself.”
- 2021 Women of Courage Awardee Ofelia Bello

The community initiative was inspired by the lifetime work of U.S. Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D - 14), to honor outstanding young women in San Mateo County. The initiative is sponsored by Cynthia Schuman, a longtime Peninsula resident and noted artist. The three awardees have demonstrated the type of energy, integrity, and determination Congresswoman Jackie Speier has become known for throughout her nearly fifty years in public service. Each young woman will receive a $25,000 award to assist with their education, financial security, and service work.
The three 2021 Women of Courage Awardees are:
Ofelia Bello, 28, is the Executive Director of Youth United for Community Action (YUCA) in East Palo Alto and serves on the East Palo Alto Planning Commission. She earned her BA from U.C. Santa Barbara, and a Master’s in City Planning from University of San Francisco in Urban Planning and Public Affairs. Combining her understanding of urban planning and public policy with a fierce eye for social change, she works on the social issues related to gentrification, homelessness, and racial injustice.
Carolyn "Carlie" Billie Jones, 28, is an Instructional Design Manager at StreetCode Academy. A survivor of college sexual assault during her time at U.C. Berkeley, Jones overcame her pre-#Metoo experience through advocacy by both reporting the sexual assault to authorities and educating others. Today, Jones continues to speak about creating a less violent society and managing trauma on campuses and at community gatherings throughout the Bay Area. A ferocious advocate for justice, Carlie leads inclusion and diversity trainings, and is a well-known community volunteer and public speaker.
Jazmin Sosa, 28, is the Operations Manager for the Ravenswood Education Foundation (REF) in East Palo Alto. Born and raised in East Palo Alto, she took advantage of every educational opportunity available to propel her to college, where she earned a BA degree from UC Davis in Sociology and a double minor in Psychology and Chicano Studies. She returned to her community, determined to support the kind of educational opportunities that had supported her childhood. She is widely respected for her enthusiastic, respectful approach to the students, families, teachers, and donors her organization serves.
The awardees were part of an incredibly strong pool of applicants, including 3 additional Finalists:

  • Faatimah Amen-Ra A - Professional Athlete
  • Georgina Fakoukaki - Co-Founder of El Pueblo Unido
  • Tatiana Fakoukaki - Co-Founder of El Pueblo Unido
The First Judy Macias Scholarship Awardees
Earlier this month, the coordinating committee of The Judy Macias Young Leaders Fund announced college scholarships of $2,500 to five outstanding female graduates of Half Moon Bay High School for the coming 2021-22 academic year.

Judy Macias, a notable community leader on the Coastside for decades, died last August leaving a difficult to replace legacy of leadership bringing volunteers together to implement innovative and creative solutions to meet vital community needs. The Fund honors her legacy by recognizing young women in the next generation who demonstrate notable leadership potential through their involvement in school and community service and solid academic performance.
About the Editors
James Higa
James Higa, Executive Director, brings 28 years of executive experience from Silicon Valley, working with Steve Jobs to change the face of technology. He was at the birth of the personal computer revolution as a member of the original Macintosh team and was deeply involved in the creation of many products and services at Apple over 3 decades. He has a long history of public service as a board member of Stanford's Haas Center and in grassroots relief efforts.
Bill Somerville, Founder, has been in non-profit and philanthropic work for over 50 years. He was the director of a community foundation for 17 years, and in 1991, he founded Philanthropic Ventures Foundation. Bill has consulted at over 400 community foundations, on creative grantmaking and foundation operations. Bill is the author of Grassroots Philanthropy: Field Notes of a Maverick Grantmaker. 
About PVF
PVF is a demonstration foundation practicing unique forms of grantmaking
and innovative philanthropy. Our primary interest is in the creative
and significant use of the philanthropic dollar.
Philanthropic Ventures Foundation | 1222 Preservation Park Way, Oakland, CA 94612 info@venturesfoundation.org | (510) 645-1890