Sophia’s natural connections to the community and the nonprofit sector drove her passion to engage and foster authentic relationships and partnerships focused on community development and urban planning and design initiatives. With over 15 years experience in nonprofit management, she has led programs that support youth impacted by the criminal justice system and the foster care system. She is a strong proponent of volunteerism and serves as a volunteer grant advisor with the California-based Pollination Project that provides seed funding for grassroots projects, nationally and internationally. She also currently serves as a volunteer for the National Youth Foundation, an organization she co-founded with other BIPOC women focused on diversity and gender equality. Sophia holds BA degrees in Black Studies and Political Science, as well as a Masters Degree in Urban Planning.