We’re sharing well wishes with Pablo Obrégon as he leaves his role as Community Engagement Officer at Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF). He’ll be joining the staff of the Minnesota Council on Foundations as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Pablo has recognized that each corner of our region, each community, has its own assets and unique ways to build upon them. His transformative work across our region has helped increase the belonging people feel toward their communities, created new relationships for SWIF with BIPOC communities and seeded a number of different leadership building strategies. He has worked with our grantmaking, Welcoming Week, Economic Mobility Action Network, Southwest Teacher Preparation Partnership, Census Outreach, Emerging Leaders Cabinet and 2Gen programs – and always has the right words to put perspective on the situation in the way that highlights opportunities to lift people up.
While we are sad to see Pablo go, we know that this important work to create belonging by raising the awareness of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across our state is the next natural step for him. His new endeavors at the Minnesota Council on Foundations will grow the field of philanthropy and change the world. Many seeds have been planted during Pablo’s time with us, and we are grateful that we’ll continue to watch them take root and grow.
“Working at SWIF has truly been a joy and has taught me invaluable lessons that have been useful in my personal and professional life,” Pablo said. “Remember that the world is full of possibilities, and so is every child and each one of you!”
Pablo’s last day at the foundation will be April 15, 2022.
