Rising Stars: Supporting Emerging Organizations and their Leadership

Misty currently serves as the Chief Impact Officer of the James B. McClatchy Foundation. With family roots and over 15 years of supporting nonprofits in the region, she cares deeply about the people and communities in the Central Valley of California.

Misty is at the forefront of the spend-down strategy to advance a multiracial democracy through the Foundation’s core goals: community-powered local journalism, multilingual education infrastructure, and inclusive local leadership. In this work, she is dedicated to shifting the philanthropic field to adopt equitable practices that center community voice and supports local community leaders.

She is part of a founding team for the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative, a nonprofit journalism infrastructure to restore the local, free press. Partnering with local and national media outlets, she supports funding for over 20 journalist positions, and seeds programs to develop the next generation of journalists in the region.

Misty brings over 15 years of nonprofit leadership, capacity building, and community organizing experience. She is on the Board of CalSAC, Aspiration, and Journalism Funding Partners.

Amy finds joy in making use of her bilingual skills to connect and support her communities. Prior to joining KACF-SF, Amy worked in government think tanks in Korea where she worked closely with developing countries in Asia and Africa on policy consultation projects. She has a BA in Psychology and an MA in International Relations.

Anuja Mendiratta, MES is a philanthropic advisor and independent consultant, working on a range of environmental/climate, gender justice, human rights, racial justice, and cross-movement issues. She is the principal and founder of Philanthropic + Nonprofit Consulting. With over 25 years of experience, Anuja serves as a strategist, thought- partner, bridge-builder, grantmaker, and facilitator for change. She partners with donors, foundations, philanthropy serving organizations, nonprofits, agencies, and community groups to advance critical aims. Anuja works to clarify focus, foster relationships, build capacity, strengthen movements, scale efforts, and leverage resources to create transformative impact. Across her work, she centers those most impacted by injustices, and is committed to advancing systemic change, equity and healing.

For over 15 years, Anuja has served as Senior Philanthropic Advisor to the Race, Gender, and Human Rights Fund, which supports efforts that challenge the criminal legal system and mass incarceration in California. She co-founded the California Criminal Justice Funders Group (CCJFG), and currently serves on the board of Pie Ranch and on the steering committees of the Health and Environmental Funders Network (HEFN) and of CCJFG.

Ucedrah Osby, is Founder & Executive Director of Community Interventions, founder of the Bakersfield chapter of All of Us or None, and Co-founder of Sister Warrior Freedom Coalition. She is our very own Central Valley trailblazer and social justice warrior addressing issues through the eyes of a Black woman with a history impacted by incarceration, trauma, and historical disinvestment. She is a daughter, mother, sister, aunt, and cousin that is passionate about increasing the quality of life for people who look like her!