 |
|
kafi d. blumenfield biography
Liberty Hill Board Vice Chair Suzanne Biegel describes Ms. Blumenfield as an “exceptional talent, a woman with breadth of knowledge and experience, a fresh and energetic vision, and the ‘people skills’ that are vital to furthering Liberty Hill’s work bringing diverse communities together in common purpose.” Ms. Blumenfield has a life-long track record as a bridgebuilder, forging links across issues and between people of different racial, ethnic, religious and class backgrounds. Ms. Blumenfield has direct experience working on an array of political issues with which Liberty Hill is associated, including voter empowerment, the environment, human rights and housing. Prior to joining Liberty Hill, she was Deputy Director of Neighbor to Neighbor, a national organization dedicated to grassroots political empowerment of working families. She also served as Director of Programs for the Fair Housing Council of San Gabriel Valley and worked for the Natural Resources Defense Council. Ms. Blumenfield was a member of the board of directors for the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters, and is currently a commissioner on the City of Los Angeles’ Rent Adjustment Board. Ms. Blumenfield is no stranger to Liberty Hill. Since 2004, she was the director of LibertyVote!, Liberty Hill’s groundbreaking civic engagement program and was a member of Liberty Hill’s environmental justice grantmaking board from 2001 to 2004. Ms. Blumenfield’s opinions have been featured in national and local media outlets including The Nation, The Los Angeles Times, and Which Way L.A.? Her passionate commitment to social justice has deep roots in her personal history. Ms. Blumenfield, who is African-American, was raised in Washington, D.C. She says confronting everyday injustice has been a part of her life as far back as she can remember. Her older brother, Gregory, died of AIDS in 1987. “I learned that the issue of justice isn’t a ‘gay’ issue or a ‘black’ issue. These injustices touch all of us and have to be addressed by all of us.” Ms. Blumenfield holds a law degree from UCLA and a B.A. from Pomona College. As a law student, Ms. Blumenfield worked for Legal Resources Centre, a public interest human rights law firm in Capetown, South Africa. While there she collected testimony in preparation for South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Ms. Blumenfield is married to Bob Blumenfield, the District Director for Congressman Howard Berman and a candidate for the 40th Assembly District. The Blumenfields live in Woodland Hills with their 1-year-old daughter Nia. |
