CHAN ZUCKERBERG INITIATIVE

Congratulations to Maya Papaya Ojany on her new role as Executive Director of Bay Area Forward! Maya is also an administrator of East Palo Alto Neighbors, and grew up in EPA.
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

1 hr

"This work is about all of us. How are we going to face our greatest challenges as a region if we don't have practice working together to craft solutions that take into consideration a diversity of perspectives?”
— Maya Perkins, Executive Director of Bay Area Forward

With the Bay Area housing crisis at an unprecedented pressure point, it is now more important than ever to work across communities to find solutions. Bay Area Forwardis building a coalition that supports residents as they work to create a more well-designed, thriving, and inclusive Bay Area.

Under the leadership of new Executive Director Maya Perkins, and as a Special Project Fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Bay Area Forward’s mission to incorporate an empathetic approach to civic engagement is poised to help local resident groups throughout the region wrestling with shared concerns.

Bay Area Forward operates with residents’ voices at the center of their work, empowering people from all communities to leverage a network of local grassroots organizations leading the
way on creating housing and transportation options in their own communities.

Originally from East Palo Alto, Maya’s lived experience and professional background in the public sector informs her leadership, offering a promising way to navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is committed to promoting equal opportunity for all, especially here in our own backyard. Bay Area Forward is addressing the region’s housing crisis head-on, giving residents in our communities the resources to develop solutions that truly serve their needs. We’re excited to stand behind them.