Carla Fernández-Soto (she/her) is an instructional designer, philanthropic advisor, and change agent with a deep commitment to self, family, community, our planet, and our collective liberation. She has been active in the social sector for 15 years, specifically in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors managing fundraising and program portfolios for grassroots, national and international organizations. Currently she serves as a philanthropic advisor with the Kalamazoo Community Foundation where she stewards a portfolio of individuals and businesses, supporting their philanthropic aspirations and building pathways to engage in transformative philanthropy to advance racial, social, and economic justice. She's also Owner & Principal Consultant at Espazio Consulting, where she works to shift mindsets and advance systems change by designing instructional products and opportunities grounded in liberatory frameworks that encourage and support learning and meaning-making. 

Carla serves as Board Chair of Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative in Kalamazoo, MI; is a member of the Council of Michigan Foundations Latinx Affinity Network; and is an alumna of the Hispanics in Philanthropy Líderes Fellowship. She received her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her M.S.Ed. from Purdue University. She was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Other places she has called home include Kalamazoo, Michigan; Brooklyn, New York; and Utila, Honduras.