Juma Crawford has been a leader in the philanthropic, non-profit, and education space for over twenty years. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Oakland Fund for Public Innovation where his focus is building public private partnerships that lead to innovative solutions for the highest need zip codes in Oakland. Previously, Juma was President of the Lewis Family Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Kensington Investment Company, one of the leading private real estate development and investment firms in Boston, where he oversaw a $270.2 million dollar investment portfolio of both private and corporate giving. In that role, Juma oversaw the dissemination on average of $11.8M new grant monies every year to high-performing non-profits, schools, and institutions of higher education.
Juma believes that philanthropy must be more active at the grassroots level, where innovation happens and more proximate to the communities and people it aims to empower. Juma is a graduate of Amherst College, Harvard University, and Boston College Law School. Juma lives with his wife and two young children in East Oakland.
Alaina considers herself a servant leader. Being raised in a family of public servants, it was instilled in her that “service is the rent we pay to live on this Earth.”
As Chief Operating Officer, Alaina oversees OFPI’s daily operations to advance our mission to ensure all Oaklanders stay rooted and thrive. Prior to joining OFPI, Alaina worked for several city government agencies in New York City including the Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs), Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, and the Department of Education. Her work included assisting minority and women-owned businesses in getting city contracts and providing resources and support throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, and managing a healthy relationship program that provided violence prevention education to youth across NYC. Alaina has an extensive background in program management, operations and a heart for ensuring all people, despite their zip code, succeed in all areas of life.
Alaina holds a MPA from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, and a Bachelor of Arts in comparative women’s studies from Spelman College. Outside of work, Alaina loves walking around Lake Merritt and watching Netflix with her partner and their dog, Luna.
Misha Perez has run organizing, fundraising, and communications programs on progressive political campaigns across the country. Specifically, Misha has done extensive grassroots campaign work in Berkeley and Baltimore. With a comprehensive background in campaign management and community organizing, Misha partnered with people of all backgrounds in order to fight for positive and long-lasting political change.
Born and raised in Oakland, Misha now uses his professional experience to advocate for the communities he grew up in. He believes that Oakland knows what’s best for its communities and that true service involves supporting community leaders that are already making a difference. Misha holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political science from Warren Wilson College. In his free time, you will likely find Misha spending time in California’s beautiful regional parks or watching the gibbons at the Oakland Zoo with his partner, Grace.
Attorney, Angel Investor, Former CEO of Progress Investment Management Company LLC
and Board Member Emeritus
Silicon Valley Community Foundation