IFR has meant more to me than I could have ever imagined.

Whitney Caruso, IFR Board Member

I joined IFR’s Board of Directors in 2015. As a strategy consultant in the social sector, I was eager to serve and support a community organization from the inside,
rather than the outside. After living in Nicaragua from 2010-2012, I was also longing to be back in connection with the Latinx community, and learn more about Latinx culture and community in San Francisco.

Being a part of IFR has meant more to me than I could have ever imagined. Little did I know when I joined the legacy of the organization and rich multi-generational history I was helping to uphold. The attention and care with which the IFR team, at all levels, provides community services is impressive, to say the least. The breadth of services offered and the depth of each program is a difficult balance to strike, but the values and cultura of the organization keep the ties between programs and teams strong. With roots in organizing, IFR is able to adapt and evolve to meet the changing opportunities and needs facing the Latinx community, and people of color more broadly, in San Francisco and beyond. Our programs and teams are recognized across the city and even the country, and I’m so proud to be a part of the organization.

In this short time, I’ve learned so much from IFR, and what it really means to be a healing institution. I have witnessed the power of culture, relationship, and community to support individuals and families to heal from multiple generations of trauma, and what becomes possible for people when they have space that reflects different pieces of themselves and their identities. At IFR, I’ve seen a true model of community partnership - that opportunities are unlocked not by focusing only on your own organization, but through collaboration across organizations and sectors. Last but not least, I’ve had the opportunity to witness the power and grace of female leadership.

I am grateful to be a part of IFR, and look forward to continuing to serve!