Kafi D. Blumenfield

Kafi Blumenfield (née Watlington; born 1971) is a civic leader and activist in Los Angeles, the state of California, and the Virgin Islands. Her parents were both native to the Virgin Islands, but had studied, worked, and lived in the continental United States for many years. After her parents divorced, her father moved to take a faculty position at the University of the Virgin Islands.

Career After graduating with a degree in politics from Pomona College in 1993, Blumenfield's first job was as a White House Intern for the Clinton Administration. Deputy Director Chief of Staff for grassroots justice organization Neighbor to Neighbor, director of programs for the Fair Housing Council of the San Gabriel Valley, and working as a consultant for Liberty Vote.

Eventually, Blumenfield rose to be president and CEO of the Liberty Hill Foundation, the parent nonprofit organization that funded Liberty Vote, along with a range of other grassroots organizations in Los Angeles.

Board, advisory, and appointed positions Blumenfield sits on many boards, such as The Tides Foundation, The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, The James Irvine Foundation—including sitting on the selection committee for the James Irvine Foundation Leadership Awards, and acting as board chair since 2019, Southern California Grantmakers, the Self Help Federal Credit Union, and the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project in Los Angeles. Others include River LA, Pomona College's Draper Center, Anti-Recidivism Coalition and Project X. She is also on the board of UCLA's Luskin School of Public Affairs, where she has served as a Luskin School Senior Fellow since 2015. an appointee to the Los Angeles County Women and Girls Initiative since 2017;

Recognition These organizations have recognized Blumenfield's civic contributions:

Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy - 2016 City of Justice Awards honoree Liberty Hill Foundation - 2014 Diversity in Philanthropy Award The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force - 2013 The National Women's Political Caucus LA Westside - 2012 Remarkable Women Leaders’ Calendar National Council of Negro Women - 2012 Distinguished Community Leader Honoree Stonewall Young Democrats - 2011 Visionary Award