Patti Sanchez (she/hers) is a Program Director with Community Partners, where she manages a portfolio of intermediary programs focused on building capacity, sharing knowledge, and uplifting equity through cross-sector partnerships and community-centered design. She brings over 16 years of leadership and program development experience working in government, private philanthropy, and direct social services. Prior to joining Community Partners, she worked with L.A. County’s Department of Public Health in the Policy and Strategic Initiatives unit of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Control division. There she worked on a range of behavioral health projects including policy analysis, workforce development, and project management. Prior to that, Patti was Senior Director of Programs at the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation, where she led and co-designed its programs and initiatives, including the management of its $3m national grant portfolio, which focused on strengthening community-cohesion through free outdoor concerts in rural and urban areas. Earlier in her career, she led the second largest senior nutrition program in L.A. County, providing direct services and reducing social isolation for seniors living in the Southeast communities of Los Angeles.
Patti holds an MBA from the University of Southern California and a BA in American Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She has volunteered in a range of capacities, most recently with the City of Alhambra’s Arts and Cultural Events Commission, Neighborhood Housing Services of the Inland Empire, and Latino Community Foundation’s Los Angeles Latino Giving Circle. As the daughter of immigrants and a first-generation college student, her lived experience drives her commitment to expanding opportunities where everyone can thrive. Patti was born and raised in greater Los Angeles and still loves exploring the area with family and friends.