Tamara Alvarado

Tamara Alvarado is the Program Officer for the Local Grantmaking Program at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Alvarado previously served as the executive director of the Leo M. Shortino Family Foundation, as well as the executive director of the School of Arts and Culture at the Mexican Heritage Plaza. Prior to that position, she was the director of multicultural leadership for 1stACT Silicon Valley. From 2003-2008, she served as executive director of MACLA/Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana in San Jose, California. From 1999-2003, she served as program director for the newly opened Washington United Youth Center, a partnership between Catholic Charities and the City of San Jose. She is the past president of the board of directors for ACE Charter Schools in San Jose. Alvarado is also co-founder of the Multicultural Arts Leadership Institute, a leadership development program for people of color working in arts, culture, and entertainment now housed at the School. A traditional Aztec dancer for the past 18 years, she is a member of Calpulli Tonalehqueh Danza Azteca of San Jose. Alvarado is originally from Escondido, California and holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish literature from Stanford University.