Carmela Castellano: Lessons in Changemaking from Folklórico Dancing

Mar 26

Kristine Michie - Playfull Podcast Interview - Carmela Castellano

Carmela Castellano: Lessons in Changemaking from Folklórico Dancing

In this episode: Is retirement the ultimate form of play? Today’s guest, Carmela Castellano, shares with us her 30-year professional journey in the change sector, the lessons she learned from Folklórico dancing from a young age, and how she is continuing to use those lessons of hard work and having fun in retirement. She shares great insights no matter what stage of your professional life you are in.

Listen in as Kristine and Carmela discuss:

What it looks and feels like to retire from a career of change-making.
Learning about, promoting, and advocating for the Latinx community.
Embracing generosity as a family while serving in the community.
Experiencing cultures and communities outside your zip code.

Key Takeaways:

Find joy and love in every stage of the journey - the discipline, the preparation, the practice, the performance, and the reward at the end.
Being in a present-moment mindset can make life more playful and more meaningful.
Take time to enjoy life now while you’re healthy and strong. Find time for play and fun and connection with those you love.
Celebrate your artistic side in how you choose to lead. You can be a visionary leader when you lead in a way that resonates with you.

"My approach to my work and my life is about having fun and making it fun, even when it’s hard." — Carmela Castellano

Connect with Carmela:

Foundation Website: https://castellano-ff.org/

Band Website: https://www.qvobandsac.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmela-castellano-garcia-a719001/

About Carmela Castellano-Garcia, Esq.: Carmela was named President of the Castellano Family Foundation (CFF) in 2016 and served as its Vice-President upon joining the board. The Foundation was established in 2001 by her parents, Alcario and Carmen Castellano, after winning the California lottery, with a mission to support Latinx-led and Latinx community-based nonprofits in San Jose/Silicon Valley.

Under Carmela’s leadership, CFF published the Blueprint for Change: A Call to Action for Silicon Valley Philanthropy to Engage and Support Latinx Organizations, Communities, and Leaders for the Common Good. Building on the legacy of its founders, the Foundation remains steadfast in advocating for diversity, inclusion, and racial justice for Latinx/BIPOC communities, emphasizing local giving, and influencing philanthropy to address historical funding inequities by making long-term, strategic investments in these communities.

Carmela recently retired after 24 years as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the California Primary Care Association (CPCA), where she oversaw a membership association of more than 1,370 nonprofit, community clinics and health centers (CCHCs) that serve nearly 7.4 million patients a year.

Prior to joining CPCA, Carmela served as the Founder and Executive Director of the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California (LCHC). She currently serves on the board of the Greenlining Institute, the National Center for Family Philanthropy, and the Yale Law School Executive Committee.

Carmela is a graduate of Yale Law School and was recognized with the 2018 Yale Law School Merit Award. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley. Prior to law school, she spent a year at La Universidad Central de Venezuela as a Rotary Foundation International Scholar.

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