Ernesto Fonseca, PhD

Metro Portland

Ernesto Fonseca joined Hacienda CDC as CEO in 2017, bringing his passion for community development and a belief in the power of connecting families to opportunity.

 

Ernesto’s own story reflects the potential that can be unleashed by investing in all our community members. Raised in central Mexico, Ernesto watched his parents take advantage of educational opportunities and their own initiative to build careers in construction and nursing. They passed on their values of hard work and education to their children, and Ernesto embraced those values to gain a foothold in this country by initially working in kitchens and restaurants as he pursued his educational goals, culminating with a Ph.D. from Arizona State University in Environmental Design and Planning.

 

Ernesto believes it is Hacienda’s job to help all families access the critical ingredients they need to achieve their goals: a stable, affordable home, a healthy family life that allows youth to learn and grow, opportunities for economic success, and access to affordable health care and healthy neighborhoods. He joined Hacienda because he shares the same values and experiences with this community and is eager to empower families to flourish like his own has. He hopes you will join us in building an Oregon where all Oregonians can reach their full potential.

 

Extensive Board service includes Northwest Outward Bound School, The Prosperity Agenda, Housing Oregon, Energy Trust of Oregon and Two Worlds Community Foundation.  He also services in an advisory capacity to ASU Stardust Center for Affordable Homes & the Family.