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Tatiana Torres
VP of Public Affairs at SKDKnickerbocker

Tatiana is a well-rounded business professional with nearly 19 years of experience in the public, private, non-profit sector, and philanthropy. Her work for both domestic and international organizations has consistently been in fast-paced, outcome-oriented environments. As a fierce advocate for racial equity and diversity, she deeply understands the value of elevating necessary and much needed voices at decision-making tables.

Currently, Tatiana is a VP of Public Affairs at SKDKnickerbocker.

Prior to SKDK, Tatiana served in Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Administration, as the Director for External Affairs and Engagement for the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development where she was tasked with rethinking and strategizing how District government conducts business, invests, supports the workforce, and ensures that District residents, especially those in vulnerable communities recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to her return to District government, Tatiana served for three and a half years as the Director of Community Health and Social Impact for the National Capital Area for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, the region’s largest not-for-profit insurer. She managed a sponsorship budget with her team of $38 million that supported over 250 organizations in Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties and West Virginia. 

Tatiana is incredibly passionate about public service having spent twelve years working and volunteering for local and state governments in New Jersey, Florida, and Washington D.C. and national campaigns, which included two Presidential.  

Tatiana serves on several local and national boards. She is also a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations; advisory board member of the Aspen Institute’s Socrates Program; advisory board member of Concordia; member of the 2020 Class of Leadership Greater Washington; Washington Hispanic’s 100 Most Influential Latinos; and was named the Washington Business Journal’s Forty under 40.

Tatiana attended Montclair State University where she received a Broadcast Journalism Bachelor’s degree. In 2013, she graduated with her Executive Master’s in Business/ Leadership degree from Georgetown University. She currently resides in Washington D.C.

About

Our housing justice program offers down payment grants to qualifying BIPOC first time home buying residents in the DC and Philadelphia areas. Awards range from $5,000 to $15,000 and grants are made multiple times per year until funds are expended.

The application/review process is straight forward and uncomplicated.

Our Board of Advisors reviews applications, interviews finalists and identifies grantees. This is a partnership with the Greater Washington Community Foundation who supports the administrative complexity so we can very simply help people buy homes. *

Applicants must identify as one of the following: American Indian, Indigenous, Alaska Native, Asian, Pacific Islander, Black, African American, Hispanic or Latinix birdSEED has made 29 provisional grants to date. The total grant pool available was $215,000. Additional funds have been raised from supportive community members who shared our vision of simple, no strings financial down payment grants that accelerate the home buying process. If you are positioned to give, please do. Needs are great, resources are limited and your help is essential.

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