Meet Sofia Fecchino

We recently connected with Sofia Fecchino and have shared our conversation below.

Sofia, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?

My generosity, without a doubt, comes from my maternal grandfather, a man with a big heart, an incredible mind, and a soul deeply devoted to protecting animals and caring for others. He was an immigrant who moved from Portugal to Argentina and turned an idea into a successful business. More importantly, he taught me to treat every human being with kindness, dignity, and respect.

Those same values were passed on to his first daughter, my mother, who is the most generous person I know. She has always cared deeply for people in need, especially those with the least, and she shares a profound love for nature and animals. She is a powerful example of resilience, compassion, and strength, one I continue to learn from.

My generosity also comes from my paternal grandmother, who always put others first and created a safe space where our entire family could gather. She was a woman of quiet strength and deep religious devotion, who repeatedly volunteered to care for the sick and support those in their most vulnerable moments.

I grew up in Buenos Aires in a household where money was not an issue , but emotional support and family dynamics were sometimes difficult to navigate. I quickly learned that giving back through presence, care, or action was my calling. It is a legacy I carry forward with intention, one that I am committed to passing on to my children and to my community.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

At the heart of everything I do is a deep commitment to social justice, community, equity, and opportunity. My work is deeply personal. As an immigrant myself, I had to learn, often on my own, how to get involved in my community, how to navigate unfamiliar systems, and how to find resources that were not always visible or accessible. That experience shaped who I am and why I do this work.

Professionally, I work in the nonprofit and community-development space, where I design and lead culturally responsive programs that support immigrant, bilingual, and BIPOC entrepreneurs in building sustainable businesses and strong leadership skills. I currently serve as the Elevar Program Manager at the Eagle Valley Community Foundation in Colorado. Elevar is a bilingual entrepreneurship and leadership program created to reduce systemic barriers and expand access to education, mentorship, and networks for local entrepreneurs.

What makes this work especially meaningful to me is that it goes far beyond business training. We center trust, belonging, mental health, and cultural relevance, recognizing that entrepreneurship is deeply connected to identity, family, migration, and resilience. One of my core goals is to make sure people do not have to navigate this journey alone the way I once did.

A key pillar of Elevar, and one I am especially proud of, is our Steering Committee. The committee is made up of 100% Latino entrepreneurs, many of whom are current or former participants. They actively shape the program by advising on curriculum, ensuring cultural relevance, mentoring newer entrepreneurs, and serving as trusted community leaders. The Steering Committee ensures Elevar is built with the community, not for the community.

My work at EVCF extends beyond entrepreneurship. I previously ran a perinatal support program for one year, working closely with families during some of their most vulnerable and transformative moments. That experience deepened my understanding of holistic care, trust-building, and culturally responsive support. Today, I also support Belonging Colorado, a program focused on strengthening understanding, inclusion, and connection between the LGBTQ+ and Latino communities. This work is especially important to me, as it creates space for dialogue, safety, and belonging across identities that are often marginalized or misunderstood.

The most exciting part of my work is watching people step into their power. I help entrepreneurs and community members access existing resources, build confidence, and create strong networks so those tools are truly used, not overlooked. Passing along information, closing gaps, and building bridges between systems and people is central to my work and to who I am. I want communities to feel supported, informed, and empowered to cross those bridges with confidence.

My commitment to social justice and service extends far beyond my professional role. I love to volunteer, and much of my free time is dedicated to supporting other initiatives and organizations. I serve on the Board of Directors of my son’s school, chair the School Advisory Team, and volunteer as the 5th-grade fundraising lead. When I’m not working, you’ll often find me attending town hall meetings, participating in local councils, or showing up at community events that need attention, advocacy, or care.

In addition to program management, my work includes community outreach, partnership-building, mentorship coordination, and event design: from business fairs and workshops to panels and wellness-focused gatherings. I am deeply invested in strengthening the local entrepreneurial ecosystem by bringing together nonprofits, educators, volunteers, community leaders and business leaders around shared goals.

Looking ahead, I’m excited about the continued growth of Elevar, including new cohorts, expanded youth engagement, and deeper collaborations with schools, community organizations, local government agencies, and existing programs. Over the past year, I have also been intentionally investing in my own growth, working toward my Community Health Worker certification and completing multiple leadership courses that have given me practical tools to be a more effective, informed, and compassionate leader for my community. At its core, my work and how I am is about showing up for people, advancing social justice through action, and ensuring that access, information, and opportunity are shared, so no one has to navigate their journey alone.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, there are three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey: empathy, resilience, and community-centered leadership.

Empathy has been foundational. As an immigrant, a mother, and a community advocate, I’ve learned that truly listening without judgment and with curiosity, is one of the most powerful leadership skills there is. Empathy allows you to understand people’s real needs, not just what systems assume they need. For those early in their journey, my advice is to practice active listening, spend time in spaces outside your comfort zone, and let lived experiences guide your decisions.

Resilience has been equally critical. For me, resilience is not only about enduring challenges, it is about staying true to your values and continuing to fight for causes you believe are just, even when it is uncomfortable or discouraging. I can’t count how many times I’ve had to knock on doors that were closed to me, advocate in spaces where I wasn’t always welcomed, or show up in rooms where I felt uncertain or out of place. Each of those moments strengthened my resolve and reminded me that meaningful change often requires discomfort. For anyone early in their journey, my advice is to stay grounded in your values, don’t be afraid to take up space, build a support system you trust, and remember that rest and self-care are essential to sustaining long-term impact.

Finally, community-centered leadership has shaped everything I do. I’ve learned that meaningful change doesn’t happen in isolation, it happens through relationships, collaboration, and shared power. Building trust, uplifting community voices, and working with people rather than for them has been essential to my work. For those just starting out, I encourage you to get involved locally, volunteer, join advisory groups, and seek mentors who reflect the communities you hope to serve.

At the end of the day, progress isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about staying rooted in your values, showing up consistently, and remembering that leadership is most powerful when it creates space for others to thrive.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Collaboration is fundamental to my work, and I actively seek partnerships with individuals and organizations committed to social justice, equity, and community-driven systems change.

I am particularly interested in collaborating with local entrepreneurs, nonprofit and community-based organizations, educators, healthcare and mental health professionals, schools, and local government agencies. Through Elevar, we regularly partner with accountants, attorneys, HR professionals, marketing experts, and business leaders who serve as facilitators and mentors, as well as with school districts, community colleges, and youth-serving organizations to expand access to entrepreneurship and leadership pathways.

I also welcome partnerships with advocacy organizations and grassroots initiatives supporting immigrant, Latino, LGBTQ+, and bilingual communities, especially those focused on health equity, perinatal and family support, workforce development, housing and small-business sustainability. Collaborations with public agencies and established local programs are critical to ensuring that resources are coordinated, accessible, and responsive to community-identified needs.

I firmly believe that the more diverse the voices and lived experiences at the table, the more culturally relevant, equitable, and transformative the outcomes we achieve together. Meaningful change requires shared power, accountability, and a commitment to centering those most impacted by systemic barriers.

Individuals or organizations interested in partnering, whether as facilitators, mentors, volunteers, funders, or strategic collaborators, are encouraged to connect with me directly at [email protected]
I welcome conversations grounded in values, collaboration, and a collective commitment to building inclusive, resilient communities.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://eaglevalleycf.org