Stephanie Barajas

Stephanie Barajas serves as a Philanthropy Partner for the San José / Silicon Valley Program, where she supports day-to-day operations, relationship-building, and community engagement at the Sobrato Center for Nonprofits in San José. In this role, she connects nonprofit tenants and community partners to resources and opportunities, supports program and space activations, and helps ensure the Center remains a welcoming, responsive hub that reflects community needs. Stephanie also contributes on-the-ground insights that inform and strengthen Sobrato Philanthropies’ broader strategic efforts.

Stephanie brings extensive experience in arts, culture, and community-centered programming. Most recently, she served as a Program Officer at the Center for Cultural Innovation, overseeing statewide and regional grant programs for artists and arts workers. Her previous roles include work with the Palo Alto Art Center and Art Builds Community, as well as more than four years with the School of Arts and Culture at the Mexican Heritage Plaza.

Deeply rooted in the South Bay arts ecosystem, Stephanie is a multidisciplinary artist who has served as a Creative License Ambassador for the City of San José and spent three years as Co-Chair and Chair of genARTS Silicon Valley, a volunteer-run organization that supports emerging artists and arts leaders.

She holds a B.A. in Theatre with minors in Cinematic Arts and Communication from the University of Southern California. She is also a proud alum of the Multicultural Arts Leadership Institute, the NALAC Leadership Institute and the SVCREATES Mindshare Program.