Dear Coro Community,
We are deeply saddened by today’s news of the passing of Coro alumnus and seminal California leader, Senator Dianne Feinstein.
The Senator was an exemplary civic leader and public servant who worked tirelessly for the communities she served, from San Francisco, to the great state of California, to our nation. Her legacy at Coro lives on through the thousands of Coro leaders she inspired to participate in Coro training over the last seven decades and through future generations of Coro leaders that will walk through our doors.
Throughout her illustrious career, Senator Feinstein has been a steadfast advocate for local, state and national interests. We encourage you to read this timeline in today’s San Francisco Chronicle of her incredible career. It details her decades of service and influence, including a key early moment in her career, when Governor Pat Brown appointed her to the state parole board citing, among other qualifications, her Coro report on criminal justice.
Many in the Coro community remember her steady leadership of San Francisco in times of turmoil and uncertainty. She was the first female President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and the first female Mayor, leading San Francisco after the tragic assassinations of her close colleagues Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk.
For decades in the U.S. Senate, Senator Feinstein consistently worked to achieve common ground on issues impacting the daily lives of Americans like gun control, violence against women, protecting public spaces, foreign policy, and human rights. Her pragmatic approach to policy making, willingness to listen and learn from new voices, and unending dedication to public service earned her respect from both sides of the aisle.
For Coro, the Senator’s impact on the future of leadership and on generations of our alumni cannot be understated. Simply put, Coro as an organization would not be the same without her example and support.
Over the last seven decades, Senator Feinstein was the highest profile advocate for the power and impact of Coro training. A fixture on the Fellow’s leader interview schedule each year, the Senator generously gave of her time and resources at every turn, encouraging young people anywhere and everywhere to participate in Coro training.
A favorite recent Coro memory with the Senator is shared in this video, where she reflects on how Coro’s rigorous training prepared her for the uncertainties of public life.
Ashley Budelli and Selena Martinez Mak, current Coro Fellows in our 76th class, shared today that “Senator Feinstein paved the way for our future leadership. As two women of color in the Fellows program, we are inspired by her commitment to democracy and look forward to furthering her legacy of working across differences.”
We know there are many in the Coro community who have fond memories of the influence of the Senator on their aspiration for public service. We invite you to share them here, which we will share with her family and staff in the days to come.
At a time when leadership requires us to relate across differences, rather than simply reacting to them, let us gather inspiration from Senator Feinstein’s ability to gracefully move our city, state and nation forward. May her memory be a blessing.
In community,
Laney Whitcanack
CEO
Coro Northern California
Ben Hur
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Coro Northern California
