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Migdalia Loyola Meléndez Named as New Headwaters Co-Executive Director
Headwaters Foundation for Justice (HFJ) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Migdalia Loyola Meléndez, an accomplished leader with 30 years of experience in community engagement, nonprofit leadership, and grantmaking, as its new Co-Executive Director. Loyola will join current Co-Executive Director Bilal Alkatout in leading Headwaters into a new era of shared leadership rooted in equity, community, and collective liberation.
“This is an exciting and transformational moment for Headwaters,” said Alkatout. “Migdalia’s leadership grows from the same values that drive our work: community, justice, and shared power. We’re thrilled to welcome her and to strengthen our collective path forward.”
Loyola most recently served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Engagement to Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, where she built Minnesota’s first Public Engagement Department in a governor’s office. Throughout her career, she has championed inclusive engagement strategies that foster systemic change across sectors and direct resources toward change-makers on the ground.
Previously, Loyola led multi-state teams and grantmaking initiatives at Planned Parenthood North Central States and Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Center for Prevention, driving forward work rooted in health equity, reproductive justice, and community engagement. In every role, she has worked to build strong partnerships and push systems toward lasting change. Loyola brings a powerful commitment to collective liberation, fueled by deep relationships, community-driven strategies, and an unwavering belief in the leadership of impacted communities.
“It’s an incredible honor to join Headwaters at this moment of opportunity and change,” said Loyola. “I believe in centering community voices and investing resources in community-driven solutions, and that’s what Headwaters has always done. I’m excited to work alongside Bilal, our team, our grantee partners, and our communities to deliver meaningful change and support building a more just society.
The Headwaters Board of Directors, in collaboration with staff, led a national search process supported by Mighty Consulting to find its new Co-Executive Director. Fran Hutchins, Co-Chair of the Board of Directors, said, “Migdalia’s leadership, vision, dedication to community power, and strong record of innovation stood out among a pool of exceptional candidates. We are confident that, alongside Bilal, she will help steer Headwaters toward an even stronger and more vibrant future during the difficult times ahead.”
This announcement marks the completion of Headwaters’ transition to a shared leadership model—an intentional step toward more distributed power, organizational sustainability, and collective decision-making. The Co-Executive Directors will work in true partnership, sharing responsibility for advancing the foundation’s mission to amplify community power and invest in grassroots movements for justice.
To learn more about Headwaters’ leadership and our ongoing work, visit our Shared Leadership webpage. To contribute to Headwaters’ next chapter of community impact, make a donation today.