Chantel LaRene Walker
CLASS OF 2025
Chantel Walker consistently exemplifies leadership, vision, and community-focused results across her multifaceted roles. Communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity have been the pillars upon which she has built her professional career, which spans government, philanthropy, and nonprofit sectors. Over the years, Chantel has earned a reputation for fostering sustainable impacts — bridging gaps across organizations, government jurisdictions, and communities. She has a deep ability to listen and facilitate conversations that help problem-solve, plan, and implement action. Chantel is a communicator with a track record of effectively reaching stakeholders from a variety of regions, backgrounds, and political frameworks. Chantel’s career trajectory is marked by notable achievements in innovative program development, organizational leadership, and social equity policy at the local and national levels. She has served as a foundation program officer, government and nonprofit executive, consultant, and curriculum designer specializing in cultivating high-performing organizations, social equity, community economic development, and housing finance. In her role as a San Anselmo Town Council Member, Chantel draws on decades of multidimensional experience to represent her community with integrity and impact as an elected leader.
Chantel is a daughter, mother of two children, small business owner, community volunteer, experienced executive, and member of the San Anselmo Town Council. Balancing her professional and volunteer commitments, Chantel cherishes her personal life, which is centered on family, community, and expanding joy. Her African American heritage and New Orleans, Louisiana roots are sources of inspiration, commitment to purpose, courage, and sharing positive energy. She finds happiness in book club gatherings, savoring meals with loved ones, walks and travel with her children, and enjoying quiet days at home with a good book and a cup of tea. These personal connections underscore her belief that thriving communities are built on relationships, empathy, and shared purpose.
As a Program Director at the Marin Community Foundation, Chantel expanded the Affordable Housing Grant Program from $1 million to $10 million, impacting the development of over 500 affordable housing units in Marin County. She also launched the Thriving Families Initiative, a cross-sector program that supported economic opportunity and family stability for hundreds of families. Her content expertise and partnership with the CEO and CFO helped to establish innovations such as the Loan Guarantee Program, expanding critical financial resources for affordable housing development.
Chantel’s government career is distinguished. As the County of Marin’s first Social Equity Policy Coordinator, she spearheaded fair housing initiatives and co-led equity and inclusion projects across departments such as Health and Human Services, Library, Community Development, and Human Resources. She was a primary architect of the County of Marin 2015-2020 Five-Year Plan, which impacted over 2,300 employees, fostering a culture of learning, performance excellence, inclusion, and staff engagement. Her leadership extended to designing countywide cultural competence and equity training, shaping an evidence-driven approach to workplace inclusion.
As the Assistant Director of the Marin County Free Library, Chantel led numerous transformative projects, including a collaboration with the League of Women Voters and the Department of Elections to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment and efforts to advance voting rights awareness and community engagement. Chantel also co-created and led the Cultivating Racial Equity and Inclusion (CREI) program for California public library systems, resulting in 29 library systems developing action plans to guide more inclusive and ultimately effective library services delivery. This program was highlighted in the California State Library 2020 Report.
Across many roles, Chantel has demonstrated a commitment to addressing critical community challenges such as housing and education equity. Her leadership extends to facilitating partnerships and driving initiatives that promote sustainable community development and inclusivity. As a coalition builder, Chantel has brought together stakeholders from government, nonprofits, and the private sector to address complex issues collaboratively, expand financial resources, and influence public policy. Her efforts have led to the establishment of enduring partnerships and programs that continue to benefit communities. Her expertise extends to consulting through her professional firm. After Hurricane Katrina, she was instrumental in developing a strategic plan for $40 million in grantmaking and operating funds for the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation. Her firm also designed and implemented a training series for over 400 partners for the U.S. Census Bureau, enhancing civic engagement and representation.
Deeply engaged in Marin County community life, Chantel has served in numerous volunteer leadership roles. She is the President of Wednesday Morning Dialogue and the Marin County Library Foundation, as well as the Past President of the Marin Forum. Chantel also helped establish the Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative and the Marin Promise Partnership as a founding board member of both organizations. Beyond Marin County, she has held influential roles as Chair of the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, Children’s Creativity Museum, and the Women’s Foundation of California. Chantel has also served on the State Bar of California Board of Governors and as a member of the Association of Black Foundation Executives (ABFE).
The impact of her work with organizations such as the Marin County Library Foundation has expanded access to library services, educational resources, and community resources. Meanwhile, her efforts with the Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative have advanced innovative solutions to address housing shortages. Chantel’s volunteerism highlights her passion for equity, sustainability, education, and housing. As a community advocate, she has dedicated her time and expertise to initiatives that enhance quality of life and foster collaboration among cross-sections of stakeholders. Chantel’s role as a mentor to emerging leaders reflects her belief in nurturing the next generation of changemakers and her gratitude to her mentors and role models.
Chantel earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where she developed a strong foundation in critical thinking and organizational psychology, and her Master’s degree from the University of San Francisco, focusing on Public Administration. She has pursued and gained additional certifications in leadership excellence and coaching, underscoring her commitment to professional growth and excellence.
Chantel’s contributions have been widely recognized, earning her accolades for civic engagement and organizational leadership. She is an American Library Association Spectrum Scholar and has received honors for her work advancing social justice, equity, and community development. Her ability to create lasting change is reflected in the programs and policies she has helped to shape. The impact of Chantel’s public speaking engagements inspires others to pursue meaningful community work.
Through her work and personal ethos, Chantel Walker continues to encourage those around her to envision and work toward a more equitable, connected, and sustainable future. Her unwavering dedication to community well-being, professional expertise, and compassionate leadership leave a lasting impact wherever she serves. Her deep engagement in both governance and community life reflects her belief in thriving, inclusive communities built on connection and excellence. Chantel’s impact is one of action, integrity, and hope—a testament to her belief that everyone has a role in creating a better world. It is with deep gratitude, joy, and respect that she joins the Marin Women’s Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2025.