Celebrating Fátima Ramírez and Reflecting on Executive Burnout

By Tracie Powell

This past week, Fátima Ramírez, Executive Director of Acción Latina, announced her decision to step down in March. While we’re sad to see her leave, it’s also an opportunity to celebrate her remarkable achievements. I first met Fátima during the pandemic in 2020. She was just about to assume the helm of the nonprofit serving the Latinx community in San Francisco's Mission District. I had the privilege of supporting El Tecolote, Acción Latina’s 54-year-old community news outlet. Since then, her leadership has been nothing short of transformative.

Under Fátima’s guidance, El Tecolote has experienced significant growth. She secured over $1 million in additional funding, including game-changing multi-year grants from the MacArthur and Mellon foundations. Her vision has strengthened the newsroom with the hiring of a full-time reporter, photographer, and a RAíCES artist-in-residence. She has also deepened the publication’s commitment to merging the arts with civic news, elevating Latinx artists through increased compensation, visibility, and capacity-building partnerships.

Fátima has driven innovative community engagement, turning labor policy reporting into live performances and ensuring monolingual Spanish-speaking voters had access to critical local election coverage. In five years of knowing her, I’ve seen no other news outlet better embody community-centered journalism than El Tecolote under Fátima's leadership.

Fátima’s departure is a bittersweet moment for Acción Latina. Her work highlights the immense responsibility and dedication required to lead nonprofit organizations and community-focused initiatives. The culture of executive burnout is real and increasingly common, particularly in mission-driven spaces. This issue is especially critical for leaders of color, who are often chronically underfunded but are expected to accomplish ten times as much while repeatedly proving their value. These inequities magnify the pressures they face, making sustainable leadership transitions and support systems essential for their success and well-being.

As we say farewell to Fátima, we’re eager to see what incredible work she takes on next. In the meantime, Acción Latina is hiring a new Executive Director—a rare opportunity to build on a legacy of growth, impact, and community-centered excellence. Don’t miss your chance to lead this vital organization into its next chapter!