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Michael AltfestDirector of Community Engagement and Marketing |
Michael Altfest has been a passionate hunger-fighter since joining Alameda County Community Food Bank in 2011—first as Communications Manager then later as Associate Director of Marketing & Communications. In 2018 he assumed the role of Director of Community Engagement & Marketing from which he built and oversees a department responsible for ACCFB’s breadth of communications, marketing, special events, and volunteer engagement efforts. Since joining ACCFB, Michael has also served as one of the Food Bank’s primary public spokespeople, frequently appearing in major regional and national news outlets on topics related to food insecurity, hunger relief, poverty, root causes, and government policy.
Michael came to ACCFB from the world’s largest global communications firm, Edelman, and having served nearly a decade in media relations and crisis/reputation management for nonprofit and Fortune 500 clients alike. His professional experience also includes various roles in music (Universal Music; Seattle’s 107.7 FM “The End”), lifestyle (Zumiez), and sports marketing (NFL’s Seattle Seahawks). A native Californian and Alameda County resident of 20+ years, Michael is a proud parent; an amateur essayist and memoirist; and has insatiable appetites for travel and reading.
Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Washington and is a 2024 graduate of Feeding America’s LevelUp! leadership development program.
Michael’s Inclusion Statement:
I come to the work of hunger relief first and foremost as the grandson of civil servants and refugees, and as a person of strong Jewish identity who firmly believes in the value of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). I simultaneously acknowledge the space I occupy and power I hold as a straight, able-bodied male of European ancestry—and it is through this position of privilege that I commit to being a steward for meaningful and impactful change.
As a leader, a hunger-fighter, and as an advocate for communities most impacted by the root causes of hunger, I believe this work cannot be effective or complete without a spectrum of diverse ideas, ideals, and experiences both lived and learned. As such I commit to creating and facilitating an environment where any willing person belongs, and all insight is cherished. I further commit to making my team my top priority; to elevate their expertise, contributions, and accomplishments; and to being supportive of each teammate’s personal and professional growth.
I believe life—including our professions—is more about the journey than the destination and I aim to take greater interest in what I don’t yet know over what I already do. Curiosity and constant growth are what keep me fueled and, as such, I invite open feedback and dialogue to help keep me accountable to these commitments.
