Dear Women’s Foundation California Community,
We are Kevin and Janey Colosimo, Sofia’s parents. We want to take a moment to introduce you to our daughter.
Sofia Zosima Colosimo grew up in the Bay Area knowing exactly who she was, a rare gift. She was five feet of fearless, someone who loved with a reckless abandon we always admired. She made friends quickly and was fiercely committed to those she loved.
Sofia is no longer with us — and this June, we will mark what would have been her 30th birthday. It’s been almost a year since we came together to celebrate Sofia’s life. It still feels unimaginable that she is not here. We miss her every day. But we carry her forward, which is why we are writing to you now.
June was her favorite month. It held her birthday, yes — but more than that, it was Pride Month, a whole month of celebration she embraced with particular joy, understanding that liberation is personal before it is political, and both at once. She showed up for it every year with her whole self.
This Pride Month, we are moved to share that Women’s Foundation California is stewarding the Sofia Zosima Colosimo Memorial Fund. In partnership with our family and Sofia’s extended community, we are funding Solís Policy Institute Youth (SPI Youth): a fellowship for young feminist leaders across California.
When we learned about SPI Youth, we recognized Sofia in it immediately. The belief that young people are already powerful, that liberation is worth the long work, that community is how we get there – and also what we’re working toward.
Sofia made people feel seen. She pulled them into her community, celebrated them, lifted them up, reminded them that they, too, can build a better and kinder world. We hope this fund carries that forward. We hope it finds the young people who need to be seen, who need to know how terrifyingly powerful they already are.
When we created the fund on Sofia’s birthday a year ago, we were overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and generosity. We have decided to personally continue supporting the fund each June in Sofia’s memory.
We invite you to learn more about Sofia and the beautiful work that her fund supports. If you feel moved, we hope you will join us.
Thank you for holding her with us.
Kevin and Janey Colosimo