Aaron Grizzell
Executive Director -- NorcalMLK Foundation
Dr. Aaron Grizzell has served as Executive Director of the Northern California Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Foundation (NorcalMLK) since 2010. He often reflects on the organization’s mission: to unlock the promise in every person through promoting social, economic, and environmental justice; supporting health, wellness, and preparedness; and increasing the joys of learning.
Under his leadership, the foundation has grown beyond commemorations of Dr. King’s legacy into a dynamic hub of cultural, educational, and technological innovation. He is the co-founder of the SIDGE Center (Center for Social Impact, Development, and Global Engagement), which rethinks AI and innovation through the lens of human wellbeing, equity, and environmental sustainability. He also co-founded the King & Faith Series, the International Colloquium Series, and Black & Brown Comix Arts Festival (BCAF)—a celebration of comics, animation, and popular culture by and for marginalized communities. Notably, BCAF has been honored twice by USA Today (2015, 2024) as one of America’s top art festivals.
Dr. Grizzell brings more than 25 years of experience in economic development and digital animation. As a real estate development consultant, he served as administrator for Tabernacle Community Development Corporation, overseeing the planning and delivery of hundreds of millions in affordable housing. In the creative tech space, he co-founded PECAN, a digital mobile media platform that has produced over two thousand hours of original animation, pioneering a new approach in textured digital storytelling.
He is widely known for bridging faith, culture, justice, and technology—lifting narrative, innovation, and community in tandem. He has moderated public dialogues (such as The King & Faith Forum) in partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of California and San Francisco's Grace Cathedral. And he hosted numerous panels and conversations both nationally and internationally.
Beyond his work at NorcalMLK, Dr. Grizzell serves as president of the board of the Yerba Buena Arts & Events (the producers of Yerba Buena Gardens Festival) in San Francisco. He holds both an M.A. (with Honors) and a Ph.D. in the History of Religions from the Graduate Theological Union (GTU), affiliated with UC Berkeley. He is active in the American Academy of Religion—serving on planning committees like the Theology of Martin Luther King Unit, co-chairing the Black Religion and Theology Unit (western division), and contributing to interpretation and arts groups. He is also a published scholar, with multiple manuscripts and an edited volume in development.