Rafael Velázquez is the Senior Program Manager at Build Healthy Places Network. He brings over 15 years of experience in community health, community development and social services, advancing place-based strategies that strengthen health equity and pathways to opportunity. He previously worked at The Unity Council, a community development organization in Oakland, where he led programs that supported neighborhood stability and community health, including asset building, resident services, youth development, workforce readiness, and aging-in-place initiatives.
Rafael has also contributed to organizations across the health ecosystem, including Instituto Familiar de la Raza, The Permanente Medical Group, and the Seattle & King County Health Department. In these roles, he developed community-centered models, expanded access to essential services, and forged cross-sector partnerships to drive more equitable outcomes. He holds a Master of Public Health and a Master of City Planning from the University of California, Berkeley.