Celeste Perilla

Background

About Celeste Perilla

I am a strategist, organizer, and equity-driven leader who has spent my career working at the intersection of politics, philanthropy, and community. As Director of Maryland Impact at Leadership for Educational Equity, I support a growing bench of equity-minded leaders and candidates—many of them women, people of color, and caregivers—as they navigate campaigns, governance, and systems change. Through coaching, training, and deep relationship-building, I help leaders turn lived experience into lasting impact. Rooted in over a decade of experience—from labor organizing and campaign management to nonprofit development and civic engagement—I’ve raised millions in institutional support, built issue-based coalitions, and expanded opportunities for historically underrepresented communities to lead. I believe politics can be a vehicle for justice when we invest in the people closest to the work. My purpose is clear: to build power, cultivate leadership, and help shape a more inclusive and equitable democracy.