Daniel Penilla

(he/him/él)

Board Member

Daniel is a creative, Liberatory coach, producer, and lover of stories, driven to find ways of bringing joy, love, healing, and liberation to our communities. Daniel believes that creativity and social action are essential to creating the type of communities that we all deserve to live in.  Daniel is Latine, Mexican born in the United States, and currently lives on the unceded territory of the Tongva/Gabrielino peoples.

He has held leadership roles in the for-profit and non-profit sectors for over 15 years. Daniel was the Associate Artistic Director and Ensemble member of Cornerstone Theater Company where he created and led events bringing together artists, activists, thought leaders, and community members. His roots are in theater and as an actor, he trained at Circle In The Square Theatre School in NYC and was a member of the LAByrinth Theater Company’s first Intensive Ensemble. He is also an alum of artEquity’s National Facilitator Training program. Most recently he played Luis in the award-winning short film (Soon to be feature film) La Serenata, directed by Adelina Anthony & written by Ernesto Javier Martínez. 

He is the founder of (presente) coaching and supports folks in being grounded in their present and highest SELF so that they can share their strengths and gifts with their communities.  He received liberatory coaching certification through Coaching for Healing, Justice, and Liberation (CHJL).  Along with working as an independent coach, he also works with Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE), the New Breath Foundation, and is currently an ensemble coach with MAP fund- Scaffolding for Practicing Artists (SPA).

Daniel loves to create spaces for individual and collective grounding and alchemy, especially with BIPOC, othered, and marginalized peoples and communities. In addition to his work in the arts and as a coach, he is a producer and founder of presente nomad creating and facilitating events with a focus on social justice and community impact at small and large scales.