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Deborah Santana

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Deborah Santana
Deborah Santana in 2019, wearing a floral top
Santana in 2019
Born
Deborah Sara King

(1951-01-30) January 30, 1951 (age 73)
San Francisco, California, United States
Alma materCalifornia Institute of Integral Studies (MA)
Occupations
  • Author
  • Business Manager
  • Activist
Spouses
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1973; div. 2007)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 2015; div. 2019)​
Children3; including Salvador Santana
FatherSaunders King
Websitedeborahsantana.com

Deborah Sara Santana (née King, born January 30, 1951) is a peace and social justice activist for women and people of color, business manager and author. She is the former wife of musician Carlos Santana.[1]

Early life and education

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Santana is the daughter of the blues musician Saunders King[2] and Jo Frances King (née Willis).[3] Santana graduated from the California Institute of Integral Studies and holds a Master of Arts in Philosophy and Religion with a Concentration in Women's Spirituality.[4]

Career

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From 1994 to 2007, Santana was vice-president and COO of Santana Management, which involved working in management of her husband's band.[5][6]

Philanthropy

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As a philanthropist, Santana founded Do a Little, a non-profit which seeks to empower children and underprivileged women, in 2008.[7][8][9] Santana has also served as a trustee for ANSA (Artists for a New South Africa) and the Smithsonian Institution. She is on the board of directors of the Violence Intervention program in Los Angeles and is a First Century Leader of the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative, and a Member of the Smithsonian National Education Outreach Working Group for the Smithsonian Under Secretary for Education.[10][11][12] Santana is also a founding donor of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.[13]

In 2005, Santana published Space Between the Stars: My Journey to an Open Heart, a memoir detailing her biracial upbringing as a child of African-American and European-American parents, and her marriage to Carlos.[14] In 2018, Santana edited and co-published the anthology All the Women in My Family Sing: Women Write the World: Essays on Equality, Justice, and Freedom (Nothing But the Truth So Help Me God), a collection of poems and stories written by 69 women of color.[15][16][17][18] She has also contributed to the anthologies Tutu As I Know Him: On a Personal Note (2006), Nothing But the Truth So Help Me God (2012), Life Moments for Women (2012), and 20 Years - Chokecherries Anniversary Edition (2013).[19]

Santana is credited as a producer on five short documentary films focusing on the Daraja Academy, a free secondary boarding school for high performing girls in need in Kenya, and the work of non-profit partners in South Africa.[20][21] Four of these films were directed by Emmy Award-winner Barbara Rick.[22] Santana continues to support the Daraja Academy both financially and by using her celebrity to bring awareness.[23][24]

Santana is a lead investor of the Courage Museum, opening in San Francisco in 2025. The Courage Museum is a world-class immersive educational program that will be a bold new platform for public education, inspiration, and action, a place where individuals are informed and equipped with tools to rethink violence and advance concrete change.[25][26][27][28]

Personal life

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Santana has three children with Carlos Santana, whom she married in 1973 and divorced in 2007.[29] Salvador Santana is a songwriter, band leader, and instrumentalist;[30] Stella Santana, a singer/songwriter/performer;[31] and Angelica Santana, a writer, archivist, and film producer.[32]

References

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  1. ^ "Carlos, Deborah Santana divorcing after 34 years". The Mercury News. 1 November 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  2. ^ Meisfjord, Tom (29 May 2020). "The Truth About Carlos Santana's Wives". Grunge.com. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Jo Frances King Obituary (2006) Marin Independent Journal". Legacy.com. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  4. ^ "Deborah Santana". California Institute of Integral Studies. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Deborah Santana". YWCA. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  6. ^ Mulrooney, C. Delia. "An Interview with Deborah Santana". Literary Mama. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  7. ^ "'My Passion, My Philanthropy': Deborah Santana Carries Forward Stewardship Tradition". Women's eNews. 26 October 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  8. ^ Danflous, Patricia (30 October 2014). "Do a Little, Make a Big Difference". mcall.com. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Interview with Deborah Santana". mariaramoschertok.com. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  10. ^ "About". Smithsonian American Women's History. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Leadership". Violence Intervention Program. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Violence Intervention Program". Violence Intervention Program. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Founding Donors". National Museum of African American History and Culture. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  14. ^ Lara, Adair (22 November 2004). "With a memoir, Deborah Santana emerges from Carlos' shadow". SFGATE. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  15. ^ ALL THE WOMEN IN MY FAMILY SING | Kirkus Reviews.
  16. ^ "Author Talk: Deborah Santana". Marin Magazine. 12 February 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  17. ^ Rhor, Monica (27 March 2018). "Anthology by Deborah Santana celebrates strength, resilience of women of color". Chron. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  18. ^ "All the Women in My Family Sing: Interview with Deborah Santana". MissHeard Media. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  19. ^ "Works". Deborah Santana. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  20. ^ "Deborah Santana – iVOW". 23 December 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  21. ^ McClain, James (28 May 2020). "Deborah Santana Goes Way Mod in Los Angeles". Variety. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  22. ^ Rick, Barbara (3 September 2014). "Celebrating Kathy". HuffPost. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  23. ^ Yayoi (8 June 2014). "Deborah Santana Host to Benefit Daraja Academy". The Experience Magazine. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  24. ^ "Donor Desk: Deborah Santana". The San Francisco Foundation. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  25. ^ Katsuyama, Jana (2 March 2023). "Stanford assault victim joins others in sharing stories for future Courage Museum". KTVU FOX 2. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  26. ^ "The Courage Museum: An Immersive Learning Center to Prevent Violence - Futures Without Violence". Futures Without Violence. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  27. ^ Staff, Giving List (4 October 2021). "A Bold, Living Monument to a Future Without Violence". The Giving List. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  28. ^ "Courage Museum Home". Courage Museum. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  29. ^ Rees, Caroline (12 December 2014). "Carlos Santana: my family values". the Guardian. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  30. ^ Aguado, E. J. (14 December 2016). "Salvador Santana, Son of that Famous Guitarist, Carves His Own Musical Path". Fox News. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  31. ^ "Meet Stella, Daughter of Carlos Santana, An R&B Singer-Songwriter On The Rise". Remezcla. 28 July 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  32. ^ "Meet Later Mom Deborah Santana (Interview by Robin Gorman Newman)". MotherhoodLater.com. Retrieved 4 August 2021.

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