Darian Showcase 2007

Executive Director Craigslist Foundation

Darian Rodriguez Heyman’s mission in life is maximizing his sphere of positive influence. To this end, he strives to contribute towards significant and sustainable social progress on many fronts. In his role as Executive Director of Craigslist Foundation, he supports not only one nonprofit sector or interest area, but rather he leverages the power of the craigslist brand to create a high tide that is raising all boats and creating a true movement. Darian envisions a single point of entry to the nonprofit sector for emerging leaders and is helping to make this a reality through Craigslist Foundation’s free and low cost events and online resources, connecting thousands of emerging and established leaders with vital support organizations, ideas and peers. Ultimately, his hope is that this focal point will bring an overarching sense of unity and community to the entire nonprofit sector, inspiring increased collaboration and effectiveness throughout civil society.

Darian is a dot com refugee with a strong history of building organizations, facilitating community development and supporting worthy causes. His professional career began when he co-founded and sold global digital advertising agency Beyond Interactive to Grey Global Group (now part of WPP). He was very active as a public speaker, industry pundit and organizer in the Internet marketing industry, dubbed “Professor Internet” by Adweek Magazine, and traveled the world to educate traditional advertising executives on the implications of the user-centric information revolution.

While on sabbatical from Beyond, Darian made a conscious decision to dedicate his life to philanthropy and the arts and never looked back. Shortly thereafter, he started Project Pangea and produced interdisciplinary fundraisers around various cultural themes, uniting DJs, musicians, poets, dancers, fashion designers, artists and community members, all while promoting cultural exchange and supporting art and music programs for underprivileged children.

Darian’s mother is a middle school art teacher in Jackson, New Jersey, and he believes deeply in the healing power of the arts. He sits on the Board of Directors of Project Ahimsa (www.ProjectAhimsa.org), a global effort to empower children through music, and in his spare time he nurtures his budding DJing and photography skills. As DJ Hey Man!, Darian spins socially conscious, global grooves and works with Michael Franti and Spearhead on their annual 911 Power to the Peaceful festival, a free concert for peace and social justice that has attracted crowds of over 60,000. As a photographer, he seeks to capture the inherent nobility of the underprivileged.

Darian lives in the Mission district of his beloved San Francisco and holds his BA in International Relations from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Go Blue!). He speaks Spanish and Portuguese, loves international travel, snowboarding and all kinds of music.