Monica Caldwell often finds herself standing in proximity with others to seek understanding of complex ideas, life experiences and organizational cultures that shape our daily professional lives. With a 37-year career in social work and a commitment to behavioral health equity, she has provided service and leadership in a variety of authentic settings, including people’s homes, foster homes, detention centers, hospitals, schools, community centers, parks...the places where we live, work and play. Monica centers empathy, partnership, compassion and collaboration in her work, and believes that stories rooted in lived experience are as valuable as data, evaluation and other more traditional ways of knowing. Monica is skilled in facilitating change efforts with leaders, practitioners and organizations, centering those most impacted. She is proud to stand in a circle of compassion with children and families with the most complex needs and has worked or provided leadership in the fields of mental health, K12 education, child welfare and youth justice. She recognizes the silos and fragmented services that leave people to fall through the cracks. Monica brings practical equity-focused approaches to nonprofits, schools and higher education, and government agencies with humility and a strong orientation toward personal and professional growth.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Educational Equity, Behavioral Health Equity, Nonprofit and Organizational Equity, Application of equity tools to policies, programs, practices & partnerships