About Monica
Professional Experience
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Monica’s consulting practice is grounded in 25 years of nonprofit leadership and hands-on program, campaign, and organizational development experience. Monica was the founding Director of PILA (Partnership for Immigrant Leadership & Action), where she gained direct experience building an organization from the ground up—from collaborative development of the organization’s vision, mission and strategic goals to fundraising and staff and board development. Between 2000–2007, Monica led PILA’s capacity-building programs, including five consecutive year-long cycles of grassroots leadership development training for over 40 CBOs in the SF Bay Area. In 2002, she co-developed and piloted a movement-building electoral organizing program called Mobilize the Immigrant Vote (MIV), which led to launch of a unique, multi-racial, statewide collaborative. As staff, consultant and interim Director, Monica played various roles in support of MIV’s growth until 2010.
Prior to 2000, Monica served as National Program Officer at Civic Ventures, where she provided training and technical assistance to organizations across the country. She also spent four years directing a citizenship program in San Mateo County’s Latino community, connecting immigration legal services to organizing and activism during the anti-immigrant environment of the mid-1990s. Monica was trained as a popular educator at the Refugee Women’s Alliance in Seattle, and cut her organizing teeth with a grassroots network of women activists in Chile in the early 90s. She brings extensive experience working in diverse, multi-lingual settings, and is proficient in Spanish. |
Consulting Practice
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Since 2008, Monica has delivered customized organizational development services to diverse nonprofits and alliances. Monica supports organizations in a wide variety of change processes, including capacity-building initiatives, collaboration and coalition-building, strategic visioning and alignment, program development, and staff coaching. She has also served as Interim Executive Director for organizations facing a leadership gap during a leave or transition.
Current and previous clients and collaborators include:
Learn more about Monica's services and approach and see what clients and colleagues say about working with Monica here! References, detailed CV, and writing samples available by request. |
Training & Affiliations
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Affiliate Consultant with RoadMap Consulting
Relevant training includes the Social Transformation Project's Art of Transformational Consulting, Rockwood Art of Leadership Program, and Interaction Institute for Social Change Facilitative Leadership Training.. In addition to her organizational expertise, Monica is a creative writer and artist with an MFA from San Francisco State University. She believes in the power of storytelling as a tool for social change, and has designed and taught creative writing classes for undocumented immigrant youth and others. Monica lives in her hometown of San Francisco, where she serves on the board of Dolores Street Community Services and is active in efforts to keep the City a vibrant, diverse and affordable city for all. Want more information? Contact Monica with questions! |
