Services
I work with individual organizations and networks of groups who are joining forces for collective impact towards more just, equitable and sustainable communities. Listed below are examples of the organizational goals my clients and I work together to address. Whether charting a new course forward or adjusting internal capacity to meet shifting needs and opportunities, my consulting services support groups and alliances in a period of growth or transition.
VISIONING & PLANNING
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ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE & EFFECTIVENESS
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"I have had the privilege of working with Monica inside two different organizations. In both cases, Monica led us through a strategy design process, helping us make clear connections between the ongoing programmatic work and a proactive vision for systemic change. Monica is a brilliant consultant who sees the unique contributions of individual staff members and plays on their strengths to lead the group’s process in the most genuine and organic way possible. I am in awe of her ability to move gracefully through complicated processes, bringing forth clarity and effective systems. Her ability to move from vision to measurable plans makes her an outstanding strategist in social justice movements. Through these transformative interactions, Monica has become mentor of mine as I explore my own role in the larger movement towards racial, social, and cultural inclusiveness.”
Jazmin Segura, Fellow, Nurturing Equity Movements, San Francisco Foundation (former Policy Advocacy staff, SIREN & E4FC)
Jazmin Segura, Fellow, Nurturing Equity Movements, San Francisco Foundation (former Policy Advocacy staff, SIREN & E4FC)
“We first worked with Monica when we she led a strategic planning process for our organization. She did excellent work to ensure all appropriate stakeholders participated meaningfully in the process and, in the end, helped us clarify and articulate our vision to be a social service AND social change organization. We later engaged her for support on organizational restructuring and integration of programs. She was so great in both of these processes that we eventually asked her to join our Board, and in that role she has continued to provide key strategic thinking and guidance. Monica is great to work with—sharp in her analysis, deep in her experience, and thorough in her approach.”
Wendy Phillips, Executive Director, Dolores Street Community Services
Wendy Phillips, Executive Director, Dolores Street Community Services
PROGRAM & STRATEGY DESIGN
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STAFF & TEAM COACHING
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COLLABORATION & ALLIANCES
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"Monica and I worked together as co-trainers for a leadership development program for 5 years. I love her creativity, ability to translate ideas into actionable items, and her deep commitment to meet community and client needs."
Helen Kim, Organizational Development Consultant
Helen Kim, Organizational Development Consultant
"Monica helped me break my organization’s long term vision into smaller actionable steps during our program planning sessions. Her expertise, passion and kind demeanor made the process easy to navigate, thoughtful and authentic. As a younger professional, I enjoyed learning from Monica's experience in program development, strategy and communication. Through her role modeling and on the spot interventions, she helped me grow as a leader and a person. She's phenomenal!"
Rodrigo Dorador, former Outreach Manager, E4FC
Rodrigo Dorador, former Outreach Manager, E4FC
Approach
Participatory Process & Dynamic Facilitation
Having designed and facilitated hundreds of trainings and retreats for diverse participants, I am a seasoned curriculum designer and facilitator who specializes in moving groups effectively through complex collaborative planning and decision-making processes. I love working with clients to create dynamic, participatory sessions that will unlock the best thinking of individual participants, tap the collective genius of a group, and build strong consensus for a pathway forward.
Building on Strengths
I come to my consulting partnerships with a strength-based approach, grounded in the assumption that the core experience, knowledge and vision to address obstacles is very often already present within the groups I work with. With the benefit of an outside perspective, I see my role as helping to make the group’s existing assets and challenges more visible, offering tools and practices to effect and sustain shifts toward stronger, more aligned work, and creating a space within which the skills and passion of the group can be channeled more effectively toward shared goals.
Transformational Change
No single organization can solve our complex social and environmental challenges or create sustainable systems-change on its own. I support groups in locating their work within a broader interdependent ecosystem, aligning strategies with other efforts towards long-term change and systemic solutions. I also see that the broader social change we seek is not possible without walking our talk at individual, interpersonal and organizational levels. In my own ongoing growth as well as in my consulting practice, I'm inspired by the Social Transformation Project's (STP) Wheel of Change model, a framework that articulates the necessity for transformation in multiple dimensions for sustainable, lasting shifts in our beliefs, behavior and systems/structures. Read more about STP's model here.
Partnership & Active Listening
While I draw on experience and tools tested in other contexts, I don’t believe in cookie-cutter processes. I ask questions, listen carefully, and adapt to the unique culture and issues of each organization, actively partnering with clients to design the best approach to meet their goals.
Values and Relationship-Driven
In all my work, I am committed to building strong relationships based on transparency, accountability, and mutual respect. I show up in my partnerships with a deep commitment to equity and racial and social justice principles. Grounded in the belief that transformative change requires each of us to be open to risks and the lessons from both success and failure, I bring curiosity and desire for continuous learning. I also believe in the power of creative expression, humor and play to reignite the joy in what we do!
For more about my professional experience and background, please see my bio.
Having designed and facilitated hundreds of trainings and retreats for diverse participants, I am a seasoned curriculum designer and facilitator who specializes in moving groups effectively through complex collaborative planning and decision-making processes. I love working with clients to create dynamic, participatory sessions that will unlock the best thinking of individual participants, tap the collective genius of a group, and build strong consensus for a pathway forward.
Building on Strengths
I come to my consulting partnerships with a strength-based approach, grounded in the assumption that the core experience, knowledge and vision to address obstacles is very often already present within the groups I work with. With the benefit of an outside perspective, I see my role as helping to make the group’s existing assets and challenges more visible, offering tools and practices to effect and sustain shifts toward stronger, more aligned work, and creating a space within which the skills and passion of the group can be channeled more effectively toward shared goals.
Transformational Change
No single organization can solve our complex social and environmental challenges or create sustainable systems-change on its own. I support groups in locating their work within a broader interdependent ecosystem, aligning strategies with other efforts towards long-term change and systemic solutions. I also see that the broader social change we seek is not possible without walking our talk at individual, interpersonal and organizational levels. In my own ongoing growth as well as in my consulting practice, I'm inspired by the Social Transformation Project's (STP) Wheel of Change model, a framework that articulates the necessity for transformation in multiple dimensions for sustainable, lasting shifts in our beliefs, behavior and systems/structures. Read more about STP's model here.
Partnership & Active Listening
While I draw on experience and tools tested in other contexts, I don’t believe in cookie-cutter processes. I ask questions, listen carefully, and adapt to the unique culture and issues of each organization, actively partnering with clients to design the best approach to meet their goals.
Values and Relationship-Driven
In all my work, I am committed to building strong relationships based on transparency, accountability, and mutual respect. I show up in my partnerships with a deep commitment to equity and racial and social justice principles. Grounded in the belief that transformative change requires each of us to be open to risks and the lessons from both success and failure, I bring curiosity and desire for continuous learning. I also believe in the power of creative expression, humor and play to reignite the joy in what we do!
For more about my professional experience and background, please see my bio.
"Monica is a rare consultant. She brings years of experience in leading social justice, mission-driven organizations as well as deep knowledge of organizational culture, structure and cycles. This experience, combined with a keen work ethic and commitment to high quality work, makes Monica an extraordinary resource and partner for any organization seeking to manage growth, confront challenges or address major shifts. And yet, of all the skills, knowledge and frameworks Monica has at her disposal, it is her heart that truly sets her apart. Monica sees and affirms the passion of staff and community members. She is mindful of her own privileges, blind-spots and identities. She brings a warm and compassionate understanding to difficult conversations and processes. Monica truly embodies in every aspect of her work her beliefs about liberation, healing and social justice. Monica inspires hope and joy wherever she is present."
Jose Ivan Arreola, Director, UndocuHealing Project
"Monica wasted no time in making a brand new team feel like we’d been working together for years. She has an exceptional ability to work from both sides of her brain: to communicate in words and images; to speak from the heart in order to evoke our best thinking; to conceptualize as well as strategize - never losing sight of the big picture even when we were knee-deep in weeds. Monica’s thoughtful leadership helped us exceed our expectations in producing a road map that will guide our organization for years to come. I look forward to the next time we can work together!"
Kate Hoepke, Co-Chair, Leadership Team, Village Movement California
Jose Ivan Arreola, Director, UndocuHealing Project
"Monica wasted no time in making a brand new team feel like we’d been working together for years. She has an exceptional ability to work from both sides of her brain: to communicate in words and images; to speak from the heart in order to evoke our best thinking; to conceptualize as well as strategize - never losing sight of the big picture even when we were knee-deep in weeds. Monica’s thoughtful leadership helped us exceed our expectations in producing a road map that will guide our organization for years to come. I look forward to the next time we can work together!"
Kate Hoepke, Co-Chair, Leadership Team, Village Movement California