ABOUT US

Calico Culture Strategies was co-founded as the Unconscious Bias Project in 2017, by two scientists who knew from their own lived experiences that in order to make true system change happen, we needed to do more.

That’s why we help you drive change with scientifically-backed tools.

We build supportive workplaces through custom programming, positive collaboration, and practical action so everyone can thrive. 

We engage at the individual, group, and collective level with an inquisitive and empathetic approach to make lasting change. 

Our vision is to combat systemic injustice by transforming each community we work with one-at-a-time, brick-by-brick, until we build a system where we embrace our differences and strive forward in unity.

Dr. Linet Mera shares resources UBP at an exhibition booth at Calapalooza in 2016

Our Story

Co-founders Linet and Alexis stand in front of a painted mural depicting Dolores Huerta

Our Values

  • Be Open

    We aim to foster the kind of community that embraces diversity, actively champions equity, and truly embodies inclusion.

  • Be Humble

    We care abut your success as an organization and think deeply about any problem instead of giving an out-of-the-box answer.

  • Be Curious

    We want you to feel heard. Our curiosity makes this a collaborative process, giving you the kind of tools that build confidence because they actually work.

  • Have Fun

    We always speak up when we see something wrong. But this work is not about blaming or shaming, it's about building relationships. Having fun means we can authentically connect with each other, while still facing the serious issues at hand.

Meet The Team

Your Co-Facilitators

Alexis Krohn (she/her)

Calico Co-Executive Director. Alexis is a writer, teacher, community organizer. She’s here, she’s queer, and she’s passionate about spreadsheets, system design, and workshop facilitation. On the side, she spins fire, plays guitar, and loves engaging with people with curiosity and compassion. 

Dr. Linet Mera, Ph.D. (she/her) 

Calico Co-Executive Director, Co-Founder, & Treasurer. Linet is a Latinx scientist from Colombia with 10 years of experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion program design. Loves oceans, connecting with people through food, dance, singing, and paint.

Our Core Team

Susannah Lim (she/her)

Calico Marketing & Social Media. 

Theresa Oborn (they/them) 

Calico Art & Design. Theresa is the artist behind our bias cartoons! Large-scale sculptor and aspiring illustrator in Seattle, WA.

Untitled design (5).jpg

Laurie Drake, PhD (she/her)

Calico Business Development Strategy. Laurie is also the Canadian Director of Market Strategy for a pet food company.

Facilitators & Business Partners

Andrea G. Tatum (she/her)

Andrea is our Subject Matter Expert on Corporate & Enterprise teams, Hiring & Recruiting, ERGs, Executive Coaching, and Marketing. She is CEO and Lead Consultant of AGT Diversity Consulting

Kayla Imperial (she/her)

Calico Podcast Accessibility. Kayla loves horror movies and TV shows.

Em Zeman (she/they)

Calico Accounting & Reports. Em has a Masters in Accounting and is an accounting systems specialist. They are queer, polyamorous, and neurodivergent. In her free time she is wrangling their three cats, playing video games, spending quality time with her partner, or building Legos.

Ready to work with our team of dedicated experts?

Ben Greene (he/him)

Ben is our Subject Matter Expert on Transgender Advocacy for Trans Youth and Trans Employees. He is a trans advocate, educator, and author of “My Child is Trans, Now What? A joy Centered Approach to Support”.

Dr. Keith Hinderlie Smith (he/him)

Dr. Hinderlie Smith is our Subject Matter Expert on Team Psychological Safety & Organizational Psychology. He is a licensed psychologist, educator, and DEIJ practitioner with 20 years of experience developing and enacting comprehensive individual, group, and organizational programs.

Dr. Chrissy Stachl (she/her)

Dr. Stachl is our Subject Matter Expert on Microaggressions, Focus Groups, Climate Survey Design, and Equitable Hiring practices. She is Founder and CEO of Reflecting Equity and has been leading equity, inclusion, and belonging efforts for more than 8 years.

Brenda Gonzalez (she/her)

Brenda is our Subject Matter Expert on Nonprofit Boards, Civil Rights advocacy, and Marketing. She is a strategic communication consultant specializing in social-impact campaigns. She is the co-founder and co-CEO of Tamarindo, a Latinx empowerment platform and podcast recognized by Oprah Magazine as a resource to learn about race and racism in America.

Our Board of Advisors

  • Dr. E. K. (they/them)

    Calico Secretary. Dr. K’s expertise in strategic planning, business development, and operations help keep us galvanized and energized!

  • anonymous person profile

    EM (he/him)

    He is a communications professional, as well as a social scientist specializing in organizational conflict management in workgroups and teams.

  • Smiling picture of Cat a white-presenting woman with short brown hair in a dark teal top

    Dr. Cat Adams (she/her)

    Calico Chair. Dr. Adams is a Research Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and has almost ten years of experience in developing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

  • Ariel Coleman (she/her)

    Ariel is a HR Subject Matter Expert with a background in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. She specializes in Organizational Development, Employee/Labor Relations, Investigations, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Our Fiscal Sponsorship

Calico Culture Strategies is a fiscally sponsored project of Social Good Fund, a tax-deductible 501c3 nonprofit organization (EIN 46-1323531). 

Our Student Organization Affiliate 

At the University of California, Berkeley our first student organization affiliate is Unconscious Bias Project at Berkeley, a registered student organization. We’re also grateful for the past support of SYNBERC, the Synthetic Biology Engineering Research Center. UBP at Cal has closed as of 2023.

Anna Schneider, PhD, Co-Founder

Emily Kearney, PhD, Co-leader

Caleb Fleisher

Claire Willing

Leigh Martin

Mitch Thompson, PhD

Lucrecia Iruela

Sophi Martin

Kaitlyn Farrell Rodriguez

Saffy Sumra

Our Past Members & Contributors

We are forever grateful for the passion, vision, knowledge, and hard work from our past advisors, members, leaders, and founders who helped make Calico what it is today. 

Norma Morella

Simca Bouma

Tanuj Surve 

Vay Cao, PhD 

Jess Mitchell 

Roo Vandegrift, PhD

Aaron Culich

Gaëlle Feliz

Selena Martinez Mak

Destiny Ramirez

Seth Boeckman