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 scientifically-backed tools.
We empower the individual, group, and collective using the latest best practices to do more to address systemic inequities of racism, xenophobia, ageism, ableism, and others excluded in society.
Our mission is to help leaders build more inclusive spaces through custom programming so everyone can belong.
We accomplish our mission in two ways:
Provide services at-cost to for-profit organizations
Provide subsidized and free programs to nonprofits and to the public with profits gained from at-cost programs
Our hope is that we build a community and a workplace where everyone can pursue their dreams.
Our Story
Our Values
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Be Open
We aim to foster the kind of community that embraces diversity, actively champions equity, and truly embodies inclusion.
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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.
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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.
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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. 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
Brenda Gonzalez (she/her)
Brenda 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. She writes and speaks about race, gender, and civil rights.
Seth Boeckman (he/they)
Calico Podcast Scrum Leader & Producer. Seth is an operations and project manager, artist, and maker with expertise in robotics, 3D printing, CNC machining, woodworking, theatre production, more. You can see some of his cool things on his website osodesigns.shop.
Susannah Lim (she/her)
Calico Research & Outreach Projects. Susannah is a UC Berkeley student and an instructor for a student-run public health course. She is also our affiliate UC Berkeley student organization Co-Leader.
Selena Martinez Mak, MBA, MPA (she/her)
Selena is a Latina entrepreneur and consummate social justice advocate who brings her 14-15 years of experience in patient advocacy and fundraising to Calico. Formerly, UBP Strategy & Business Development Manager.
Destiny Ramirez (she/her)
Calico Communications. Destiny is a Legal Studies graduate of UC Berkeley and current law school applicant.
Saffanat (Saffy) Sumra (she/her)
Calico Research & Social Media. Saffy is a UC Berkeley student, a writer, and Instagram content creator. She is also our affiliate UC Berkeley UBP student organization co-leader.
Theresa Oborn (they/them)
Calico Art & Design. Theresa is the artist behind our bias cartoons! Large-scale sculptor and aspiring illustrator in Seattle, WA.
Laurie Drake (she/her)
Marketing and social media at Calico.
Kaitlyn Farrell Rodriguez (she/her)
Calico Research & Social Media. Kaitlyn is a UT Austin PhD Candidate in English, a professional writing and teaching consultant, and above all, a teaching and learning enthusiast. She is passionate about DEI work, especially within academic settings, and she currently serves on several university committees that promote accessibility, inclusive course design, and diverse syllabus development.
Ready to work with our team of dedicated experts?
Our Advisors
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Cat Adams (she/her)
Calico Academic Advisor. Cat is a Postdoctoral Fellow at UC Berkeley’s Plant and Microbiology Department and has five years of experience in developing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
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Aaron Culich (he/him)
Calico Mindfulness Advisor and Facilitator. Aaron is a data scientist at UC Berkeley’s D-Lab and trained mindfulness facilitator for Search Inside Yourself Institute.
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Gaëlle Feliz (she/her)
Calico Fundraising Strategy Advisor. Gaëlle is a Development Coordinator at Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley and thrives on supporting and leading collective programs to meet the needs of her local communities.
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Lucrecia Iruela, PHR, J.D, LL.M, ACC (she/her)
Calico Organizational Strategy & People Advisor and Facilitator. Lucrecia is an executive coach, serial entrepreneur, and passionate people expert. Her purpose for all is to Do Better, Get Better, Be Better®.
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Sophi Martin, PhD (she/her)
Calico Innovation & Development Advisor. Sophi is Sr. Manager & Experience Designer/Facilitator in Deloitte’s Greenhouse team, leading clients through complex business challenges in interactive sessions.
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.
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.
Anna Schneider, PhD, Co-Founder
Emily Kearney, PhD, Co-leader
Caleb Fleisher
Claire Willing
Leigh Martin
Mitch Thompson, PhD
Norma Morella
Simca Bouma
Tanuj Surve
Vay Cao, PhD
Jess Mitchell
Roo Vandegrift, PhD