Phyllis Stricklan

I’m a nonprofit executive, attorney, and equity strategist with over two decades of experience advancing justice through systems reform, legal advocacy, and movement-aligned leadership. My work centers on building partnerships that elevate lived experience, foster cross-sector collaboration, and drive sustainable change in child welfare, healthcare, and philanthropic spaces. My early career began in healthcare, where I served as a registered nurse, head nurse, and nursing instructor. That foundation instilled in me a deep respect for trauma-informed care, frontline leadership, and the power of systems to either support or fail vulnerable populations. It continues to shape my approach to equity, policy, and organizational change. As Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the Children’s Law Center of California, I led agency-wide transformation efforts and partnered with grassroots organizations to address disproportionality in youth systems. I also served as national project lead for the American Bar Association’s Family Justice Initiative, where I convened cross-sector leaders and launched the Anti-Racist Lawyering Initiative—a national hub for equity-centered legal practice. I’m a Certified Child Welfare Law Specialist and hold a certificate in Advancing Racial Justice & Equity from Georgetown University. My leadership has been recognized through keynote invitations at national and international convenings, and I’ve helped steward multimillion-dollar budgets while aligning strategy with mission at the executive level. I’m now seeking to bring my experience in equity, governance, and systems change to a philanthropic organization committed to climate justice, global equity, and scientific innovation. Let’s connect if you’re building toward bold, values-driven impact.