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René Castro, MSW, is the Principal and Founder of , a mission driven consulting firm whose purpose is to connect traditionally marginalized communities with the institutions designed to serve them. A community social worker, educator and advocate, René brings 30 years of experience in the non-profit and government sectors.

For the last 25 years he has served as an adjunct professor for the Schools of Social Work at California State University, Long Beach and Dominguez Hills with a special emphasis on community development, community organizing, program development and design.

René served as Vice President for the California Conference for Equality and Justice for 12 years. In this capacity he led training initiatives in diversity, equity and inclusion for police departments, municipal employees, educators, foundations, private businesses and non-profits.  René is an expert facilitator and planner who is able to connect training outcomes to overall organizational development and effectiveness.

As the founding Director for Building Healthy Communities, Long Beach, a place-based effort to raise life-expectancies in Long Beach’s poorest neighborhoods René personally took the lead to map local assets, convene multi-sectoral workgroups,  build community capacity and establish the governance structure that is today known as Long Beach Forward, a progressive grassroots advocacy organization.

René currently serves on the board of the Economic Policy Impact Center and previously served as Co-Chair for the Mayor’s Affordable Housing Task Force and Chair of Mental Health America, Los Angeles. He lives with his wife, Elizabeth Jimenez in Long Beach, California.

René’s personal mission is to foster health equity for all Californians.