This month the Change Matrix (CM) team is thrilled to bring onboard Change Consultant Ghia Kelly, MSW. Ghia brings with her a vast experience in social services and systems building with primary foci on gender-based violence, maternal and child health, racial equity, substance abuse, and mental health. No stranger to implementing systems change, either, Ghia, who has worked on state-level initiatives in Florida, expressed an interest in joining a position where she could make positive change on a national level. In her current role, Ghia will do that and more when she supports CM in its multi-state technical assistance (TA) work, start new projects, and even uses her maternal health and racial equity expertise to aid an international project in advancing equity. Learn more about Ghia’s upcoming projects and approach to her work in this Q&A.
What drew you to Change Matrix?
I think I knew that I wanted to shift from state-level work because I had been doing it for probably over 10 years, and I really wanted to move into a national position that really focused on equity and TA. TA is a huge part of the work that I do and I love. I really like strategizing and building relationships — systems-building kind of work. And I really wanted to work for a virtual company. I didn’t know anything about Change Matrix initially, but CM was having the career fair and it just fit. I loved the fact that it was minority- and women-owned — that really spoke to me. And when I looked at the recording from the career fair and got a chance to hear everybody, it was just, “Wow, I love the work that they do.” And I think the mission of the organization, to really help organizations and communities that improve lives, really spoke to me. Those were things that aligned very well with my professional and personal values, and I felt that the work that I would be doing would be meaningful because of that.
What drew you into equity work in general?
In my last position, I worked to advance racial equity and parent leadership within the early childhood system. Even when I worked as an advocate for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, that was in the context of anti-racist and anti-oppression frameworks. And so, that was something that I was doing for a number of years. Equity is one of the areas that I’m most passionate about, so that had to be at the forefront of any organization that I worked for, not just the work but within the organization itself. I felt that from CM, and that made a difference. So, when I saw that kind of language in the things we put out like newsletters and 5 Things Digest, I really liked that, and it was a huge thing for me.
What is your role at CM?
I currently work on three centers: the MIECHV Technical Assistance and Resource Center (MIECHV TARC) where I provide technical assistance for Region 8 states; the Early Childhood System Training & Technical Assistance Center (ECS TACC), which is a new center that’s getting started and I’ll be providing technical assistance to Early Childhood Comprehensive sysstems (ECCS) awardees; and I’m also a TA specialist for National Training and Technical Assistance Center for Child, Youth, and Family Mental Health (NTTAC) and I sit on the early childhood and youth and young adult teams. I am also assisting CM Founding Partner Suganya Sockalingam with a new project with Postpartum Support International where they’re trying to really develop their internal capacity around racial equity.
What unique skill do you think sets you apart from others for your role at CM?
I think I am a good communicator, so I think working in teams and strategizing and planning really fuels me. I do think that my critical thinking and strategizing is a skill, and I wanted a position that allowed me to do that in an authentic way. I have experienced providing direct services, but I really enjoy the macro-level work and improving systems. As a woman of color, I have lived experience with racism and bias and that really fuels that passion to do something about it. Lastly, I think I’m well-rounded and my experiences over the last 14 years of my professional career have really shaped who I am today. I really want the best for people and communities, especially those who are experiencing significant disparities. We are experiencing a lot of injustice but I’m hopeful that things can get better.
Which project or assignment are you most excited about right now?
I am excited about all of them, but I’m super excited about the ECS TACC work, because I served as the ECCS impact project manager for five years for Florida. So, being able to be on the national side and provide technical assistance to many of those states that I was a grantee alongside of and have worked with, as well as new states who are new to that system-building work, it’s really exciting.
