Michael Courville is Founder and Principal of Open Mind Consulting.
Michael has worked on social change/social justice issues since 1994. He was a Teach for America corps member in rural North Carolina and has substantive experience with systems change, community equity, program design, organizational capacity building, collective impact, building inclusive communities, rural development, and addressing the root causes of poverty and racialized inequality. He holds degrees from The University of California, Berkeley and The University of Connecticut, with training in nonprofit management, social science research and public policy.
Prior to founding Open Mind, Michael served as Director of Community Programs and Development at California Rural Legal Assistance and National Program Director for The Respect for All Project at Groundspark. He has incubated and led organizational change efforts throughout his career, and continues to guide the leadership of others engaged in similar efforts. He approaches his work with clients as a partnership for growth and transformation. He believes that a combination of research, strategic analysis and thought partnership can help to advance equality and enhance our capacity to care for others along the way.
Michael has led a number of formal program and learning evaluations for nonprofits and public agencies. His research experience includes: investigations of heat stress among farmworkers; the role of the arts in community change, democratization of leadership practice in nonprofits; studies of community land trusts; and evaluations of diversity and inclusion initiatives. Michael writes and publishes on a range of topics related to social change, political economy and organizational development. He is most interested in the relationship between human development and economic equality. Michael serves as adjunct faculty in the Sociology Departments at San Francisco State University and Sonoma State University. He is also an Associate Member of the National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers.
Romelly Rivera is a Research Assistant for Open Mind Consulting
Romelly (she/her) is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in in Sociology at Sonoma State University. Her educational experience in the social sciences and upbringing in a multicultural environment in Los Angeles has shaped her determination to advocate for equality and inclusion in work environments and educational settings.
Prior to joining Open Mind, Romelly worked in nonprofit organizations serving families and youth in Los Angeles that have strengthened her efforts and knowledge about the importance of creating the space, skills, and resources for individuals in under-served communities to increase the overall quality of life. She believes that, through research, we can identify the patterns and solutions necessary to reduce poverty and inequality.
