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07.18.24 | Equal Measure | News
# Leon D. Caldwell Joins Equal Measure as Chief Strategy and Equity Officer
Equal Measure is thrilled to announce the appointment of Leon D. Caldwell, PhD, as its inaugural Chief Strategy and Equity Officer. Caldwell has 30 years of experience in philanthropy, education, public health, and health care. His tenure began May 13, 2024.
With expertise in health equity, adolescent development, systemic issues affecting boys and men of color, implementation science, and place-based evaluation and research, Caldwell has a track record of designing strategies that advance racial equity and social justice. He will lead Equal Measure’s integrated efforts in project excellence, thought leadership, and business development to deepen the organization’s commitment to racial equity. His guidance of cross-project quality assurance will ensure relevant methodological approaches for project teams and elevate emerging trends and knowledge to sharpen Equal Measure’s frameworks, tools, and point of view.
“I’m very excited to welcome Dr. Caldwell to Equal Measure. He brings a rich background in equity-focused research, evaluation, and community engagement as a scholar-activist and entrepreneur,” said Equal Measure President and CEO Leon T. Andrews, Jr. “His leadership will strengthen our services and expand our innovation in evaluation, strategy, and communications, ultimately to advance social justice with our clients and partners. I look forward to collaborating with Leon to carry out our bold vision and strategic plan that center racial equity.”
Prior to Equal Measure, Caldwell served as Senior Director for Health Equity Strategies and Innovation at the American Hospital Association, where he designed the association’s Health Equity Roadmap—a framework to accelerate equity and inclusion in hospitals and health care systems. Caldwell is the founder and CEO of Ujima Developers, LLC, a social impact real estate development company, and Strategic Learning Partners, LLC, which focuses on social innovation design and evaluation.
Caldwell’s philanthropic roles include leadership positions in evaluation and research at the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the DeBruce Foundation. Additionally, he has held academic positions at Rhodes College, the University of Memphis, and was tenured at the rank of associate professor at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, contributing to research and teaching in counseling psychology, social work, and African American studies.
“I am honored to join such a dynamic team that is committed to transforming systems, particularly with an explicit equity focus,” Caldwell said. “I have already seen how Equal Measure’s four decades of partnership with clients has accelerated change across the social sector. This is a pivotal time to join the organization as it strengthens its focus on racial equity, and I’m excited to contribute to its vision of race no longer predicting life outcomes.”
Caldwell holds a doctorate in counseling psychology from Penn State as well as a master’s in education and a bachelor’s in economics, both from Lehigh University. He was born and raised in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and now resides in Howard County, Maryland.
07.17.24 | Equal Measure | Issue Brief
# Centering a Holistic Approach for Systems-Involved Young People
In 2016, the Annie E. Casey Foundation launched LEAP (Learn and Earn to Achieve Potential), a national initiative to help youth and young adults who have been involved in the foster care or justice systems or who have experienced homelessness succeed in school and work. Our brief shares the key takeaways on how LEAP partnerships tackle the root causes of disconnection from education and careers that systems-involved youth experience in their communities.
As the evaluation and learning partner, Equal Measure conducted a survey with LEAP leads at the six LEAP partnerships and interviewed LEAP national partners, a set of organizations working closely with the partnerships to provide technical assistance and expertise in a variety of areas. The data reveals several ways that LEAP partnerships approach changing systems to better serve young people.
### What We Learned About LEAP Partnerships
LEAP partnerships are implementing many interrelated strategies to improve educational and work outcomes for systems-involved young people. **Taking a holistic approach is the dominant and overarching strategy of LEAP partnerships.**
The partnerships are also approaching comprehensive, long-term change through:
* **Deep cross-sector partnerships.** In most communities, one organization cannot meet all the complex needs of systems-involved young people. Partnerships with external organizations, such as community-based organizations and government agencies, are essential for housing, food, health, and more. Additionally, even large direct service organizations need to develop internal partnerships, such as across departments, to connect youth to services.
* **Listening to young people and supporting youth leadership.** Allowing young people frequent and varied opportunities to share their stories and name their needs, interests, and desires helps partners know what types of support young people need and strengthens partners’ holistic support. Meeting youth needs also means building up their confidence and self-efficacy, leadership skills, and voice.
#### DOWNLOAD THE BRIEF
#### Project Team Members:
* Jennifer Thompson
* Alice Soo-a Choe
* Ana Lucía Raubitschek
* Steph Skinner
* Carise Mitch