Gabriela Melano

Gabriela Melano

Gabriela Melano, Ed.D., Principal

Gabriela Melano, Ed.D., has almost three decades of professional experience in the fields of Education and Social Development, nationally and internationally. Trained as an Educational Psychologist with extensive experience in community development, Dr. Melano has been serving as an organizational development consultant since 1996. She provides several types of services supporting collective decision-making processes—including mediation, group facilitation, systemic planning, participatory action research and evaluation processes, intercultural communication and teamwork. She is also a professional graphic recorder. An avid systemic thinker, she is fully proficient in English and Spanish. Her creative demeanor, authentic amicability and playful sense of humor are added values in her professional style. Her clients often refer to her as “a breath of fresh air!”

EDUCATION:

University of San Francisco, School of Education, 2003
Doctor in Education: Major in Organizational Development, and Minor in Intercultural Studies
Dissertation topic:  Intercultural communication between Caucasian Unitedstatesians and Salvadorians: Implications for team development dynamics in the not-for-profit workplace.

Harvard University, Graduate School of Education, 1991
Master’s in International Education.

Universidad del CAECE, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1987
Bachelor’s Degree in Educational Psychology, with a concentration in Educational and Organizational Guidance.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:

Present- 1996 
Independent Organizational and Community Development Consultant, San Francisco Bay Area

Specializing in strategic planning, collaborative decision making, qualitative and participatory  research processes, intercultural communication, conflict management, popular education and diversity matters.

Clients include, but not limited to:

  • Building Healthy Communities, Co-Facilitator of a neighborhood-driven collaborative funded by The California Endowment.
  • Putnam Community Investment, Qualitative Researcher, Group Facilitator
  • America Speaks. Area Facilitator and Assistant Producer in Twenty-first Century Town Meetings.
  • California State University, Stanislaus, Research Associate, involved in community-focused and participatory evaluation processes in Stanislaus County.
  • The National Community Development Institute; Kaiser Permanente; International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), El Concilio, Latino Issues Forum, Consultant, offering services as group facilitator, graphics recorder , and trainer. Involved in a variety of community building and organizational development endeavors.
  • Springer Publishers International (World-wide Publishing Company); Group Facilitator, facilitated a retreat for the Advisory Group for Latin America.
  • Institute of Labor and Mental Health, Oakland; Mediator, serving as conflict resolution and organizational development consultant.
  • Turner Construction Company;   Consultant, outreach to Latino community to ensure  equitable distribution of subcontracts in the Oakland Airport Extension Project.
  • Partners For Public Health; Consultant, facilitating strategic dialogues and conflict resolution processes for multi-agency collaboratives involved in public health and environmental matters.Mission Cultural Center; The Ritter Center;  Interfaith Gospel Choir; Healthy House; Consultant, facilitating collaborative planning processes and Board development.
  • University of California, San Francisco; Researcher, facilitating a series of focus groups regarding diversity matters among students of the Bio-medical School.
  • Binational Center for the Development of Oaxacan Indigenous Communities, Rural Community Assistance Corporation, Local SEIU 790, Center for Collaborative Planning; Consultant, u7facilitated organizational retreats & provided group graphics services.
  • John F. Kennedy University; Adjunct Professor, teaching “Conflict Resolution from Cross-cultural Perspectives” at the Graduate School of Professional Psychology.
  • Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Manuscript Reviewer.

Clients in Latin America:

  • Melody-Milano Group (Retail Nation-Wide Company, Mexico); Graphic Recorder, supported the facilitation of a retreat for the Management Team.
  • Springer Publishers, Inc.; Group Facilitator, facilitated a retreat for the Advisory Group for Latin America.
  • Universidad de Santiago, Chile. Graphic Recorder and Researcher, collaborated with a team on a focus group series about the socio-psychological effects of natural disasters.
  • Coalition to Leverage and Optimize Sales Effectiveness (CLOSE), São Paulo, Brazil.  Graphic Recorder, supporting the facilitation team of a forum on how to improve collaboration between marketing and sales departments.
  • The Central American Institute for Business Administrators (affiliated to Harvard Business School), Central America.  Developed and delivered workshops to business and union  leaders on conflict management matters in the workplace.
  • The University for Peace, Costa Rica.  Created and implemented a training program in conflict resolution for Latin American environmental leaders.
  • The Arias Foundation for Peace, Central America.  Developed and implemented a strategy to create a forum for civilian and military leaders to discuss and  develop new roles for the armed forces of Central America.
  • The Salvadorian Business Administrators and Union Leaders Foundation, El Salvador. Designed and carried out a training program for workplace mediators.
  • National Commission on Improvement of the Administration of Justice, Costa Rica.Designed and taught workshops in alternative conflict resolution for social service providers as well as inmates and prison personnel.

1995 Supreme Court of Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
Educational Advisor and Trainer
Created and delivered training program for mediators.  Played a key logistical role in the development of a national mediation awareness program.  In tandem with local team of professionals, development all educational materials, trained mediation trainers, and lectured to the Costa Rica Bar Association and Children Welfare Organization on alternative dispute resolution.

1992    Youth For Service, San Francisco, CA
1994    Executive Director
Directed an alternative educational program serving disadvantaged youth.  Organization provided vocational training in skills such as automobile and computer repair.  Managed a culturally diverse staff and an annual budget of $ 250,000.

Additional Training in Alternative Conflict Resolution and Related Issues:

  • Process Work: Advanced Training for Group Facilitators, Arnold Mindell. (2008)
  • Professional Development for Consultants, National Community Development
  • Institute. (2001)
  • Non-violent Communication, Marshall Rosemberg’s Consulting. (2001)
  • Beyond Diversity, Pacific Educational Group. (2000)
  • Facilitative Leadership, Interaction Associates. (2000)
  • Organizational Strategic Visioning, The Grove Consulting International. (1999)
  • Fundamentals in Group Graphics, The Grove Consulting International. (1999)
  • Group Facilitation, Community at Work. (1998)
  • Theory and Tools of the Harvard Negotiation Project, Harvard Negotiation Project. (1997)
  • International Peace Building, Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA. (1997)
  • Conflict Resolution (Community and School Mediation), San Francisco Community Boards. (1997)

MEMBERSHIP ASSOCIATIONS

1999- 2004 Witness for Peace, Washington, Board Member
1997-2004     Mission Housing Development Corporation, Board Member
1993-1994      Commission on National Service, Commissioner.

Local and international references available upon request


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