Andrea Picones Castro, Mph, Msw Email & Phone Number

Researches, writes, submits, secures, andmanages foundation and government grants to fund Rising Sun’s expanding and innovativeprograms at the intersection of equity, climate, and jobs.

Supported nonprofits in securing revenue for existing and new programs. Collaborated with Development Departments and Executive Staff on grant writing and the creation of new development materials and goals.Conducted and managed. prospect research for new public and private grants.

Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

Planned and funded the development for the agency’s 20+ divisions that house programs ranging from environmental justice youth groups to mental health and wellness services. Collaborated as part of the Development Team to sustain, manage, and grow the agency’s $65 million budget by writing public and private grant proposals, leading individual giving opportunities, creating program budgets, and researching new development opportunities.

Los Angeles, Ca

Provided research and analysis for projects related to strategic planning, program development, proposal writing, and contract management. Facilitated program design in collaboration with program staff and cultivated funding opportunities for the agency's wide range of social service programs across Southern California and San Francisco.

Ann Arbor & Detroit, Mi

Collaborated with key environmental justice (EJ) community organizations and the academic community through community-based participatory research (CBPR) to establish a Public Health Action Plan for the city of Detroit in regards to air quality. Compiled best practices used by EJ organizations throughout the country and adapted and tailored them to create air pollution mitigation strategies in Detroit. Researched and examined pollutant sources, pollution emissions, and resulting health status in Detroit neighborhoods.

Oakland, Ca

Conducted policy analysis for CEJA’s Green Zones Initiative by developing policy ideas and materials to be presented at the Assembly Select Committee on Urban Planning, Land-Use, and Sustainability. Drafted a Green Zones Policy Platform that highlights and analyzes ways in which EJ communities in California can take a grassroots approach to cleaning up and “greening up” their communities. Utilized and evaluated CalEnviroScreen 2.0 to improve environmental land-use, enforcement, and permitting decisions in EJ communities (including producing district maps with CalEnviroScreen 2.0 overlays).

Ann Arbor & Detroit, Mi

Created area-specific fact sheets for Detroit neighborhoods intended for community members and local policy makers identifying causes and health impacts of air pollution within each neighborhood. Participated in community-wide dialogues focused on mitigation of and local policy change for air pollution in Detroit neighborhoods.

Detroit, Mi

Developed and implemented bilingual monthly educational and social events for Madre Maravillosa, a program that provided doula and breast-feeding peer counseling services to pregnant mothers in Southwest Detroit. Created an ongoing Resource Guide for doulas and breast-feeding peer counselors to use with program participants. Actively engaged in community outreach efforts and policy change campaigns to support the doula profession.

Coded and billed medical claims for homeless and undocumented populations in order to obtain reimbursement from Medi-Cal, Medicare, and other third-party payer sources. Processed and analyzed medical claims using an advanced knowledge of Avatar, Medi-Cal state resources, and Share of Costs medical insurance policies. Constructed and maintained financial spreadsheet summarizing monthly and yearly Medi-Cal city-wide spending.

San Mateo, Ca

Collaborated in developing and executing major fundraising events such as golf tournaments and hospital benefit dinners. Implemented the Bundle of Joy program by creating welcome gifts for newborns whose parents who did not have access to blankets, diapers, etc. Assisted in writing grant proposals and maximized donor upkeep on Raiser’s Edge.

Master’S Degree, Social Work - Community Organizing

Activities and Societies: Community-Based Initiative Fellow

Master’S Degree, Health Behavior Health Education

Activities and Societies: UM School of Public Health Dean Scholar

Bachelor'S Degree, Sociology

Activities and Societies: Academic Minor in Health Care and Social Issues Academic Minor in Environmental Studies