Monica Isabel Contreras

CHCI Child Welfare Postgraduate Fellow
Hometown: Cloverdale, California
School: Teachers College at Columbia University
Degree: Master of Arts in Psychology in Education
Placement: Democratic Women’s Caucus

Monica Isabel Contreras (she/her/ella) was born in Sonoma County, CA. She is the firstborn of three siblings, raised by her mother, Eliza, whose perseverance, unwavering support, and belief in the power of education continue to motivate her. Her mother taught her to have the courage to speak up against injustice, to be authentically herself in every space she enters, and to understand the power and necessity of having integrity in all that she does.

Monica is a proud first-generation college graduate, graduating magna cum laude from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and two minors in Education and Applied Psychology. Studying the history of systemic inequities and social justice movements opened her eyes to the importance of working toward a more just world. During her time in Argentina and Chile in 2019, she studied human rights work and cultural memory while experiencing the power of collective protest and resistance firsthand. She then earned a Master of Arts in Psychology in Education from Columbia University, where she gained perspective on the work needed to enact lasting change.

Monica’s experience as a teenager in foster care continues to inspire her to advocate for women and children. She understands the long-term effects of family separation and the risks it poses to children, families, and communities. Through studying the history of child welfare and its disproportionate effects on marginalized communities, she holds a vision for a world that supports families and protects women and children before a crisis happens. She is continuously inspired by the work of Angela Davis, Dorothy Roberts, and Toni Morrison and their visions of what the world can be, while recognizing what it has been, what it is today, and the commitment required from both the collective and the individual to make that vision a reality. Monica lives by the words of Angela Davis: “You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time.”

As the CHCI Child Welfare Postgraduate Fellow, Monica hopes to gain a deeper understanding of the national policy and advocacy process, because she understands that creating change begins with understanding how the system works. She is eager to work alongside policymakers to develop, advocate for, and implement child welfare policies that improve outcomes for women and children and prevent family separation whenever possible. Monica intends to build on this experience and continue to grow in the policy and advocacy space in support of women and children globally. She believes that the more we invest in creating a safer, kinder, and more supportive world for children and their families, the stronger our society will become.