About me
I'm Dr. Esther Castillo, and I bring together organizational strategy, community engagement, and analytical expertise from over two decades in healthcare, education, government, philanthropy, and the nonprofit sector. I believe in whole-person care and the power of addressing social determinants of health to create lasting change.
I currently serve as Co-Founder and CEO of Accesso Care, a boutique home care agency offering concierge-level post-surgery and hospital discharge support, built on direct founder oversight and a strong focus on community and professional growth among our caregivers.
Alongside this, I lead the New America Initiative for Pennsylvania State Senator Art Haywood, building a pipeline of underrepresented leaders into board roles across the nonprofit, government, and business sectors.
My PhD in Sociology grounds my work in survey development and both qualitative and quantitative analysis — tools I've used throughout my career to improve community wellness, healthcare outcomes, and organizational effectiveness.
Over the years, I've worked as a strategist and advisor to healthcare organizations and community health initiatives, combining an understanding of care work, workforce dynamics, and community health needs with experience across government and the nonprofit sector. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I helped lead a vaccine equity effort that reached over 6,000 Philadelphia residents, and I founded the Chinese Immigrant Families Wellness Initiative (CIFWI), work that was later recognized with a Local Changemaker award from the CDC Foundation.
I'm always glad to connect for speaking engagements, panels, or workshops on health equity, workforce development, and community-centered care. Reach out if you'd like to have a conversation.
Services
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Providing comprehensive, customized training for organizations in inclusion, cultural work, trauma-informed care, and harm prevention.
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I speak on topics that intersect culture, narrative change, leadership, and community and advocacy, offering practical insights and strategies to foster inclusive, equitable environments.
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I offer skilled facilitation of community engagement efforts supports diverse populations, including immigrant communities and multi-racial communities.
Selected Projects
Racial Healing Initiative: Empowering Women of Color Leaders
Supported by the Asian American Women Political Initiative (AAWPI), the Racial Healing Initiative is a transformative program designed to empower Women of Color (WOC) leaders in nonprofits and government. I led this initiative to address the unique challenges these leaders face, focusing on holistic well-being, community care, and racial healing. The program brought together influential leaders, including the Chief DEI Officer of the City of Philadelphia and the Chief Racial Equity Officer at the Public Health Department of Philadelphia, along with senior leaders from national nonprofits. Through retreats and workshops, participants engaged in deep reflection and healing practices, fostering resilience and enhancing their leadership capacity. The Racial Healing Initiative has become a crucial resource for sustaining WOC leadership and advancing equity in increasingly challenging environments.
Comprehensive Survey on COVID-19 Vaccine Attitudes
I collaborated with the Philadelphia’s Department of Public Health (PDPH), the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC) and the Pennsylvania Governor’s Advisory Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs to develop a comprehensive survey targeting Asian American and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (AA & NH/PI) populations in Pennsylvania. My role included developing the survey, designing outreach materials, and planning strategic outreach in key zip codes. I ensured the survey was accessible in 20 languages.
In partnership with the PDPH, we co-wrote a successful grant application to the Bloomberg Foundation, leading to the analysis of over 2,700 responses. This project highlights my expertise in strategic planning, community engagement, and partnership-building.
Asian Food Collective: A Collaborative Effort to Strengthen Leadership and Vision
“It is easy to get lost in the noise of overflowing ideas and well-meaning suggestions from people. Esther has an innate ability to cut through the noise and really helped me take a step back to realize the mission and values of the Asian Food Collective. She also led a workshop for our group’s newly formed steering committee, which was thought-provoking and has laid the foundation for organizational sustainability. Esther’s approach is straight-forward and strategic yet human-centered. Her coaching services left me feeling confident in the Asian Food Collective’s future.”
Over a three-month partnership with the Asian Food Collective, a Philadelphia nonprofit dedicated to feeding neighbors and reconnecting Asian Americans with their cultures through food, I played dual roles as both coach and facilitator. I worked closely with the Founder & Executive Director, providing leadership coaching to help her navigate the organization’s growth and challenges. Additionally, I facilitated a workshop with their steering committee, guiding them through crafting a purpose statement and collaboratively redefining the Collective’s vision, mission, and values. This collaborative effort equipped the organization with a clear strategic direction for sustainable growth and lasting impact in their community.
Ethical AI Risk Assessment & Threat Modeling
I was subcontracted as a Sociology expert on an interdisciplinary team for one of the Big Five tech companies, working on AI threat modeling and ethical safeguards. Our team, including psychologists and sociologists, explored ethical boundaries in AI interactions to identify risks and refine system responses.
Through scenario-based role-playing, we tested AI decision-making, flagged potential vulnerabilities, and provided recommendations to enhance safety and alignment with ethical standards.
In addition to consulting projects, I have actively led and advocated for positive change in my community, focusing on issues such as mental health, racial justice, and health equity.
In the News
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"How three Philly groups are raising mental-health awareness in immigrant communities"
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"A Celebration of Black & Asian Joy event helping bridge gap between communities in Philadelphia"
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"This Philly org provides Chinese immigrant families with the tools to heal, as the pandemic intensifies anti-Asian hate"
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"Women start Black & Asian collective to bridge gap between Philly communities"
