Devon Gilchrist

Devon Gilchrist is on a quest to reimagine the child welfare system in Minnesota, where racial disparities are some of the highest in the country. In his role in the African American Child Well-Being Unit in the state’s Department of Human Services, he has seen the system struggle to meet the unique needs of children of color, thus perpetuating a breakdown of trust and support between the families the system is charged with serving and the system itself. He believes passionately in family preservation, with families offering solutions to their problems instead of the state mandating actions. To advance a more inclusive and equitable child welfare framework, he seeks to develop knowledge of and leadership skills in public policy, organizational psychology and government relations. He also will build a trusted network to share ideas and connect with other leaders to broaden his perspectives.