About Me

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Mission

To strengthen program delivery for public and nonprofit initiatives through implementation support, stakeholder alignment, and evaluation-ready performance systems.

Vision

A public and social sector where collaboration consistently translates into effective implementation and real outcomes for communities, across languages, cultures, and systems.

I’m Rev. Ismael Calderón, a bilingual (English–Spanish) professional with 15 years of experience across government, nonprofit, philanthropic, and faith-based settings in Latin America and the United States. I specialize in program strategy, partnerships/strategic alliances, and operations, helping turn complex collaboration into clear action and measurable results. My background includes work with Colciencias (Ondas Program, Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation of Colombia). In the U.S. context, with United Way of Lake County, HACES, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), where I have held leadership, pastoral, and coordination positions in Churchwide and World Hunger initiatives. I also led the World Hunger Leadership Gathering in 2024, which included participants from over 55 synods and international guests, and received an evaluation report with an 84% satisfaction rate. Additionally, I supported the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans (Lutheran Disaster Response - Interactive Sessions) that same year. Recently, I offered my services as a planning consultant for coalition-based work with organizations such as the Freedom Together Foundation in NYC and the Amalgamated Foundation in Washington, D.C.

My work is grounded in clarity, strategic planning, critical thinking & ethics.

Education

  • Master of Public Administration & Policy (MPAP), American University, Washington, D.C. — In progress

    M.Div, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (2022)

  • B.A. in International Relations, UTadeo, Bogotá, Colombia (2013)

    (Validated in the U.S.)

Certifications / In Progress

  • PMP Certification (PMI) — In progress

Certificates / Executive Education

  • Results-Based Project Management Professional Certificate — IDB (2021)

  • Executive Program: Executive Skills for Church Leaders — CLU (2021)

  • Executive Education: The Practical Innovator — Kellogg / Northwestern U. (2017)

Specialized Formation

  • ELCA-accredited Coaching Training (End-of-Life Focus) — 2024

  • Antiracism Trainings — 2020–2021. (Kaleidoscope Institute, Crossroads Antiracism Organizing & Training)

  • Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) 1 Unit Completed — Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL (2019)

Awards & Recognition

  • Merit Scholarship (American University, 2025)

  • Hope Scholarship (LSTC, 2018)

  • Segal Education Award (CNCS, 2017)

  • Outstanding AmeriCorps VISTA (United Way of Lake County, 2017)

  • Day of Action Grant Recipient (United Way Worldwide, 2017)