Speaking At:

Growing a Movement: Integrating ACE Screening and Toxic Stress Response into Statewide Systems

Bio:

Parker has spent the past 32 years working in philanthropy and cause-related nonprofit work. During that time, he has served in a variety of capacities, from grassroots organizer and non-profit executive director to business leader and grantmaker. His expertise spans a broad range of issues, from early childhood development and education reform to environmental protection and social and economic justice. Working with dozens of different foundations, from small family foundations to some of the nation’s largest foundations such as the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Parker has helped shape their strategic plans, giving priorities, and communications strategies, and supported their priority grantees. Parker enjoys working with philanthropists and nonprofits to help them take their nascent ideas or programs, develop an appropriate plan for growth, and nurture the model into a successful vehicle for positive social change. Currently, Parker is managing two different funder collaboratives with 20-30 foundations in each, providing strategic counsel and planning as well as facilitation and guidance. While serving as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Fenton Communications, the nation’s largest public interest communications strategy agency, he successfully led the firm-wide transformation from a traditional PR firm to an integrated communications company. Early in his career, he co-founded UPNET, the Utah Progressive Network, bringing together leaders in the environmental, labor, LGBT, women’s, and social justice movements to more effectively organize for progress across their respective issues. He designed and managed a national fellowship program for the Public Interest Research Groups, annually recruiting, training, and managing approximately 25-30 young organizers to advocate for environmental protections in states across the country. All of these experiences have made him comfortable with change and exploring new ideas and strategies to help philanthropic and nonprofit leaders find ways to accelerate progress toward greater social impact. Parker is a graduate of Stanford University with a B.A. in U.S. History. When not working, he enjoys open-water swimming, surfing, skiing, hiking, and helping his young daughter with her dance routines.