About
Marika
About
Marika Baptist is a strategic leader and change expert with deep expertise in equity-centered transformation, organizational development, and systems-level strategy. With roots in education and a powerful lens shaped by her experience as a former elementary school teacher, Marika has spent the last four years guiding Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) through quality improvement initiatives and trauma-informed care integration.
Previously, she chaired the Indiana Department of Health’s Health Equity Council, leading statewide efforts to embed equity into policies, programs, and data practices. Her advocacy has improved maternal health outcomes, expanded breastfeeding support, and driven organizational culture change across clinical settings.
Marika holds degrees from UCR and UCLA, multiple certifications in DEI, trauma-informed care, and brief action planning, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in health science. Her story as a mother, educator, and strategist reflects lived experience, equity-centered design, and fearless leadership.
Now consulting through Live Bright Consulting, Marika partners with organizations seeking results-driven strategies and heart-centered impact.
Marika’s Trailblazing Leadership in Healthcare
Where Vision Meets Strategy. Equity Becomes Reality.
Marika Baptist, founder of Live Bright Consulting, is transforming what leadership looks like in public health. Her approach is not performative. It is strategic, deeply rooted, and built for long-term change. She partners with health systems, schools, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations to build cultures where equity is woven into every decision and practice.
Whether she is redesigning trauma-informed systems or facilitating executive retreats, Marika brings a rare combination of clarity, compassion, and action. Her background in education and her deep experience in healthcare allow her to help organizations navigate change while remaining grounded in their core mission and values.
For those who are ready to move beyond surface-level efforts and build meaningful equity, Marika provides the leadership that makes it possible.
Empowering Inclusive Healthcare: Marika’s Vision
Justice-Driven Healthcare Starts with Bold, Inclusive Leadership
Marika Baptist believes healthcare should do more than meet basic needs. It should affirm, respect, and reflect the dignity of every individual it serves. Through Live Bright Consulting, she partners with clinics, public health departments, and community organizations to embed equity into the very structure of care delivery.
Her work is both visionary and practical. By blending data with trauma-informed principles and culturally responsive strategies, she helps teams deliver better outcomes for underserved communities. As a former Practice Coach and Health Equity Council leader, she supports organizations in moving from reactive approaches to proactive, integrated, and effective systems.
Marika's vision is a healthcare system where equity is standard practice and compassion drives excellence.
Marika: A Catalyst for Change in Public Health
When Systems Get Stuck, Marika Helps Them Move Forward
Marika Baptist does not wait for change. She creates it. With a powerful mix of strategic thinking and human-centered leadership, she helps public health organizations address deeply rooted challenges that impact both frontline staff and the communities they serve. Her work supports agencies and nonprofits in overcoming fragmented care systems, addressing racial and maternal health disparities, and navigating the complexities of organizational resistance and burnout.
In healthcare settings, Marika brings a sharp understanding of trauma-informed care, equity-centered design, and cultural responsiveness. She equips providers with practical tools to deliver care that is not only efficient but also empathetic and inclusive. Her interventions often improve patient experiences, reduce staff turnover, and increase system-wide accountability.
Marika’s influence also reaches beyond clinical and policy spaces. She is a respected voice among youth-serving organizations where she trains staff, coaches leadership, and helps implement programs that equip young people with life skills, emotional intelligence, and confidence. Her work with parents of middle and high school students adds an essential layer, as she bridges generational gaps and provides tools that help families thrive during pivotal years of development.
Her leadership blends policy-level thinking with personal connection. She is trusted not only for what she knows but for how she leads others into clarity, alignment, and sustainable impact.
Driving Inclusivity: Marika’s Impact in Healthcare
Turning Inclusive Values into Meaningful Action Across Generations
Marika Baptist is known for helping organizations live out their values. Through Live Bright Consulting, she leads change initiatives that embed equity, accountability, and belonging into the core of healthcare systems, public agencies, schools, and youth programs. She doesn’t offer quick fixes—she builds durable frameworks that move teams toward lasting transformation.
In healthcare, Marika works with providers and administrators to implement trauma-informed practices, equitable care models, and culturally competent engagement. Her efforts often result in stronger patient relationships, more resilient teams, and improved health outcomes for marginalized populations.
Within public health, Marika helps agencies build bridges between intention and impact. Whether addressing community health disparities or improving cross-sector collaboration, she creates strategies that empower leaders to address the root causes of inequity with both precision and compassion.
Her work with youth organizations is just as transformative. She partners with schools, after-school programs, and community centers to deliver leadership development, etiquette training, and real-world readiness for youth ages 10 to 18. Through workshops, curriculum design, and direct mentorship, she gives young people the confidence, clarity, and tools to navigate life with purpose.
And for parents—especially those of middle and high school students—Marika provides workshops and resources that help them support their children through academic, emotional, and social transitions. She helps families strengthen communication, build trust, and create environments where young people are seen, heard, and prepared.
Marika’s ability to lead across sectors and generations is rare. Her approach ensures that equity is not confined to boardrooms or classrooms but reaches the families and communities that need it most.
Leading the Charge for Equitable Healthcare
Making Equity More Than a Concept. Making It a Practice.
Marika Baptist brings unmatched clarity and conviction to the mission of building equity across health systems, community programs, and youth development spaces. Through Live Bright Consulting, she helps organizations move from good intentions to measurable action by translating their values into systems, strategies, and daily practice.
In public health and healthcare, Marika serves as a trusted advisor to clinics, coalitions, and government agencies. She supports leaders in designing trauma-informed care models, improving maternal and infant health outcomes, and ensuring cultural relevance in service delivery. Her work with the Indiana Department of Health’s Health Equity Council reflects her ability to influence policy while staying grounded in community need.
Marika is also a passionate advocate for youth and families. She delivers workshops and programs that help young people ages 10 to 18 develop social-emotional skills, practice professional etiquette, and explore leadership in a way that feels authentic and empowering. Her “Bright Youth in Power” framework gives children and teens a solid foundation to show up in life with poise and purpose.
Equally important is her work with parents of middle and high school students. Marika partners with schools and community-based organizations to offer parent education that strengthens family dynamics during some of the most formative years. Whether it’s building confidence, setting boundaries, or preparing for life transitions, she equips parents with the tools to lead their families with clarity and grace.
Her gift lies in her ability to connect systems with people. She not only guides institutions in becoming more equitable—she ensures they serve the full human experience, from patient to provider, from child to parent.
Marika is a dedicated wife and enjoys spending time with her husband and children.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
Contact
marika@livebright.net
+1 336-271-7412
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