Meet Our Founder

Lisa Danielson Gierach founded Rooted Learning Partners to help mission-driven organizations learn from their work and communities in ways that build clarity, strengthen strategy, and guide meaningful action.

Her commitment to equity-centered practice was shaped early in her career in Los Angeles public schools, where she worked as a school social worker providing mental health and case management services to students and families. She later developed initiatives to strengthen parent leadership and engagement in schools, deepening her belief that community voice and leadership are essential to advancing equity. During this time, she was involved in the 2005 community-led “A–G” campaign advocating for equitable access to college preparatory coursework — a formative experience in community-driven systems change.

Her work evolved further at Deborah's Place in Chicago, where her role shifted from grant strategist to internal evaluator. Working within a supportive housing organization grounded her approach to evaluation in operational realities and reinforced her commitment to learning that is embedded and useful for decision-making.

Today, her practice integrates research, evaluation, facilitation, and grant development. She partners with organizations at different stages of understanding their impact, translating complex data and lived experience into clear, actionable insight. Her work has supported initiatives focused on community schools, youth development, early care and education, and environmental justice.

Lisa holds a Master of Social Work and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame. She lives in Portland, Oregon and continues to work closely with organizations and communities in Los Angeles and beyond. She finds grounding and restoration outdoors in the Pacific Northwest.