Founders

We come together as Midwest Consulting Partners LLC, a firm founded 17 years ago by Mary R. Ferguson and Angela R. Williams. We love what we do, and so, over the years, we've worked to build a team of like-minded women who serve as experts and share in our vision of liberation. We unite in this work to help build communities that can nurture and grow young lives.

ANGELA R. WILLIAMS, MBA

engages in human-centered and heart-centered, healing-focused strategic planning and leadership and organizational development


ATIA THURMAN, MSW

teaches and advocates for collective and communal care, racial equity,  and creating spaces to dream


HABIBAH Z. HAKEEM, MA

community investment manager and program evaluator in philanthropy; expert in team and community building 




MARIAIMEE "MARIA" GONZALEZ, Ph.D

investigates law and ethics related to treatment of women and trans community by health professionals; employs decolonized perspectives in strategic planning with indigenous communities; practices liberation psychology that centers stories of those typically silenced




MARY R. FERGUSON, Ph.D

creating community for racial justice learning and transformative spaces for examining whiteness




MAXINE BIRDSONG, MSW, LCSW 

provides counseling support to women of color, particularly those living with HIV/AIDS; engages in advocacy around women’s health




POLI RIJOS, MSW, LCSW

bi-lingual community engagement practitioner and coalition-builder with focus on public health and community thriving across the age spectrum