Full Name
Devon Gilchrist
Job Title
Supervisor of the African American Child and Family Well-Being Unit
Company
MN Department of Children, Youth and Families
Speaker Bio
Devon was born and raised in Minneapolis and is a lifelong resident. He has worked in social and human services and child welfare in diverse communities for over 22 years. He has worked in various roles in community nonprofits and local government organizations. Since 2015 he has worked in several positions at the Minnesota Department of Human Services and now the newly created Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families and is currently the supervisor of the African American Child and Family Well-Being Unit. He has served on both the Minnesota Guardian Ad Litem Board and the MN Board of Psychology. He has over 20 years of experience as a child welfare trainer, providing training to many MN nonprofit organizations as well as county agencies, and court staff, and presented at numerous local and national child welfare conferences. He has also worked as a contracted consultant and peer grant reviewer for federal agencies including the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the Office of Justice Programs (OJP).
Devon holds bachelor’s degrees from the University of Colorado in Communication and Sociology, a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota, and is finishing master’s programs in public policy from the University of Minnesota and Organizational Leadership and Management from Concordia University. He has also completed certificate programs through the University of Minnesota in Permanency and Adoption Competency, Diversity, and Advanced Diversity. He is a 2018 Roy Wilkins Community Policy Fellow, a 2018 AALF Josie R. Johnson Leadership Academy graduate, a 2021 Graduate of the State of MN Emerging Leaders Institute, a 2022 Bush Fellow, and a 2023 Graduate of the National Black Administrators in Child Welfare Sankofa Leadership Institute. He has remained committed to creating equality within human services and child welfare and worked strategically and collaboratively to meet the needs of individuals, families, and communities throughout his personal life and professional career.
Devon holds bachelor’s degrees from the University of Colorado in Communication and Sociology, a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota, and is finishing master’s programs in public policy from the University of Minnesota and Organizational Leadership and Management from Concordia University. He has also completed certificate programs through the University of Minnesota in Permanency and Adoption Competency, Diversity, and Advanced Diversity. He is a 2018 Roy Wilkins Community Policy Fellow, a 2018 AALF Josie R. Johnson Leadership Academy graduate, a 2021 Graduate of the State of MN Emerging Leaders Institute, a 2022 Bush Fellow, and a 2023 Graduate of the National Black Administrators in Child Welfare Sankofa Leadership Institute. He has remained committed to creating equality within human services and child welfare and worked strategically and collaboratively to meet the needs of individuals, families, and communities throughout his personal life and professional career.
Speaking At
