Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Chair

John Salgado Maldonado, T.O., Mg. Consultoría Estratégica, IDI QA

Professional Affiliation:  Community Impact Specialist and DEI Coordinator, Woodland Centers

Position Statement:  With over 20 years of experience in social justice and DEI work, John has dedicated much of his personal and professional life to advocating for marginalized communities. Part of his experience includes co-founding ORO NEGRO, the first NGO focused on Afro-Chilean minority rights, and serving as a spokesperson for social justice causes, featured on platforms like Refworld and ACNUDH. Throughout his career as an Occupational Therapist, he has worked with excluded communities, including indigenous groups, and has presented at major international conferences on social justice and inclusion.
A former President of the OT National Association in Chile, John is also a Qualified Assessor for the Intercultural Development Inventory and holds an ECHO certification from the University of Minnesota. He co-founded Purpose Artisans, a non-profit blending social justice and the arts, and serves on various community boards in the city he resides in, including the Willmar Area Arts Council and the Human Rights Commission.
Currently, as a Community Impact Specialist and DEI Coordinator, John is actively driving DEI initiatives.
He is passionate about supporting SSO’s vision of advancing equity and inclusion in society, activities and OS, collaborating with other DEI leaders. He firmly believes that occupational justice should be an essential component of both community building and occupational practice.

 SSO Email: [email protected]