A SOCIAL WORK LENS

NC Strategies is a consulting firm founded by Nahtahna Cabanes, a macro-social worker with more than a decade of nonprofit experience. She created NC Strategies after seeing a gap in consulting services that often ignores the human element to much project-based work.

NC Strategies seeks to apply social work principles to project-level consulting in strategic planning, research and evaluation, and program design. This means that in working with NC Strategies your team will get a:

People-Centered Approach focusing on the strengths, values, and goals of your organization and the communities it seeks to serve.
Holistic Lens that seeks to understand the social, emotional, economic, and cultural factors that can affect the success of program design.
Principles of Social Justice that will work to ensure program design promotes social well-being.

A BIT ABOUT ME...

I’ve spent much of my personal and professional life working to advance equity—through education, advocacy, and nonprofit service work. Over time, I’ve grown especially interested in how thoughtful planning and program evaluation can be powerful tools for creating social impact.

Throughout my career, I’ve had the chance to design and lead numerous initiatives—environmental and homeless advocacy workshops, community wellness checks, job-skills programs, volunteer engagement efforts, and youth collaboratives. I’ve helped improve programs that were struggling and worked to connect day-to-day services with broader goals.

To brag a little...At CASA of Los Angeles, I helped boost applications for foster youth advocacy by 75%. When I was leading the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, membership increased fivefold. And as VP of Strategic Partnerships at L.A. Works, I helped double the annual budget through a mix of program development, fundraising, and government partnerships.

I’ve also been involved in local government and advocacy: I served on the Los Angeles Police Permit Review Panel, advocated for the creation of 120 units of permanent housing in my neighborhood, and chaired the LA City Council District 4 Discretionary Fund Committee, helping make recommendations for funding across several neighborhoods.

At the current moment, I’m spending some time in Brisbane, Australia, getting to know the nonprofit landscape in a place with a strong social safety net. I remain, nevertheless, deeply connected to my Los Angeles roots, and committed to working alongside anyone who is driving justice and meaningful social change.