Embedded Files
Fran Kaplan, EdD, MSW
Dr. Fran Kaplan has spent fifty-five years working against poverty and for social justice and peace locally, nationally, and internationally. She holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and a Master of Social Work degree in Community Organizing and Administration. Her work as an adult educator, social worker and community organizer has taken her into a variety of fields, including farmworker rights, women’s healthcare, child protection, parenting education, and public history. She has served as an executive, program, and training director. She is multilingual and an award-winning published author and filmmaker.
Fran is adept at uncovering and understanding the unique needs of organizations in order to custom design educational experiences that are relevant and engaging for them. She brings a deep understanding of socio-cultural dynamics and educational theory to her work.
Background:
For twenty years, Dr. Kaplan served as a Nurturing Parenting ProgramTM Trainer/Consultant working nationally and internationally. She helped field test and write curricula and materials for Family Development Resources in Spanish and English, including the Crianza Con Cariño programs and videos as well as a comprehensive Implementation Manual for all NPPs. Fran also formed the first ever Nurturing Network, which held several early skill-building conferences about such topics as “developing cultural competence” and “the power of male nurturance.”
From Spring 2010 through Summer 2017, Fran worked as a full time volunteer with the community group that formed the Dr. James Cameron Legacy Foundation and worked to successfully reestablish America’s Black Holocaust Museum. She was particularly involved in developing the Foundation’s innovative “museum-beyond-walls,” including its 3300-exhibit virtual (online) museum, public education programs, and interracial dialogues series. Dr. Kaplan also helped launch the Foundation’s publishing division, LifeWrites Press, and served as managing editor and contributor to its digital and print publications.
In 2017, Dr. Kaplan shifted gears and worked with her colleague Reggie Jackson to form Nurturing Diversity Partners. While they initially focused on booking Reggie for presentations, Fran’s skills in designing curriculum, doing needs assessment, and leading facilitated dialogue contributed to rapid growth in NDP’s facilitated dialogue and training workshop services.
In 2025, Dr. Kaplan formed Nurture LLC.
Fran is also an active bubbe who helped nurture five biological, foster, and step-children into adulthood.
Awards:
2021 Lifetime Achievement Award NASW (National Association of Social Workers) Wisconsin Chapter
2021 Unity Award (jointly awarded with business partner Reggie Jackson) Milwaukee Magazine
2018 Robert H. Friebert Social Justice Award (jointly awarded with business partner Reggie Jackson)
Jewish Community Relations Council of Milwaukee2016 Eliminating Racism Award
YWCA of Southeast Wisconsin2016 Silver award in non-fiction
Independent Publishers Association2009 Personal Reinvention Award
Sterling Awards of Southeast Wisconsin & the Mature Workers Committee of Milwaukee2005 – 2018 Regional and national film and screenplay awards for Service To Man, Fruit of the Tree, Gettin’ Grown, and Honey-Colored Boy
1998 Promoting Racial Harmony Award
National Association of Social Workers, WI Chapter1992 Social Worker of the Year
National Association of Social Workers, WI Chapter1991 Leadership in Prevention Award
WI Committee for Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect1991 Community Service Award
Milwaukee County Task Force on Sexual Assault / Domestic Violence
On Dr. Kaplan’s 70th birthday, the Honorable Gwen Moore, Representative of Wisconsin’s 4th District, read an extended tribute to Fran into the US Congressional Record.
Links:
Facilitators
When we started offering facilitated dialogue programs, we recruited and trained a diverse group of impressively talented community members to facilitate small group discussions using the Caring Circle method. They have worked with us to deliver Deep Dive Dialogue programs to a wide range of clients, including school districts, churches, community-wide collaborations, and more. Their abilities to listen deeply, share authentically, and guide groups in the use of our structured process have been instrumental in the success of these programs.
The more we become familiar with the valuable perspectives and skills this group of individuals brings to the table, the more we have invited them to collaborate with us in a variety of ways: co-presenting with one of our trainers for large programs, presenting and leading discussions on their own for smaller programs, consulting with us on their areas of expertise, and more.
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