Esther Castillo, PhD, MA
CEO, Accesso Care and Research and Engagement Strategist at PA Senate
“My connection to Scattergood began as a community grantee, where their participatory approach to grantmaking — centering community voice in funding decisions — felt like sociology in practice. As an immigrant who found healing through mindfulness and culturally responsive care, I am deeply committed to ensuring that behavioral health systems work for everyone, especially those who have historically been left out.”
Esther Castillo, Ph.D. is a sociologist, strategist, and social impact entrepreneur with nearly two decades of experience working at the intersection of community health, civic engagement, and the care economy.
As co-founder and CEO of Accesso Care, she builds workforce pathways for immigrant caregivers and connects families with consistent, high-quality home care. She also serves as a strategist in the Pennsylvania State Senate, connecting community voices to civic and systems change work across Philadelphia.
Previously, Esther served as Director of Racial Equity, Storytelling, and Community Impact for the City of Philadelphia and as Programs Manager at the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, where she founded the Chinese Immigrant Families Wellness Initiative (CIFWI). During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led vaccine equity efforts that reached more than 6,000 Philadelphia residents with limited English proficiency.
Her work has been recognized in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Billy Penn, and Philadelphia Gay News. She holds a PhD in Sociology from Temple University and an MA in Humanities and Social Thought from New York University.
Fun Fact: A classically trained pianist, Esther believes that lasting excellence requires both rigor and deep listening.