About - Strategic Solutions for Social Progress

We shape our own impact

Mission

Facilitating learning and dialogue to foster equity, effectiveness, and well-being for individuals and organizations.

Approach

Key principles of Expansion Works' facilitation approach include:

Collaborative

Services are co-created to align with your unique needs and organizational culture. Expansion Works partners with a diverse network of experts to bring the right skills to every project.

Human-Centered & Inclusive

Barriers to participation are removed, and power is redistributed to ensure meaningful engagement for all. This approach integrates trauma-informed practices, cultural awareness, and a gender lens to create inclusive, safe spaces for underrepresented groups.

Results-Oriented

A thorough needs assessment is conducted to design engagements with clear goals, ensuring alignment with core needs and intended impact. A sustainability lens is integrated into all activities to create lasting, meaningful outcomes.

Holistic & Systems-Based

A holistic approach recognizes the connections between people, processes, and ecosystems and aims to serve the greater good. Expansion Works’ Facilitation integrates emotional, cognitive, and body-based dimensions to foster transformational learning and well-being.

Responsive

Expansion Works’ facilitation embraces adaptability and emergence, creating space for real-time insights and adjusting to shifting needs as needed. Responsiveness is maintained by meeting people where they are to drive meaningful engagement.”

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Marialejandra in various roles, including as a facilitator and project leader in a participatory research project on immigrant women’s pathways, and more recently as a co-leader for community dialogues. She brings a unique blend of skills, insight, compassion, and dedication. Her open-minded, thoughtful approach fosters bold ideas, while her attention to detail ensures meaningful and effective solutions. Marialejandra works with integrity, always prioritizing well-being and ensuring the best outcomes for everyone involved.

Andrea Solnes

Co-Founder and Resource Developer - FLOW Society

Meet Marialejandra

Founder & Lead Facilitator

I founded Expansion Works as a way to grow as an entrepreneur while applying the skills I’ve honed over 12 years in engineering and 10 years in facilitation to create meaningful change in communities.

I grew up in the warm and vibrant culture of Venezuela, where a close-knit family instilled in me the power of service and community. From a young age, I witnessed how people coming together could create meaningful change.

Life took an unexpected turn when I had to leave my home country and rebuild my life in Canada.

While the journey of forced migration was challenging, it strengthened my commitment to social justice. The support I received from community was life-changing, and it showed me just how crucial social services are. This experience fuels my passion for supporting socially driven initiatives, both here in Canada and beyond.

My Journey of Learning and Connection

While I hold academic certifications, the greatest tools I bring to my work aren’t just credentials—they’re my lived experiences. Navigating career changes, life transitions, and complex social landscapes has given me a deep understanding of the challenges many individuals and organizations face.

This journey allows me to meet people where they are, create inclusive spaces, and facilitate meaningful dialogue that leads to real impact.

I’m proud to work on initiatives that uplift historically marginalized groups, especially women and immigrants

My passion for women’s empowerment is rooted in the strong, resilient women I was raised by—women who showed me what’s possible when we trust ourselves and support each other. The encouragement I’ve received from other women throughout my journey as an immigrant is something I now pay forward, helping others navigate their own paths.

Outside of Work

When I’m not facilitating, coaching, or collaborating, you’ll likely find me:

Exploring farmers’ markets and thrift stores, cooking for family and friends, dancing at cultural events, reading in cozy coffee shops, enjoying coffee dates with friends, and spending time in nature are some of the things I love to do.

Core beliefs that guide my work and what I stand for...

Success in any area of life starts with personal growth. Our internal state influences the results we achieve.
The best solutions are co-created.
Culture roots us, and community lifts us —our strength is in both
More women and underrepresented voices in decision-making are critical to tackling today’s most pressing challenges.
Well-being is the foundation of everything and It is the most urgent work of our time.