A studio that blends social work, research, and design.
Founded by a social-work-trained researcher and award-winning writer, Mangrove Method helps people do hard things with clarity and care.
Origin story
Mangroves thrive where land and sea argue — roots that tangle, filter, and hold to make shelter in choppy water. Mangrove Method grew from that same belief: care is a structure, momentum is a practice, and the intertidal places of life deserve better support.
I built this studio after years of applied research and community work because I kept seeing the same gap: good people with good intentions drowning in complicated language, paperwork, and habits that couldn’t bridge the space in between. My role is to turn intention into a workable plan — and guide it to the outcome you actually need.
I’m a social-work researcher and creator who translates evidence into everyday practice — from teaching in classrooms, to piloting programs with people who are incarcerated, to running high-level research with grant management. I’m also an award-winning poet, and I bring that clarity + craft to the work. Alongside that, I’ve been the friend people text when everything feels like “too much”: deadlines, forms, grief, logistics, and the thousand paper cuts of change.
Mangrove Method is where those worlds meet: practical help that still honors the human heart. The name chose me. As a Florida native, I fell in love with mangroves — living architectures that make new ground out of uncertainty. That’s the promise here: rooted care and methodical movement. We map what matters, decide what’s next, and build no-hassle systems that keep you moving when the tide turns.
The Mangrove Method
Practical research, humane systems, artifacts that travel.
Principles
- Smallest useful next step. Ship something true, then scale.
- Decision-grade outputs. Clean analysis → plain language → a call to action.
- Operational empathy. Systems fit the humans who use them or they don’t count.
- Evidence with edges. We name limits, assumptions, and trade-offs explicitly.
- Artifacts that endure. One-pagers, checklists, playbooks, dashboards—lightweight and reusable.
What this looks like in practice
- Right-sized measurement plans that avoid busywork.
- Logic models and SOPs matched to reality, not wishlists.
- Implementation check-ins with clear, finite tasks.
- Slide kits and briefs your team will actually share.
Who’s behind the work
Dr. Elizabeth Curley (PhD, MSW) works at the intersection of research, implementation, and design—helping people make good decisions sooner. Her background spans child & family welfare, justice, and program evaluation. She translates complex realities into clear plans and leaves teams with tools they’ll actually use.
- What I’m good at: right-sized measurement, clean analysis, plain-language briefs, and humane systems.
- How I work: start with the smallest useful step, keep it kind, and build only what serves the decision.
Not therapy or treatment: Mangrove Method provides consulting and coaching, not clinical care or legal advice. We can collaborate alongside your provider or counsel.