Mindy Fried

Mindy Fried (she/her), MSW, PhD, is an applied sociologist with over 25 years of experience conducting rigorous qualitative research studies. As co-principal of Arbor Consulting Partners, Mindy works collaboratively with nonprofit organizations and foundations to help them build their capacity and strengthen their programs and policies. Her areas of focus include aging/growing older, workplace policies, arts, and grassroots organizing.

Her published books include "Caring for Red: A Daughter’s Memoir" (2016) and "Taking Time: Parental Leave Policy and Corporate Culture" (1998). Mindy is the creator and co-producer of The Shape of Care, a podcast about caregiving, and has now launched on a podcast about growing older called Next Chapters with OBOS. She is also the executive director of Hoopla Productions.

Mindy earned her masters and doctoral degrees from Brandeis University; and a masters in social work from Syracuse University, with a focus on social policy planning. Mindy has taught sociology courses on aging, sex/gender, feminist theory and more at MIT, Tufts, Brandeis University and Boston University.

We are living in politically dangerous times, where many of the policies we have taken for granted, like Social Security and Medicare, are increasingly under attack. It’s within this context that I am honored to work with Our Bodies Ourselves Today – and specifically with a brilliant panel of growing older content experts – to provide the best information and resources on a range of critical issues, including ageism, sexuality, bodies, work and retirement, aging for BIPOC women and for LGBTQ folx.