Resume
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Professional creative with a diverse spectrum of expertise in multi-media and interpersonal communications, marketing, community organizing, impact storytelling, community relations, nonprofit leadership and fundraising. Mission-driven leader who is passionate about equity, inclusion, racial justice, innovation, youth leadership, community engagement and empowerment, education and making a positive impact.
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Bachelors Degree (Jacksonville, FL)
The University of North Florida - College of Arts and Sciences, Major: Graphic Design / Minor: Spanish
Cum Laude and Interdisciplinary Honors; Spring Commencement Ceremony Guest Speaker
Study Abroad Student Certificate (Merida, Venezuela)
VEN-U.S.A. School
Selected as state of Florida Rotary Foundation Cultural Ambassadorial Scholar of Good Will and awarded study abroad scholarship for community service. Founded a volunteerism group and served as a Commencement Ceremony featured speaker.
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Marketing and communications expertise and writing skills
Public relations and media relations
Relationship building and development/fundraising
Project and event development and coordination
Digital native/tech savvy (Microsoft and Google products, donor and fundraising software, database development, text and e marketing, website administration and design, Wordpress, HTML, social media, graphic design, Adobe Creative Suite, digital organizing)
Diversity, equity, justice, and inclusion education background
Restorative Justice (RJ) background
Community organizing experience
Strong public speaking and group facilitation expertise
Branding, graphic and web design, print production, video and photography
Creative, solutions oriented, analytical thinking
Passion, positive attitude and high energy for public service
Value personal integrity and professionalism
Skill working in diverse environments with diverse stakeholders
Work well collaboratively and independently, self-directed
Working knowledge of Spanish
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Conceptualized and launched the #HateFreeOC / #kNOwHate public education and awareness PR/marketing campaign for OC Human Relations, while securing over $125,000 in grant funding for the initiative. (Santa Ana)
Developed and led a change management process for OC Human Relations to build a culture of philanthropy, which brought the agency out of a five year period of operating with a deficit. (Santa Ana)
Honored as a 2009 Woman of the Year Nominee for the 27th Senatorial District. (Long Beach)
Secured funding for the first Governor's Office GRIP grant for youth/gang violence prevention. (Long Beach)
Served as a National Consultant for ADL Making Diversity Count: An Online Course for Educators. Recruited over 1,000 educators nation-wide for the online course. (USA)
Served on the 2003/4 Los Angeles Unified School District LGBTQ Advisory Council (Los Angeles)
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Supporter, Long Beach Black Worker Center (Long Beach, CA) 2023 - present
Co-Creator, Long Beach Black Liberation Coalition (Long Beach, CA) 2023 - present
Consultant, Black Agency (Long Beach, CA) 2021 - present
Co-Founder, Black Wellness Collaborative / B-Well Collab (Southern California) 2020 - present
Member, Black Lives Matter, Long Beach Chapter (Long Beach, CA) 2020 - present
Executive Committee Member, NAACP (Long Beach, CA) 2019
Founding Member, JCC Cares Volunteer Collaborative, Alpert Jewish Community Center (Long Beach, CA) 2018 - 2020
Circle Keeper, The LGBTQ Center Long Beach (Long Beach, CA) 2017 - 2018: Facilitated pro bono monthly restorative justice discussion circles to support the Center’s nonprofit management team.
Writer, Palacio Magazine (Long Beach, CA) 2015
EXPERIENCE
Sole Proprietor (Southern CA) 2002 - present
VERB Works www.verbworks.org
Create strategies and communications solutions for businesses, professionals, and community groups via marketing, branding, graphic and web design, social media, and communication skill and asset development. Facilitate interactive strategic planning initiatives and deliver diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice programming with communication at the core of each initiative. Developed allthingsblack.love – a Black-centered online resource portal to connect, inform, and educate the community about local leaders and resources for the times.
Regional Organizer, Engagement and Impact Coordinator (Southern CA) 2024 - present
Southern California Black Worker Hub for Regional Organizing www.socalblackworkersunited.org
Organize for regional power building with Black Worker Centers and coalition partners. Support access, pathways and protections for Black workers by leading communications strategies and digital organizing, developing narrative change, participating in coalition spaces and supporting policy reform.
Director of Communications (Long Beach, CA) 2020 - 2024
Long Beach Forward www.lbforward.org
Led social change communications for nonprofit with mission to create a healthy Long Beach with low-income communities of color by building community knowledge, leadership, and power. Participated in coalitions and campaign creation and led communications strategy and impact storytelling to support movement building initiatives. Developed and maintained website, podcast, digital organizing, media relations and communications. Co-led the development team, managed communications team, and served on the leadership team.
Communications Consultant (Long Beach, CA) 2020
Long Beach Center for Economic Inclusion (LBCEI) www.lbcei.org
Supported the launch of this Community Development Corporation with website release and updates, media relations, press releases, social media development, and impact storytelling campaigns.
Marketing Manager (Los Angeles, CA) 2018 - 2020
Los Angeles Conservation Corps www.lacorps.org
Managed and developed marketing projects and strategies, marketing budget, website design and administration, annual reports, e-newsletter, photography, graphic design, printing, signage, video, social media, content creation, press releases, media relations, external communications and special events. Worked with external vendors. Supported donor engagement, online fundraising campaigns and stewardship.
Education Training Facilitator and Consultant (Southern California) 2014 - 2019
ENCOMPASS / Formerly with The Western Justice Center www.encompass.llc
Led graphic design, writing and creation of fundraising materials for Board and donors, as well as annual report. Provided school district-wide professional development around building safe and inclusive schools. Facilitate dialogue-based workshops with middle and high school students and K-12 educators about communication, conflict, prejudice, and personal responsibility via interactive artistic programming. Facilitate workshops in partnership with the Museum of Tolerance’s Tools for Tolerance for Educators.
Director of Partnerships / Director of Development (Orange County, CA) 2014 - 2017
OC Human Relations Council / Now known as Groundswell wearegroundswell.org
Developed and distributed key agency communications, publications, and human relations / hate crime related public education and awareness campaigns for a wide audience including the county Board of Supervisors, mayors, city councils, residents, businesses, nonprofit Board members and other institutions and community groups.
Oversaw branding and messaging, served as a key contact for media, developed press releases, PSAs and press pieces, and co-led crisis communications. Managed website and social media, captured and chronicled photos, supervised email marketing appeals and correspondence, wrote and designed annual reports and marketing materials, led nonprofit document print production, coordinated direct mail, and developed online fundraising initiatives.
Planned fundraising events, managed invitation and web design, wrote speeches, led donor relations, created event communications and corresponded with event honorees and presenters.
Led the Development Team and nonprofit Board of Directors in a strategic planning process to develop a fundraising vision and practices, including individual donor engagement and grant writing. Raised over $800K and supported the $1.7M budget. Created and maintained CRM database to track donor giving and interaction, develop reports, and presented findings to CEO.
Developed and maintained trusted relationships and collaborated with individuals and leaders in local businesses, foundations and public institutions to secure new and continued funding and support for this countywide nonprofit agency. Conducted donor identification, solicitation and stewardship processes.
Recruited, trained, supervised and evaluated volunteers, interns and a full-time grant writer.
Served on leadership team and worked closely with the CEO and Board, served on executive leadership team and helped address organizational development needs and assessment. Also built multi-year strategic plans for the organization.
Stayed abreast of trends related to bias and discrimination through facilitation of community dialogue, restorative justice training and research, hate crime report writing and development, and implicit bias training development.
National Spokesperson and Volunteer Team Lead (Southern California) 2014 - 2018
Heart of America www.heartofamerica.org
Served as a key spokesperson before audiences of governmental leaders, corporate executives, school district leaders, educators, parents and students for this nonprofit in promotion of community service, literacy, and education across the U.S. Led teams of corporate volunteers on library and education space makeovers for youth in areas of poverty around the country.
Director of External Communications, Digital Innovation & Design (Washington, DC) 2009 - 2014
Director of External Relations
Heart of America
Led communications, marketing, publications, graphic design, web presence, online fundraising, and PR.
Served as a national key spokesperson before prominent audiences and donors at event ribbon cutting ceremonies and meetings.
Supported grant development and donor relations as member of Development Team.
Contributed towards strategic planning and problem solving as a member of the organization's executive Leadership Team.
Participated in multi-day innovation sessions with Target to provide feedback for their corporate responsibility plans.
Led teams of corporate volunteers at READesign Library Makeover Projects around the country, supervised staff and interns.
Human Dignity Officer (Long Beach, CA) 2007-2009
The City of Long Beach, Office of the City Manager
Developed and implemented city-wide communications and presentations to promote the City’s Human Dignity Policy, community safety, youth and gang violence prevention, cultural diversity and hate crime awareness via public relations, community engagement projects, workshops, trainings and presentations.
Represented the City of Long Beach publicly. Built relationships and collaborations with community groups and education institutions, including community-based organizations, faith-based communities, ethnic-based groups, businesses, local colleges and the Long Beach Unified School District.
Coauthored and edited a successful $500,000 grant application to the Governor’s office to secure funding for the California Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention grant, which included relationship maintenance, follow up reporting and correspondence.
Strengthened community relations by staffing City-affiliated entities, such as the Human Relations Commission, Youth and Gang Violence Prevention Task Force, Jewish-Christian Muslim Leadership Forum, Hate Crime Response Team, and inter-departmental collaboratives. Co-Chaired several community initiatives with local nonprofits, educational institutions, and community leaders.
Developed and facilitated youth/police dialogues; provided presentations to Leadership Long Beach, college students and community groups; facilitated LGBTQ focus groups with the City Council; and facilitated the City employee "Building the Inclusive City" diversity education training, alongside City Human Resources staff.
Recruited, trained and supervised interns, a team of hate crime response volunteers, and staff.
