TARGET

Senior communications position (editor, grant writer, media relations) in the nonprofit or public sectors, focusing on project management for a firm with a social conscience.

PROFILE

• Over a decade of nonprofit policy development, program management and communications experience
• Strong written communications skills with solid experience in a wide variety of mediums
• Extensive experience building, maintaining and improving relationships with media, community groups and other stakeholders; skilled at hiring, training, supervising and mentoring employees and volunteers
• Adept at framing complex policy issues for public consumption; highly defined data analysis, critical thinking, organizational and creative problem-solving skills
• Committed to creating positive, long-term working relationships and leading strong, diverse teams, using professionalism, dependability, flexibility, diplomacy and tact
• Effective self-starter who works well collaborating with colleagues or leading a team under minimal supervision, ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget
• Experienced researcher with a proven track record of securing funding from foundation sources

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

Research, Writing & Publications Production & Coordination
Reported on economic and labor policy issues for local and national publications, writing articles about community development, welfare reform and labor market participation by women; conducted interviews of political officials and economic development practitioners.

• Researched and interviewed potential grant recipients among community-based organizations in Los Angeles, synthesizing data into dockets of information; Reviewed job training literature and conducted sectoral, occupational and subsidy analyses of data on job-training participants and employers
• Wrote newsletters and brochures highlighting personal impact of community development on families and individuals
• Worked with vendors to coordinate illustration, design, translation, printing and distribution of newsletters and brochures; prepared publication plan, schedule and budget; edited content for adherence to house style
• Researched foundation sources and wrote successful grants for coalition of community organizations
• Researched climate for multi-union organizing at San Francisco Airport; prepared written report and provided briefing to coalition of airport labor leaders

Program & Project Management
Planned and managed communications strategy for multiple projects:

• Campaign to transform working conditions and patient-care standards at major Bay Area hospital
  
• Campaign to improve economic status of Bay Area janitors
• Coalition that organized regional march in support of legalization and immigrant rights
• Campaign to win comprehensive reform of California nursing-home industry
  Communications strategy for each campaign involved intensive, escalating communications with workers, media and politicians and was key for generating unprecedented support for campaign goals and extensive favorable coverage in local, national and international print and broadcast media.

Media Relations
Wrote, edited and designed press releases, grant applications, brochures, op-eds, newsletters, leaflets, public service announcements, fact sheets, letters to editor and talking points

• Planned and managed press conferences, report releases, other public events; responded to press inquiries and successfully pitched stories to reporters
• Acted as spokesperson at public events, on TV and the radio and in print; built and maintained relationships with local and national reporters and with media outlets

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

• Communications Director
  Service Employees International Union Local 715: San Jose, CA (2001-present)
• Campaign Communications Coordinator
  Service Employees International Union Local 250: Oakland, CA (2001)
• Communications & Policy Analyst
  Service Employees International Union Local 1877: Oakland, CA (1999-2001)
• Freelance Grantwriter (1999)
• Researcher, Multi-union Organizing Project at San Francisco Airport
  UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education: Berkeley, CA (1998-1999)
• Economic Development Researcher
  Liberty Hill Foundation: Santa Monica, CA (1997)
• Community Liaison, Nonprofit Affordable Housing Developer
  Resources for Community Development: Berkeley, CA (1995-1996)
• Reporter and Assistant Editor
  The East Bay Express, Equal Means Magazine: Berkeley, CA (1992-1995)
• Writing & Rhetoric Fellow, Written and Oral Communication Skills Teaching Program
  Brown University: Providence, RI (1988-1990)

OTHER INTERESTING EXPERIENCE

• Conversational Spanish: translated during media interviews, and prepped monolingual Spanish-speakers to act as spokespeople for union; extensive travel in Mexico and Guatemala
• Board member, Resourceful Women (1993-1995)
• Media Committee Member, Immigrant Rights Coalition (2000-present)
• Served on selection committee for writing fellows training program; performed interviews, screened applications and chose candidates for highly selective program

COMPUTER SKILLS

Proficient in Windows, Macintosh, Excel, Access, FileMaker Pro, Publisher, Internet

EDUCATION

MA, Urban Planning: UCLA (1999); Recipient of University Fellowship (1996)
BA, Public Policy: Brown University (1990)

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