Sarah Jimenez
Senior Communications Officer at California Health Care Foundation- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Monika Lee
Sarah is someone whose collaborative and thoughtful work style left a lasting impression on me. Through our work together at Paschal Roth, she took the time to break down the fundamentals of communications and narrative change, as well as understanding audience and meeting people where they are. While navigating the intersections of communications, policy, coalition building, media relations, and social justice work is a lot to learn, working with Sarah made me excited to dive in and grow my own skills!
Aureo Mesquita
I had the pleasure of working with Sarah for more than three years at the California Budget & Policy Center, collaborating on several projects, including the organization's inaugural internal race and gender equity committee and analyses highlighting how California policies affect the lives of people and the intersections of race, gender, and immigration justice. Sarah’s ability to lead and mentor colleagues, including myself and others new to the policy and communications sphere, empowered me to find my voice on the team and deepen my understanding of complex topics. Her focus on centering values and humanizing policy work has been invaluable to expanding the impact of the organization's work. Most importantly, Sarah’s passion for creating a more just world, combined with kindness and her ability to communicate clearly makes her a true leader in spaces looking to grow and build a strong community fighting for true systemic change.
Monika Lee
Sarah is someone whose collaborative and thoughtful work style left a lasting impression on me. Through our work together at Paschal Roth, she took the time to break down the fundamentals of communications and narrative change, as well as understanding audience and meeting people where they are. While navigating the intersections of communications, policy, coalition building, media relations, and social justice work is a lot to learn, working with Sarah made me excited to dive in and grow my own skills!
Aureo Mesquita
I had the pleasure of working with Sarah for more than three years at the California Budget & Policy Center, collaborating on several projects, including the organization's inaugural internal race and gender equity committee and analyses highlighting how California policies affect the lives of people and the intersections of race, gender, and immigration justice. Sarah’s ability to lead and mentor colleagues, including myself and others new to the policy and communications sphere, empowered me to find my voice on the team and deepen my understanding of complex topics. Her focus on centering values and humanizing policy work has been invaluable to expanding the impact of the organization's work. Most importantly, Sarah’s passion for creating a more just world, combined with kindness and her ability to communicate clearly makes her a true leader in spaces looking to grow and build a strong community fighting for true systemic change.
Monika Lee
Sarah is someone whose collaborative and thoughtful work style left a lasting impression on me. Through our work together at Paschal Roth, she took the time to break down the fundamentals of communications and narrative change, as well as understanding audience and meeting people where they are. While navigating the intersections of communications, policy, coalition building, media relations, and social justice work is a lot to learn, working with Sarah made me excited to dive in and grow my own skills!
Aureo Mesquita
I had the pleasure of working with Sarah for more than three years at the California Budget & Policy Center, collaborating on several projects, including the organization's inaugural internal race and gender equity committee and analyses highlighting how California policies affect the lives of people and the intersections of race, gender, and immigration justice. Sarah’s ability to lead and mentor colleagues, including myself and others new to the policy and communications sphere, empowered me to find my voice on the team and deepen my understanding of complex topics. Her focus on centering values and humanizing policy work has been invaluable to expanding the impact of the organization's work. Most importantly, Sarah’s passion for creating a more just world, combined with kindness and her ability to communicate clearly makes her a true leader in spaces looking to grow and build a strong community fighting for true systemic change.
Monika Lee
Sarah is someone whose collaborative and thoughtful work style left a lasting impression on me. Through our work together at Paschal Roth, she took the time to break down the fundamentals of communications and narrative change, as well as understanding audience and meeting people where they are. While navigating the intersections of communications, policy, coalition building, media relations, and social justice work is a lot to learn, working with Sarah made me excited to dive in and grow my own skills!
Aureo Mesquita
I had the pleasure of working with Sarah for more than three years at the California Budget & Policy Center, collaborating on several projects, including the organization's inaugural internal race and gender equity committee and analyses highlighting how California policies affect the lives of people and the intersections of race, gender, and immigration justice. Sarah’s ability to lead and mentor colleagues, including myself and others new to the policy and communications sphere, empowered me to find my voice on the team and deepen my understanding of complex topics. Her focus on centering values and humanizing policy work has been invaluable to expanding the impact of the organization's work. Most importantly, Sarah’s passion for creating a more just world, combined with kindness and her ability to communicate clearly makes her a true leader in spaces looking to grow and build a strong community fighting for true systemic change.
Experience
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California Health Care Foundation
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United States
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Philanthropic Fundraising Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Senior Communications Officer
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May 2023 - Present
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National Center for Youth Law
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United States
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Civic and Social Organizations
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1 - 100 Employee
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Communications Director
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Dec 2022 - May 2023
Lead development of strategic communications plan in coordination with leadership team and guide alignment of organization's vision and new brand. Build communications infrastructure and internal policies to streamline communication products. Collaborate with leadership, senior team leaders, and communications team to identify core audiences and develop key messages. Lead development of strategic communications plan in coordination with leadership team and guide alignment of organization's vision and new brand. Build communications infrastructure and internal policies to streamline communication products. Collaborate with leadership, senior team leaders, and communications team to identify core audiences and develop key messages.
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California Budget & Policy Center
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United States
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Think Tanks
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1 - 100 Employee
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Director Of Strategic Communications
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May 2019 - Dec 2022
Lead organization’s communications projects and ensure values are advanced through messaging, publications, digital presence, and visual work. Supervise staff of 3 and guide workplans and professional development goals. Provide editorial review on all publications. Set communications strategies with creative, graphic design, and video teams and ensure organization’s data, budget, and policy work reaches policymakers, advocates, and media outlets. • Refreshed mission and vision and achieved first ever commitment to DEI statement that included input from Board of Directors and all 20 staff members over 6 months and multiple dynamic sessions—statements were part of new website rollout in spring 2022 • Boosted traffic to the California Budget & Policy Center's website by 26% by orchestrating modernization and functionality redesign—more than 200 keywords ranked in top 5 Google searches • Accelerated effectiveness of communications team in 2 years by doubling team size, improving hiring processes with emphasis on DEI practices and adding 2 new roles—brand strategist and communications strategist • Increased Twitter engagement rate by 109% and follower growth by 85%, media hits by 66%, and email open rates by 55% in 1 year by spearheading 6-week campaign focused on education and transparency in state budget process • Expanded team’s shared understanding of how race and gender affect relationships by introducing and delivering monthly DEI awareness training sessions to 20 staff members in coordination with internal committee and DEI-change management consultant Show less
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Paschal Roth Public Affairs
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United States
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Public Relations and Communications Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Senior Strategist
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May 2017 - May 2019
Produced communications on topics ranging from labor, health care, child care to affordable housing for up to 5 clients for values-driven communications firm. Developed messaging, op-eds, fact sheets, support letters, talking points, speeches, social media content, and media preparation. • Delivered op-eds, speeches, web content, and social communications for Props 1 & 2 in 2018—voters approved $6B bond to build affordable housing and deliver mental health services for Californians in need • Orchestrated story collection and listening sessions with 20+ child care workers in 1 month that were used in campaign website, op-eds, and with reporters as part of long-term campaign to help child care providers unionize • Shaped 2018 ballot measure outreach collateral by utilizing statewide polling and contributing to questions and narrative prompts for voter focus groups Show less
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County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA)
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United States
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Government Relations Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Communications & Outreach Coordinator
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Oct 2009 - May 2017
Created and owned communications and event management function for non-profit association representing human service directors in all 58 counties in California. Delivered integrated internal and external communications and pitched 3+ op-eds per year. Worked with large-scale coalitions to hold timely, policy-focused press events. Launched and managed organization’s website redesign, new brand, and Twitter account. Developed talking points and testimony for executives and policymakers to provide education on imperatives to advance and support human services. • Produced communications campaign urging policymakers to extend support of foster youth beyond age 18, becoming first in nation—developed logo and social media content, and garnered editorial board support from every major California newspaper • Grew attendance to annual conference from 350 to 700 over 4 years by recruiting high-caliber keynote speakers, streamlining marketing, expanding program, and writing/editing materials • Introduced “Bring a foster youth to the Capitol” event coinciding with Foster Care Awareness month and pairing legislators with foster youth who shadowed legislators that day—more than 30 youth and legislators participated in event that occurred for at least 5 years Show less
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California State Association of Counties®
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United States
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Government Relations
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1 - 100 Employee
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Communications Coordinator
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Jul 2008 - Oct 2009
Managed communications for member-based organization representing county governments before state legislature and federal government. • Developed feature called “ICYMI” that was delivered to legislators via email and hard copy and featured local county news to influence legislators to support funding for county services • Contributed to campaign plan and distribution of report called “Documenting the Harm” that showed why Californians needed human service programs—included statewide press event and roll out of press materials for all 58 counties to share with local media Show less
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Make-A-Wish® Northeastern & Central California and Northern Nevada
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United States
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Non-profit Organizations
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1 - 100 Employee
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Public Relations Manager
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Oct 2007 - Jul 2008
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Sacramento Business Journal
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United States
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Book and Periodical Publishing
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1 - 100 Employee
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Business Reporter
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Oct 2007 - Mar 2008
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The Fresno Bee
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Newspaper Publishing
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100 - 200 Employee
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News Reporter
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Jan 2005 - Oct 2007
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KGPE-TV
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Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
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1 - 100 Employee
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Television News Producer
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Nov 2003 - Jan 2005
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Education
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University of Southern California
Bachelor's degree, Print Journalism & Gender Studies
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