Experience

Dorill Initiative Inc

• United States
• Performing Arts
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Board Member

  • Feb 2023 - Present

  I joined the board to advise the Founder/Executive Director on how emerging tech/innovation trends will impact education and workforce opportunities for underserved youth, help him understand the NYC political landscape, support partnership development strategy, and to support organizational expansion. Dorill Initiative is a multidisciplinary arts organization committed to empowering youth to tell their stories and transform communities. Dorill continues to live by our mantra #LoveThroughArt by remaining committed to our mission: to engage students through artistic and creative expression, academic enrichment, and community engagement to ensure student success artistically, academically, professionally, and personally.



Potencia

• Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Advisory Committee Member

  • 2023 - Present

  Potencia is reimagining adult language education by bridging communities. Potencia trains college students as volunteer tutors to teach English to adults with limited English language skills in the communities. Our tutors lead one-on-one or small-group classes on university campuses or virtually. Potencia is currently designing and developing the Potencia mobile app. We expect to launch the beta version in May 2023 to make adult English language learning more accessible. Potencia is reimagining adult language education by bridging communities. Potencia trains college students as volunteer tutors to teach English to adults with limited English language skills in the communities. Our tutors lead one-on-one or small-group classes on university campuses or virtually. Potencia is currently designing and developing the Potencia mobile app. We expect to launch the beta version in May 2023 to make adult English language learning more accessible.



Interspace Strategies LLC

• Founding Director

  • Feb 2022 - Present

  Interspace Strategies connects the dots between early-stage ideas, people, and resources. Utilizing my experiences across the global startup ecosystem, politics and government, and nonprofits, I create dynamic strategies that build successful activations, connections, and collaborations to strengthen the go-to-market strategy for early-stage entrepreneurs and brands. I also curate multifaceted experiences that build bridges across silos to create new relationships and close knowledge gaps.



Tufts Entrepreneurship Center (TEC)

• Lecturer I Adviser to the Director I Former Student Entrepreneurship Coach

  • Nov 2020 - Present

  ▪ Co-created and co-taught the "Paths to Entrepreneurship" undergraduate course. We aim to expand and diversify students' understanding of the different pathways to entrepreneurship [the corporate path, the intrapreneur, moonlighter, social entrepreneur, content creator-influencer, college entrepreneur], the skill sets required, and the strategies to be successful. ▪I am an entrepreneurship coach for Tufts undergraduate students, graduate students, and alumni who apply to TEC Entrepreneurship competitions. I mentor them as they develop proof of concept and pilot strategy, landscape map accelerator/incubator opportunities, refine their storytelling and startup pitch, and partnership development. Students schedule coaching appointments with me via Calendly. ▪I advise and support TEC Director Elaine Chen, the Cummings Family Professor of the Practice of Entrepreneurship at Tufts University. About TEC: The TEC provides robust academic instruction in entrepreneurship combined with the real-world experience of our highly talented professors, advisors and coaches. It prepares their students for impactful citizenship by developing their entrepreneurial skills for both for-profit corporations and not-for-profit social-impact businesses. TEC develops innovative thinkers across all disciplines of the Tufts University community with a wide variety of educational courses and experiential, hands-on resources, including competitions, workshops, and accelerators to grow our community’s entrepreneurial skills. About TEC Director Elaine Chen: Prior to Tufts, Elaine served as Senior Lecturer and Entrepreneur-in-Residence for nearly a decade at the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. Elaine brings a wealth of experience to Tufts, having served as an engineering and product management VP at six companies, including Rethink Robotics, Zeo, Zeemote, and SensAble Technologies. She has brought numerous hardware and software products to market and holds 22 patents.



Cornell Tech

• United States
• Higher Education
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Civic Innovation Fellow

  • Jan 2021 - Aug 2022

• Urban Tech & Innovation Researcher at The Urban Tech Hub

  • Feb 2021 - Jan 2022

  As part of my Fellowship at the Digital Life Initiative at Cornell Tech, under the guidance of Senior Urban Tech Fellow Rohit T. “Rit” Aggarwala (former Head of Urban Systems at Sidewalk Labs and previously led the New York City Office of Long-term Planning and Sustainability), I am a researcher alongside an interdisciplinary team of Cornell Tech graduate students and professionals to create the "Urban Tech Agenda for New York City". The Urban Tech Agenda will include a set of strategic recommendations for how the next mayoral administration and City Council can leverage technology to improve the lives of New Yorkers. ▪I interview experts in civic engagement, participatory democracy, and related civic technology platforms/tools. I also explore that topic area in other cities in the U.S. and around the world. In addition, I join conversations related to privacy. Our research group meetings cover topics including mobility, infrastructure, etc.



Office of the New York City Public Advocate

• United States
• Government Administration
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Manhattan Borough Advocate and liasion to the Technology, Data, & Development Team

  • Dec 2019 - Feb 2022

  I was the Manhattan Borough Advocate on the inaugural Borough Advocacy Unit for NYC Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. I am also the liaison to our Technology, Data, & Development team and to the Director of Technology to foster the intersection between community affairs and technology. Public Advocate Williams is one of three city-wide government executive elected officials/agencies of New York City (The NYC Mayor, NYC Public Advocate, & NYC Comptroller). I am external-facing, while internally in the office, I act as a cross-functional connector and mobilizer across silos. I interface with a range of community issues, policy, and legislative areas including but not limited to congestion pricing implementation, curbside usage, education policy, criminal justice reform and policing, affordable housing/NYCHA, cybersecurity, privacy and surveillance tech, biometric data systems, and automated decision-making systems (ADS or algorithms) in local government. ▪Across the entire borough of Manhattan, I manage and excute the community affairs strategy. I represent the NYC Public Advocate’s Office at, but not limited to, community board meetings, businesses/startups, district service cabinet meetings, police precinct councils, community education councils, Manhattan Borough Board meetings, and other civic/government events, etc. ▪Bring insights, information, and events back to relative internal teams e.g. policy, legislation, and scheduling. ▪Build collaborations and partnerships with advocates, associations, businesses, community leaders, community-based organizations, and nonprofits. ▪Cross-functionally sit across our issue area teams with our First Deputy Public Advocates and Community Organizers to shape and launch initiatives/events in Manhattan/city-wide. ▪Manage intergovernmental relationships and outreach to Manhattan-based elected officials, their staff, and government agencies. ▪Staff and advise the NYC Public Advocate at special events in Manhattan



Hire Harlem

• United States
• Information Services

• Strategic Advisor

  • 2017 - Feb 2020

  Hire Harlem is your resource (web platform) to identify and support businesses that uplift the Harlem community. Use our searchable database and location map to find businesses that hire locally, reinvest in the community or are owned by historically underrepresented groups- Black, Latinx, and Women. Read our stories about their philanthropic efforts, attend our events, get involved! ▪ I supported the ideation process ▪ I advise the user testing/feedback process ▪ I support the development of a go-to-market strategy ▪ I connect the team to the entrepreneurial resource landscape ▪ I connect the founders to potential mentors in tech



Michael Blake for NYC

• Political Director

  • Dec 2018 - Mar 2019

  I worked for Bronx Assemblyman and Democratic National Committee Vice Chair Michael Blake on his special-election campaign for NYC Public Advocate. The prior Public Advocate, Leticia James, became the first African American woman voted in as the New York State Attorney General. ▪Managed the political department in conducting outreach on behalf of the candidate to earn endorsement support, introductions, recruit surrogates and volunteers, schedule political meetings with the candidate, and obtain insights about electoral districts within the path to victory plan ▪Coordinated with the other campaign departments, i.e. field, communications, and surrogates, to create a campaign plan of action leading up to GOTV and election day ▪Chief liasion to the political directors of labor unions/political action committees to schedule endorsement screenings and gain insight into the issues most critical to their members ▪Surrogate speaker at task force meetings, church services, and democratic club meetings



Duet

• Musicians
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Coach and Special Projects

  • Jan 2018 - Oct 2018

  Duet+Southern New Hampshire University's- College For America's platform is a partnership reimagining higher education by creating an online, project-based curriculum, low-cost, flexible timing associates and bachelor's degrees. The partnership provides personalized support from enrollment, coaching, and employment in the Greater Boston area in Massachusetts. Part-time, I supported the pilot of their "Uber for coaching" model, regional outreach+ recruitment, and internal special projects.



ULink

• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Co-Founder

  • 2015 - Jun 2018

  While at Tufts and post-Tufts, I oversaw product development, recruiting community college administrators and advisers, conveying the vision and strategy, engaging stakeholders, creating strategic partnerships, and pitching/presentations. I gained experience in business development, building teams, client facing skills, education policy, product management, rapid prototyping, and user design/research. ▪ Recruited a cross-functional team of two co-founders, a user researcher, U/X designer, and a software engineer by attending 4 hackathons, 3 meetups, reaching out to 50+ people via social media, and building personal relationships to start a software startup ▪ Leveraged client facing skills and strategic outreach to secure a strategic partnership with a community college decision makers to conduct human-centered design research, set up an alpha test, and established a micro-pilot collaboration with the advising office ▪ Presented our mobile app prototype at the 2016 New England Transfer Association (NETA) Association to 30+ community college transfer advisers and conducted product feedback research by sending a follow-up survey to prioritize user needs ▪Conducted 20+ user experience sessions with community college students, translated the feedback to the UX/UI lead to build wireframes, prototypes, and analyzed the data to develop current web application/SMS API integration ▪ Led the project management cycle of our alpha and beta software by coordinating weekly team meetings with the UX designer, UI researcher, and software engineer to determine our KPIs, strategy, bottle-necks, progress, and incorporate new user insights -Selected the Smarter in the City Accelerator www.smarterinthecity.com -Selected as the 1st Place Winner in the Social Impact track at the 2016 Tufts University Gordon Institute $100k New Venture Competition. -Selected for Comcast-NBC Universal Impact Grant and the 4.0 Schools Incubator Tiny Fellowship



New Sector Alliance

• Non-profit Organization Management
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Site Director

  • Jan 2017 - Aug 2017

  New Sector closed due to funding issues and is restructuring to reopen. ▪ Oversaw regional strategy and executed fellowship program for 15 emerging professionals placed at host sites to build capacity in the social sector and piloted a new fellowship program for transitioning professionals entering the social sector ▪ Coordinated multi-stakeholder relationships with 21 fellows, 11 national and local nonprofits, one consulting firm, 15 fellowship mentors, and alumni by scheduling in-person office visits, phone call check-ins, and video chat meetings ▪ Managed logistics for 10 professional development workshops-I found and booked space, scheduled and briefed 15 speakers, printed materials, set-up locations, ordered and paid for food.



New Profit Inc.

• United States
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Portfolio Investment Team Summer Associate & Entrepreneur-in-Residence Support

  • Jun 2014 - Aug 2014

  New Profit is a national venture philanthropy fund & social innovation organization: ▪Directly supported the Entrepreneur-in-Residence J.B. Schram and Associate Partner in launching a new investment fund and the first initiative 'Learn to Earn' which will address the White House goal of "10 Million More Career Ready Americans by 2025”. ▪Conducted 3 landscape analyses on online learning platforms, online credentialing platforms, and employer credential platforms ▪ Conducted 15+ hours of research and presented four 'Innovation Briefs' to the CEO of New Profit outlining the problem, solution/opportunity, potential partners, potential funders, organizational value add to support the launch of a new education fund ▪ Presented an education tech competitive analysis to 2 executive partners comparing companies and website features that rank online higher education programs- my research contributed to the selection of a strategic partner for the fund’s first initiative ▪Drafted and presented four 'Innovation Briefs'​ to New Profit Inc. CEO Vanessa Kirsch detailing the problem, solution/opportunity, potential partners, potential funders, organizational value add, and key questions for the 'Learn to Earn'​ initiative ▪Participated in the 'Innovation Prototyping' session alongside industry leaders in education technology, higher education, philanthropy, public policy, and major employers at the 2014 New Profit Inc. and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Innovation Summit Washington, D.C. Summit ▪Researched and recommended potential candidates of color for the New Profit Board of Directors to the CEO Vanessa Kirsch.



Reshma Saujani for Public Advocate

• Regional Field Director

  • Jun 2013 - Nov 2013

  Field Staffer for the Reshma Saujani campaign for NYC Public Advocate. Reshma was the former Deputy Public Advocate to now New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio and founder of Girls Who Code. ▪Coordinated and led volunteer outreach efforts, recruited 20 volunteers and 9 Organizing Fellows in Harlem and the Bronx ▪Created a comprehensive outreach and marketing plan detailing strategy, numerical data, and community partners ▪Assisted the Campaign Scheduler and Campaign Manager with the planning and execution of the 5 Borough Campaign Kickoff Tour of New York City. ▪Organized and hosted a young professional fundraiser with 4 co-hosts and 60 attendees



Young Leaders 4 Change

• Founder & Co-Director

  • Sep 2012 - Nov 2012

  Created and launched an advocacy and fundraising group comprised of young (21-27 years old) cross-sector individuals who shared a vested interest to engage peers in the political process and promote civic awareness in New York City during the 2012 Presidential election. ▪Organized the Cheers to Change Fundraiser on Thursday, July 19th which raised 5k in support of the reelection of President Barack H. Obama in conjunction with the Obama Victory Fund 2012 ▪Recruited National Veterans Affairs Director and New York State Director for Obama for America Robert Diamond and National Gen 44 Co-Chair Brian Benjamin to speak on behalf of President Barack H. Obama at the YL4C Cheers to Change fundraiser. ▪Crafted Internet and social media strategies for YL4C to raise 2k for the Obama Campaign Invited to join the National Finance Committee for Gen44- the official under 40 working professional fundraising group for President Barack H. Obama ▪Led efforts to recruit over 40 emerging leaders and young professionals in New York City to bus to urban Philadelphia to register voters and inform individuals about the potential impact of Pennsylvania’s new voter i.d. laws



Obama for America

• Political Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Bronx Field Organizer & New York State Operation Vote Director-African Americans

  • Jul 2012 - Nov 2012

  Operation Vote New York State African American Vote Director ▪Directed four Organizing Fellows in recruiting outreach program captains from community-based businesses ▪Planned and executed trainings introducing President Obama’s campaign structure, goals, and volunteer opportunities ▪Formulated an outreach program plan conveying numerical goals, as well as implementation, digital, and political strategies ▪Hosted in-person and conference call trainings for African American outreach programs in Hudson Valley ▪Educated African American volunteers and outreach program captains about changes to voter ID laws ▪Represented the Obama campaign at the Bronx Clergy Round-table 2012 election panel Bronx Field Organizer ▪Managed a team of four Organizing Fellows in leading four volunteer-based teams ▪Planned and recruited three weekly volunteer phone banks to reach voters in Pennsylvania and Ohio ▪Refined volunteer outreach strategy while utilizing online campaign organizing networks ▪Recruited seventy volunteers for Get Out The Vote to phone bank and canvass in battleground states ▪Organized and addressed five Presidential debate watch parties to cultivate volunteer recruitment



Jefferies for Congress- 10th District

• Campaign Aide & Intern Recruiter

  • Feb 2012 - Jun 2012

  ▪Developed internship recruitment strategy utilizing local colleges, organizations, and social media networks ▪Assisted the campaign director during the interview process to select 10 internship applicants ▪Supported the candidate as a body man in the faith-based church community in the 10th District ▪Developed internship recruitment strategy utilizing local colleges, organizations, and social media networks ▪Assisted the campaign director during the interview process to select 10 internship applicants ▪Supported the candidate as a body man in the faith-based church community in the 10th District

• African American Operation Vote Intern

  • Apr 2012 - 2012

  Obama Presidential Campaign HQ intern for spring break. ▪Participated in daily meetings with senior staff officials and national calls discussing constituency outreach strategy, key campaign updates, and crisis management ▪Researched whitehouse.gov and statedepartment.gov to create a nationally-disseminated reference sheets highlighting the Obama Administration’s impact on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Obama Presidential Campaign HQ intern for spring break. ▪Participated in daily meetings with senior staff officials and national calls discussing constituency outreach strategy, key campaign updates, and crisis management ▪Researched whitehouse.gov and statedepartment.gov to create a nationally-disseminated reference sheets highlighting the Obama Administration’s impact on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders



Brian Benjamin for West Harlem District Leader 70th A.D.

• Campaign Aide & Volunteer

  • Aug 2011 - Sep 2011

  ▪Supported the candidate as a body man during campaign events and speeches ▪Collected contact information and organized voter lists, campaign volunteer lists, and campaign events list ▪Followed up on all campaign inquiries and distributed campaign information to 70th A.D. residents ▪Supported the candidate as a body man during campaign events and speeches ▪Collected contact information and organized voter lists, campaign volunteer lists, and campaign events list ▪Followed up on all campaign inquiries and distributed campaign information to 70th A.D. residents



New York County Democratic Committee

• Intern

  • Jun 2011 - Aug 2011

  Chair -Harlem Assemblyman Hon. Keith Wright ▪Completed key research to assist in establishing a local business council for the Borough of Manhattan through the Democratic Party ▪Completed research of New York State Criminal expungement laws to support the introduction of an amendment to New York State criminal procedure law by Harlem Assemblyman and New York State Democratic Committee Chair Keith Wright Chair -Harlem Assemblyman Hon. Keith Wright ▪Completed key research to assist in establishing a local business council for the Borough of Manhattan through the Democratic Party ▪Completed research of New York State Criminal expungement laws to support the introduction of an amendment to New York State criminal procedure law by Harlem Assemblyman and New York State Democratic Committee Chair Keith Wright



Citizen Schools

• United States
• Primary and Secondary Education
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Team Leader

  • Aug 2010 - Jun 2011

  ▪Tutored & mentored thirteen public middle school students in English Language Arts at Global Tech Prep in East Harlem ▪Developed lesson plans to introduce concepts of high school & college to 14 seventh grade students ▪Collaborated with corporate and community mentors to create and implement curriculum in ar WORD: Identity Through Poetry; students later presented their knowledge to community members at a school-based fair. ▪Coached the 6th-7th grade Global Tech Prep basketball team for a Harlem-based tournament


Vincent Morgan 4 Congress
• Campaign Aide & Volunteer

  • Aug 2010 - Oct 2010


Office of the Mayor, New York City Department of Service

• Summer Associate

  • Jun 2010 - Aug 2010

  Supported Mayor Bloomberg's Green initiative "Cool Roofs"- provided strategic support and volunteer outreach at then start-up national service non-profit Green City Force incubated at the Blue Ridge Foundation. Supported Mayor Bloomberg's Green initiative "Cool Roofs"- provided strategic support and volunteer outreach at then start-up national service non-profit Green City Force incubated at the Blue Ridge Foundation.



City Year

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• Corps Member P.S. 48 Alcoa Team

  • Aug 2009 - Jun 2010

  Completed over 1700 hours in an AmeriCorps sponsored national service program for ten months of rigorous community service, leadership development, and civic engagement ▪Emcee: Selected from a competitive process to host the annual City Year New York Gala which raised near $1 million dollars: Introduced distinguished honorees New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Alcoa Inc. CEO Klaus Kleinfeld ▪Training Manager: Operations Camp City Year 2010: Lights, Camera, Action Member of Leadership Staff: Extensively trained peers in the comprehensive aspects and regulations of successfully running a week-long day camp that provided performing arts, fine arts, and recreational activity at Vito Marcantonio I.S. 50 in East Harlem, New York ▪Project Coordinator: Martin Luther King, Jr Service Day Organized and facilitated a group of fifty volunteers to pack a thousand bags of fresh produce that were donated by Hunts Point Alliance for Children.The finished product was distributed to the Hunts Point community of the South Bronx, New York ▪Team Learning Coordinator: Developed and managed a team of four peers in employing the curriculum lesson plans of City Year New York ▪Edited and assisted the creation of the lesson plans utilized for after-school programming ▪City Year Corps Member: The Point: Hunts Point Community Center South Bronx, New York Implemented day to day activities pertaining to “The Point” after-school program for elementary and middle school students ▪Managed a daily third-grade homework assistance table