Experience

NYU Metro Center

• United States
• Research Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of National Campaign Communications

  • Jun 2022 - Present

  -Execute earned media strategies and write and edit op-eds, press materials, and advocacy content, with placements in USA Today, ABC News, Teen Vogue, and Huffington Post. -Created press materials for an immigrant-led nonprofit that pressured the school district to provide nearly $1M in services for English Language Learners. -Manage design and video editing projects including a curriculum evaluation report that was mentioned in The New York Times. -Execute earned media strategies and write and edit op-eds, press materials, and advocacy content, with placements in USA Today, ABC News, Teen Vogue, and Huffington Post. -Created press materials for an immigrant-led nonprofit that pressured the school district to provide nearly $1M in services for English Language Learners. -Manage design and video editing projects including a curriculum evaluation report that was mentioned in The New York Times.



Depressed While Black

• Mental Health Advocate

  • Jul 2014 - Present

  -Founder of 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides Black-affirming personal care items for psychiatric patients and connects people to Black therapist options. Donated over 300 Black Beauty Supply Kits and created the Help Me Find A Therapist program. -Raised thousands of dollars in donations through social media and newsletters that demonstrate the impact of giving -In-demand mental health speaker that has given talks for companies such as Pinterest and organizations like Disability Rights Montana. -Press coverage includes VICE, Forbes, and BET. Show less



Southern Coalition for Social Justice

• United States
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Communications Advocate

  • Jun 2020 - Jun 2022

  -Developed video content for press outreach that resulted in over 100 media placements including Good Morning America, New York Times, and CNN. This attention pressured a national organization to allow hair beads in high school softball games across the country. -Managed vendors to create a multimedia team developing videos, toolkits, policy platforms, and infographics for #PoliceFreeSchools and reentry support. -Created communications advocacy campaign for school board public comments that resulted in our #PoliceFreeSchools message being heard for 30 minutes straight. Show less



Mental Health Association of San Francisco

• United States
• Mental Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Communications Coordinator

  • Sep 2018 - Nov 2019

  -Raised $150,000 in less than one fiscal year through social media fundraising beginning on #GivingTuesday. -Significant contributor to planning Redefining Crazy: It's the System, Not the People conference which includes marketing, sponsorship outreach, and inviting keynote speakers. -Created event flyers, monthly newsletters, e-blasts, and social media posts. -Collected impact stories and place them on appropriate platforms, such as The Mighty. -Raised $150,000 in less than one fiscal year through social media fundraising beginning on #GivingTuesday. -Significant contributor to planning Redefining Crazy: It's the System, Not the People conference which includes marketing, sponsorship outreach, and inviting keynote speakers. -Created event flyers, monthly newsletters, e-blasts, and social media posts. -Collected impact stories and place them on appropriate platforms, such as The Mighty.



Idealist

• Utilities

• Communications Coordinator

  • Jun 2018 - Sep 2018

  -Proofread, edit, format and write Idealist Careers' blog posts using Wordpress to help readers find nonprofit jobs.. -Draft and schedule Idealist social media content.through Hootsuite, Facebook, and Canva. -Proofread, edit, format and write Idealist Careers' blog posts using Wordpress to help readers find nonprofit jobs.. -Draft and schedule Idealist social media content.through Hootsuite, Facebook, and Canva.



Frederick News-Post

• United States
• Newspaper Publishing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Features Writer

  • Jun 2016 - Apr 2018

  -Interviewed celebrities, touring artists, and community members to write articles about entertainment, lifestyle, and social issues including race, mental health, and LGBTQ experiences. -Winner of three MDDC Press Association Awards including 2017 Best of Show for arts and entertainment journalism, beating out The Baltimore Sun and The Washington Post. -Wrote Associated Press syndicated articles that were republished on news outlets such as The Washington Post and Miami Herald. -Interviewed celebrities, touring artists, and community members to write articles about entertainment, lifestyle, and social issues including race, mental health, and LGBTQ experiences. -Winner of three MDDC Press Association Awards including 2017 Best of Show for arts and entertainment journalism, beating out The Baltimore Sun and The Washington Post. -Wrote Associated Press syndicated articles that were republished on news outlets such as The Washington Post and Miami Herald.



BET (BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc.)

• United States
• Entertainment Providers
• 1 - 100 Employee

• What's At Stake Ambassador

  • Jan 2015 - Jan 2016

  Appear in BET What's At Stake videos to discuss current social issues. Appear in BET What's At Stake videos to discuss current social issues.



WNYC Radio

• United States
• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Soundcheck Intern

  • Feb 2015 - May 2015

  Assists with editorial and production duties for WNYC's online music home, Soundcheck Assists with editorial and production duties for WNYC's online music home, Soundcheck



Columbia University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Non-Fiction Creative Writing MFA Graduate

  • Aug 2013 - May 2015

• Graduate Research Intern (for author Tanner Colby)

  • Jan 2014 - Jun 2014

  Researched book projects related to southern Hip Hop, college football, and African-American politics Transcribed interviewsScheduled social media posts Gained mentoring on crafting a manuscript opener and selling a book



Greenbelt Festivals Ltd

• USC Annenberg London Intern

  • May 2013 - Jul 2013

  Updated backend software for photo, artist biography, and artist invoice content. Updated backend software for photo, artist biography, and artist invoice content.



University of Southern California

• United States
• Medical Practices
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Annenberg Graduate Fellow

  • Aug 2012 - Jul 2013

  Annenberg Graduate Fellow within USC's Specialized Journalism (The Arts) program. Annenberg Graduate Fellow within USC's Specialized Journalism (The Arts) program.


LA Weekly
• United States
• Online Audio and Video Media
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Music Intern

  • Feb 2013 - May 2013


HeatCasters

• South Africa

• Monthly Contributing Writer

  • Jan 2012 - Jul 2012

  Wrote in-depth interviews and editorials for the underground Hip Hop site, HeatCasters Wrote in-depth interviews and editorials for the underground Hip Hop site, HeatCasters



McKinney

• United States
• Advertising Services
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Junior Account Planner

  • Feb 2011 - Jul 2011

  Researched the target audience of brands such as Gold's Gym and EAS through one on one interviews, focus groups, social media monitoring, and online surveys

• Interactive Strategy Coordinator

  • Jul 2009 - Jan 2011

  Planned digital campaigns for Nationwide, Qwest Communications, and Travelocity through user experience design and social media monitoring.

• Interactive Strategy Intern

  • Oct 2008 - Dec 2008

  Researched emerging technology, social networking media, and competitors for client presentations and campaign plans. Researched emerging technology, social networking media, and competitors for client presentations and campaign plans.



Hidden Beach Recordings

• Intern

  • Jan 2008 - Apr 2008

  I performed various tasks for the marketing department including contacting music executives, mailing, duplicating CDs, and researching necessary information through a variety of methods including blogs and myspace. I also took notes during marketing meetings and emailed this information to the appropriate people. I performed various tasks for the marketing department including contacting music executives, mailing, duplicating CDs, and researching necessary information through a variety of methods including blogs and myspace. I also took notes during marketing meetings and emailed this information to the appropriate people.