Communications Training Director

• Jan 2021 - Present

I create and deliver all communications training to staff, our 90,000 member crime survivor network from communities hardest hit by crime, Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, and our TimeDone network. I prepare people for media interviews, testifying before legislatures, and public speaking. I train people to tell their stories in order to change policy, support crime survivors and win smart safety solutions proven to reduce crime.

Communications Director for State Campaigns

• Jan 2019 - Jan 2021

I direct communications in 5 states to pass smart safety priorities including Clean Slate legislation in MI, comprehensive criminal justice reform in Florida included probation reform and elimination of barriers to occupational licences for people with past convictions, funding for trauma recovery centers in Illinois that serve crime victims in communities hardest hit by violence. Promote a network of 42,000 crime victims advocating for prevention, rehabilitation and drug and mental health treatment instead of over-incarceration. Show less

Deputy Communications Director, Floridians for a Fair Democracy Yes on Amendment 4

• Aug 2018 - Jan 2019

Deputy Communications Director on Amendment 4, the Florida voting rights restoration ballot initiative that restored the right to vote to 1.4 million Floridians permanently disenfranchised due to past felony convictions. Deputy Communications Director on Amendment 4, the Florida voting rights restoration ballot initiative that restored the right to vote to 1.4 million Floridians permanently disenfranchised due to past felony convictions.

Narrative Change Consultant

• 2000 - Jan 2019

I help organizations change the public narrative to drive institutional and social change. I assist people in creating powerful narratives that help pass ballot initiatives, drive criminal and juvenile justice reform, shift resources from ineffective and violent youth prisons to rehabilitative programs strategies proven to reduce crime. I also help defeat initiatives based on scapegoating and public fear. I help organizations change the public narrative to drive institutional and social change. I assist people in creating powerful narratives that help pass ballot initiatives, drive criminal and juvenile justice reform, shift resources from ineffective and violent youth prisons to rehabilitative programs strategies proven to reduce crime. I also help defeat initiatives based on scapegoating and public fear.

National Communications Consultant and Trainer

• Jan 2017 - Jul 2018

Train survivors of crime in neighborhoods hardest hit by crime to change the narrative on public safety. Train survivors of crime in neighborhoods hardest hit by crime to change the narrative on public safety.

Interim Chief of Staff

• Aug 2015 - Jan 2017

Organizational Development, Strategic Communications and Staff Development Trainer

• 2000 - 2015

Assist executives and managers in streamlining organizations, developing staff, strategic planning, communications and telling more compelling stories to the media that produce concrete measurable results. Help leaders clarify and articulate their vision and translate that vision into a concrete strategy with clear objectives, tasks and accountability.Train executives, directors and staff in telling more compelling stories about their project, organization or product. Past clients include Van Jones, CNN host, The Innocence Project of New Orleans, Courageous Leadership, the Ms. Foundation for Women, American Bar Association, the Vera Institute of Justice, the Ford Foundation and Annie E. Casey Foundation grantees and New Orleans City Council Members. Show less

Co-Founder, Founding Executive Director

• 1995 - 2000

Co-Founder/Executive Director - Conceived, created and expanded non-profit organization from inception to established organization with offices in San Francisco and New York. Trained non profit organizations across the country to tell more compelling stories and use strategic communications to drive social change. The organization innovated a new communications model and assisted non-profit leaders in integrating strategic planning, community organizing and communications to change public policy. reform juvenile and criminal justice policy, get innocent kids out of jail and expose and remedy injustice. Clients included the Sierra Club, the Ms. Foundation for Women, the Open Society Institute and the American Bar Association. Show less

Interim Director

• 1995 - 1995

Led the turn around a failing non-profit media service organization, restoring financial viability over a two-month period. Led the turn around a failing non-profit media service organization, restoring financial viability over a two-month period.