Curriculum Chair (Chicago Chapter)

• Jun 2021 - Present

NLC Chicago '21 Fellow

• Jan 2021 - Jun 2021

CEO & Founder

• Apr 2020 - Present

BIA Media is focused on the development, production, management & marketing of high quality narratives across formats and platforms for projects of all sizes.Audio-- Breakbeat Media: Production, Reporting (2021) • 10-episode narrative/investigative podcast series (in production)-- Juneteenth Productions: Reporting, Production, Engagement (2020) • Change Agents “People V. Environmental Racism” • Hope From The Front Lines “Surviving Covid”Politics-- Dr. Valerie McCray for U.S. Senate: Communications Director-- Haneefah Khaliq for U.S. Senate: Communications Director

Creative Producer

• Jun 2021 - Sep 2021

Deputy Digital Director - Michigan

• Feb 2020 - Apr 2020

Developed | Produced digital organizing strategy & content for social media, email & SMS. Collaborated with communication, data & field teams on state-specific messaging, audience targeting & tracking of progress towards engagement goals. Developed | Produced digital organizing strategy & content for social media, email & SMS. Collaborated with communication, data & field teams on state-specific messaging, audience targeting & tracking of progress towards engagement goals.

Podcast Production Associate

• Jan 2019 - Dec 2019

Rotated between multiple narrative and news-based podcasts produced by WBEZ 91.5FM, Chicago's NPR station, including Public Official A, Nerdette, Making Beyoncé and the Motive series. Associate producer for the WBEZ|Comedy Central podcast series South Side Stories. PRE-PRODUCTION: Researched, pitched and developed episodes. Booked and pre-interviewed guests. Wrote copy and fact-checked content. Provided editorial feedback. PRODUCTION: Recorded in studio and in the field. Logged tape and interviews. POST-PRODUCTION: Edited and mixed segments. Created and implemented social media campaigns using audiograms, photos and quote cards. Posted digital content using the CMS.

Documenter

• Jun 2017 - Oct 2019

Write reports of government meetings. Live-Tweet | Photograph civic events. Identify key characters, issues and solutions. Interview community members on municipal elections. Analyze Chicago tax increment financing (TIF) data. Train on newsroom skills: oral history, social media, property taxes.

Civic Reporting Fellow

• Jun 2018 - Sep 2018

Collaborated on investigation of alternative courts as one of 10 journalists selected for this cohort. Produced | Wrote 9-minute audio story and 2-minute trailer on human impact of felony classifications. Wrote Q&A on the State’s Attorney’s Office for "The Chicago Defender". Trained on newsroom skills: FOIA, data, audio, pitching, balance, facilitation. Mentored Yollocalli Arts Reach youth journalists on multimedia storytelling and radio broadcasts.

COO & Co-Founder

• Feb 2013 - Nov 2018

Boutique consulting firm for campaign and project management. Strategized field plans and fundraising campaigns. Provided targeted data research, collection, and analysis. Crafted messaging for press releases, speeches, and media opportunities. Conducted direct mail and digital outreach campaigns. Boutique consulting firm for campaign and project management. Strategized field plans and fundraising campaigns. Provided targeted data research, collection, and analysis. Crafted messaging for press releases, speeches, and media opportunities. Conducted direct mail and digital outreach campaigns.

Podcast Production Assistant

• Sep 2017 - Apr 2018

Collaborated cross-country on "The City" investigative serialized podcast and content development teams. Edited | Mixed 3 podcast episodes, 2-minute audio profile and a straight-read news story. Recorded in studio and field. Cut tape. Sourced archival materials. Established relationships with media partners, libraries and museums. Executed social media strategy.

Investigative Intern: Social Justice News Nexus

• Jan 2017 - Sep 2017

Collaborated on investigation into the FBI’s Operation Silver Shovel in preparation for "The City" podcast. Researched campaign donations, business licenses, lawsuits and news clips. Analyzed data. Wrote memos. Assisted with studio and field recording.

Multimedia Journalist

• Jan 2017 - Mar 2017

Pitched | Sourced | Wrote | Edited | Produced eight social justice beat stories on urban leadership post-2016 elections. Deadline-driven text, photo, audio and mobile video storytelling. Pitched | Sourced | Wrote | Edited | Produced eight social justice beat stories on urban leadership post-2016 elections. Deadline-driven text, photo, audio and mobile video storytelling.

Secondary English Language Arts Teacher

• Apr 2014 - Jun 2015

Teach Chicago Public School students in Englewood at the remedial, college prep and honors levels. Develop a vision and long-term plans based on Illinois curriculum standards. Create daily lesson plans and interim assessments, while tracking and facilitating students’ progress to goal. Foster positive classroom culture by engineering and executing classroom management systems and procedures. Engage in professional development workshops and discussions.

Accelerate To One Day Emerging Entrepreneur Cohort Member

• Oct 2013 - May 2014

Accelerate To One Day (ATOD) is a six-month program designed for Teach For America corps members and alumni who have a demonstrated interest in social entrepreneurship and a commitment to affecting change through innovation. ATOD inspires and supports cohort members as they create commercial ventures to solve problems that negatively impact the local school system. Experienced educators and entrepreneurs lead a series of trainings, workshops, and networking opportunities in order for cohort members to gain practical skills in ideation, research, team development, incorporation, marketing, sales and fundraising, while preparing to launch their ventures to help end educational inequity.

Humanities Teacher

• Jan 2014 - Jun 2014

Teach night school course combining Literature and History. Develop curriculum on Hip-Hop as Art by creating daily lesson plans and interim assessments. Track and facilitate students’ progress to goal. Foster positive classroom culture.

Academic Support Coordinator

• Oct 2013 - Jun 2014

Coordinate comprehensive offering of tutoring (weekly and individual), supplemental instruction (21 Saturdays), group study sessions (winter/spring break), writing assistance, and parental involvement. Collect, track, assess, and report data for all 11th grade students (150+) and other groups. Supervise RTI Interventions or Interviews (30+). Target students earning low GPA’s to regularly support through grade analysis, goal-setting, and brown-bag lunches. Track and facilitate students’ progress to goal. Communicate progress and concerns with relevant staff. Proctor and grade interims and open-ended response exams. Chaperone college tours and other activities. Attend staff and departmental meetings.

Deputy Regional GOTV Director, Ohio

• Oct 2012 - Nov 2012

Planned and executed 29 staging locations to get out the vote across Stark and Kent counties. Negotiated contracts and acted as a liaison between vendors and state headquarters. Managed logistics of more than 250k pieces of lit and supplies for 46 teams. Organized and trained local and out-of-state volunteers.

State Training Lead (Urban/Af Am), Ohio

• Aug 2012 - Nov 2012

Directed 24 trainings on organizing and data topics across all urban areas of Ohio. Developed and produced high quality print and video training materials. Managed logistics for trainings with up to 100 staff members.Trained staff, fellows and volunteers to teach based on training curriculum.

Field Organizer, Indiana

• Aug 2008 - Nov 2008

Exceeded target number of votes by 100%. Utilized VoteBuilder; 1000’s of calls/knocks personally logged; Reported metrics daily. Recruited and managed 500+ volunteers, 3 fellows, and 2 deputy field organizers. Organized 25 voter registration drives and other community outreach events. Managed office finances and fundraising.Deputy Regional Operations Manager – Managed logistics of three campaign offices.Voter Protection Intern – Filed Early Vote lawsuit motions; Trained legal volunteers.

Obama Organizing & Leadership Fellow, Indiana

• May 2008 - Aug 2008

Built political relationships between community leaders, the general public, and staff. Registered 300+ supporters to vote; Recruited 150+ active volunteers. Managed the “Ask Me About Barack Obama” pilot program.Youth Outreach Director – Organized area youth in support of civic activities. Faith Outreach Director – Trained faith groups regarding political involvement rights.