Housing Policy Manager

• May 2022 - Present

Director of Policy and Advocacy

• Apr 2017 - Jun 2022

*Advocate for policies and programs that improve the homeless services system in DC via coalitions that address organizational and system performance and capacity issues, including workforce; contract funding and compliance; organize briefings and informational sessions for Council staff on aspects of the homeless services system; legislative and regulatory advocacy*Advocate for programs and systems changes that support the development of affordable housing in DC, particularly for residents of extremely low income; increase permanent supportive housing *Advocate for policies and programs promoting a robust, integrative, and financially sustainable behavioral health system in DC, including the school-based behavioral health program, perinatal mental health, and mental health crisis response system, and for workforce solutions to increase licensed and non-licensed providers, including successfully spearheading an effort for the Board of Social Work to revise regulations to allow supervised practice of social workers by community-based organizations’ licensed staff; presented to Council staff, in person and via webinar, on DC’s behavioral health system*Lead in health associations and coalitions to improve District residents’ health, including preparing and implementing Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA) and Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIP) focused on mental health, care coordination, place-based care and health literacy with the DC Health Matters Collaborative; Board member of the DC Behavioral Health Association (DCBHA) (2018-2019)*Provide advocacy on behalf of Community of Hope and homeless services and health/mental health provider coalitions and collaboratives through testifying at DC Council, meeting with DC Councilmembers and DC executive agency personnel about: indirect cost rates to nonprofits, DC First Source compliance challenges, DC’s mental health crisis response system, and behavioral health workforce licensure and credentialing issues

Government Affairs Management Analyst

• Oct 2012 - Dec 2016

• Manage government affairs between the Council of the District of Columbia, the Executive Office of the Mayor, sister agencies and the Department of General Services (DGS), which is responsible for municipal construction, real estate and facilities management, and security for over 30 million square feet of District property; and monitor the legislative agenda of the Council with respect to the agency• Direct the oversight and budget response for DGS regarding its $525 million capital and $477 million operating budget by drafting testimony, oversight and budget responses, preparatory questions and background memos, and by collaborating with Council staff, conducting briefings for the Department’s senior leadership team, and finalizing testimony with the Executive Office of the Mayor• Coordinate the Department’s internal and external communications strategy by responding to constituent concerns raised by Council and sister agencies; organizing briefings and informational sessions for Council staff; and engaging with the community by writing social media messages focused on events in specific neighborhoods and by responding to multiple Council and constituent queries a day• Oversee development of agency responses for over 36 pieces of legislation and Council hearings on issues ranging from capital projects for schools, parks and recreation centers; short-term family housing; urban farming; use and disposal of surplus school property; agency contracting authority; and agency Director confirmation; and attend hearings and roundtables on behalf of the Department

Legislative Counsel

• Mar 2010 - Dec 2011

• Coordinated the oversight and budget process for the D.C. Taxicab Commission and drafted the introduced version of the Taxicab Service Improvement Amendment Act of 2012• Managed the Councilmember’s health portfolio, which included monitoring legislative developments on implementation of the District’s medical marijuana program; and wrote speeches for the Councilmember about health professions, HPV legislation, and licensure overhauls • Directed the oversight and budget process for the following agencies: Office of the Chief Technology Officer, Department of Real Estate Services, Board of Elections and Ethics, Office of Campaign Finance and Office of Disability Rights • Monitored the Committee on Health and represented the Councilmember before the Working Group on Teen Pregnancy; wrote memos on executive compensation, right-to-die legislation, election laws, ethics reform, government surplus, accessibility and American’s with Disability Act compliance housing code

Legislative Analyst

• Sep 2008 - Apr 2009

• Spearheaded passage of 10 bills that professionalized different health occupations by breaking up an omnibus health occupations bill into 12 bills focused on particular professions; and, drafted and passed language to prohibit conscience clauses in the District • Managed the oversight and budget process for the Health Regulation Licensing Administration in the Department of Health; drafted bills on animal protections, adverse events, prescribing youth in custody psychotropic drugs, and emergency contraception and antibiotics for sexual assault victims

Legal Intern

• May 2006 - Aug 2006

• Researched the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE) and drafted “Buffer Zone” legislation• Wrote a speech for Jatrice Martel Gaiter, then-CEO of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, for an event at the National Press Club event about South Dakota’s legislation banning abortions• Researched Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2006 and its impact on Medicaid beneficiaries • Researched the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE) and drafted “Buffer Zone” legislation• Wrote a speech for Jatrice Martel Gaiter, then-CEO of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, for an event at the National Press Club event about South Dakota’s legislation banning abortions• Researched Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2006 and its impact on Medicaid beneficiaries

Assistant Lab Director

• May 2002 - Jul 2005

Administered 7-hour aptitude test battery to teens and adultsCounseled clients regarding test results and relevant majors and career options which would support use of aptitudes Administered 7-hour aptitude test battery to teens and adultsCounseled clients regarding test results and relevant majors and career options which would support use of aptitudes

English Instructor

• Mar 2001 - Feb 2002

Planned and conducted small group classroom and casual English conversation lessons with Japanese studentsCorrected and explained spoken and written English grammar Planned and conducted small group classroom and casual English conversation lessons with Japanese studentsCorrected and explained spoken and written English grammar

Editorial Associate

• Sep 1999 - Jan 2001

Researched, proofread, and edited three dozen travel guide and health and wellness titles Researched, proofread, and edited three dozen travel guide and health and wellness titles