Experience

National Legal Aid & Defender Association

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Vice President of Communications & Team Building

  • Feb 2022 - Present



FAMM

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Vice President of Communications

  • Jun 2020 - Feb 2022

  Serve as an integral member of FAMM’s leadership team and oversees all aspects of communications, media relations, social media and video production services for FAMM. Responsible for raising the overall brand and profile of the organization.Responsible for securing major media placements for the organization. FAMM has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Reuters, Newsy, CBS, Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press, USA Today, NPR, Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, and Black News Network as well as a host of local news, and Black press, and popular blogs.Hire, train, manage and coach a team of six communications managers/directors and consultants including, FAMM’s Director of Digital Communications, Senior Social Media and Community Manager, Media Relations Specialists, Director of Video Production, and Videographer/Editor.Ensured verification for all of FAMM’s top social media platforms. Increased our followings on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter by more than 100%. Grew our LinkedIn following from 98 followers to close to 600, which attracted a new major donor to the organization, and increased our YouTube subscribers from 142 to 942 over four years.Oversee FAMM’s data-informed email marketing program.Lead the development and implementation of a multi-year integrated strategic communications plan.Provide thought-leadership, guidance and strategic advice on the ongoing operations of the organization.Conducts performance evaluations and provides feedback throughout the year that is timely and constructive.Administers and manages policies, procedures, standards, and practices of department to ensure effective and consistent operations.Creator and manager of FAMM’s Working Group on Racial Equity and Inclusion.Launched FAMM’s “Heart to Heart” Series, a weekly Facebook Live discussion hosted every week by FAMM President Kevin Ring. The series was created to respond to immediate questions about the impact of COVID-19 on people in prison.

• Director Of Communications

  • Apr 2017 - Jun 2020

  Expanded the communications department to include a video production team, digital team, and media relations team.Oversaw the production of all outward-facing print and digital materials. Materials includes press releases, op-eds, talking points, web content, blog posts, videos, social media, flyers, graphics and reports.Collaboratively worked with policy, story-telling, and family outreach teams to proactively identify the best ways to advocate the organization’s priorities through the press.Created the FAMMilies In Action – A FAMM ran Facebook group of more than 8,000 people impacted by the criminal justice system and their families.Grew our outreach efforts to the media and ensured placement in most major news outlets in the country.Served as Executive Producer of FAMM/NACDL award-winning documentary the Vanishing Trial.



American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section

• United States
• Public Policy
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Public Relations Specialist

  • May 2014 - Apr 2017

  Manages all aspects of marketing, communications and membership efforts of the ABA Criminal Justice Section. Developed and implemented multimedia production services, including video production and photography, for the Section. Works with a dynamic team of association professionals to advance the goals of the Section. Directly manages an exceptional Membership and Marketing Associate and Marketing Assistant. Produces the Leadership Connection, a bi-weekly online publication dedicated to updating the membership on Section news. Oversee the development, design and distribution of in-house marketing materials for the section including conference programs, flyers, and e-blasts. Write letters, columns, and talking points on behalf of leadership. Initiated and launched the Annual Criminal Justice Section Awards Luncheon. Work with the Section’s media relations liaison to ensure coverage of events and announcements. Directly manages all onsite press during domestic and international conferences. Redesigned Raising the Bar, a monthly internal staff ABA e-newsletter, and serves as one of the three primary editors for the publication. The ABA Criminal Justice Section is composed of over 15,000 members including prosecutors and defense attorneys, academics, law enforcement representatives, judges, and students.



American Bar Association

• United States
• Legal Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Public Relations Specialist

  • May 2011 - May 2014

  Uses a combination of video, photography, audio and print tools to convey association news and conference highlights on its external and internal websites. Develop news releases, stories and advisories for various ABA member entities. Shoot and edit video and photos, as well as collect audio of special events. Performs media outreach in the form of pitching various ABA meetings. Register media at various ABA events. Assist presidential team by conducting research, writing op-eds, speeches, and talking points. I assist at ABA meetings and other division projects as needed. I facilitate news coverage of events and issues primarily for the ABA’s Criminal Justice Section, Commission on Youth at Risk, Section of Real Property Trust and Estates and the Section of Taxation.



National Association of Black Journalists

• College Park, Maryland

• Communications Assistant/Consultant

  • Jan 2011 - May 2011

  Create special web pages and manage weekly updates using yourmembership.com’s content management system. Designed the 2009 Annual Report and two program booklets for conference on health care disparities. Install software and trouble shoot computer issues when necessary. January 2013- April 2013 designed and produced three program booklets for various conferences and events. Create special web pages and manage weekly updates using yourmembership.com’s content management system. Designed the 2009 Annual Report and two program booklets for conference on health care disparities. Install software and trouble shoot computer issues when necessary. January 2013- April 2013 designed and produced three program booklets for various conferences and events.



Maryland Newsline/Capital News Service

• Web Producer/Multimedia Journalist

  • Aug 2010 - Dec 2010

  Produce stories for the web using audio, video, and photos. Update web content using Adobe Dreamweaver. Create interactive elements with Adobe Flash, and online, such as Google Maps. Share content through social media such as Twitter. Post content to blog using WordPress a content management system. Produce stories for the web using audio, video, and photos. Update web content using Adobe Dreamweaver. Create interactive elements with Adobe Flash, and online, such as Google Maps. Share content through social media such as Twitter. Post content to blog using WordPress a content management system.



Prince George's Sentinel

• Contributing Writer

  • Sep 2009 - May 2010

  Regularly contribute articles to small community newspaper. Regularly contribute articles to small community newspaper.



University of California

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Administrative Coordinator

  • Oct 2006 - Jul 2009

  Office coordinator, assistant to director, program support, composed, researched, and edited articles for the annual report, website, dinner program and newsletter. Designed and produced the annual scholar poster and selection committee biographical directory. Office coordinator, assistant to director, program support, composed, researched, and edited articles for the annual report, website, dinner program and newsletter. Designed and produced the annual scholar poster and selection committee biographical directory.



Globe Newspapers

• Editorial Intern

  • Sep 2007 - Jan 2008

  On-call evening and weekend reporter, covered community and special events in Oakland, Richmond and San Leandro for weekly newspaper. On-call evening and weekend reporter, covered community and special events in Oakland, Richmond and San Leandro for weekly newspaper.