Amaya Smith Email and Phone Number

Hello LinkedIners - if that's a word! I have over a two decades of experience in the field of media outreach and public relations. Throughout my career I have worked for various governmental, non-profit and civil society organizations. My career has included building relationships with members of the press to promote issues including health care access, health equity, diversity and inclusion, paid family and medical leave, international trade policy, financial regulation, shareholder activism, labor relations, collective bargaining, pay equity, gender equity, reproductive rights, environmental justice and the energy industry. I've managed large communications departments of up to 25 people with areas of work including, social media, earned media, digital and social advertising, blog writing, e-mail marketing, website development, speech writing, event management, video production and digital and online fundraising. Using my labor-management experience I've also helped to lead organizational change and create diverse, measurement-based hiring processes. In addition I've led on crisis communication on issues such as workplace sexual harassment as well as helping organizations handle governmental and electoral change along with handling national and international crises. Specialties: Press release writing, strategic media campaigns, op-ed writing, media outreach, ad and interest campaigns, social media strategy, legislative media, congressional media monitoring, thought leadership, diversity in hiring, strategic advice, agile communications planning, project management and large event planning.A fun fact about me is that I also co-founded a brick and mortar small business based in Washington DC called The Brown Beauty Co-op which retailed hair care, skincare and makeup catering to women of color as well as hosted community events and incubation classes for other small and women owned businesses. I currently own Product Junkie an online natural hair product retailer which helps people who wear their hair naturally curly find confidence in wearing their curls.