Coaching U.S. based and international interdisciplinary government teams on integrating design innovation practices to address their most pressing civic needs. All teams completed equity-centered projects in which they launched prototypes within their hyperlocal communities.2020-2021 - Civic Design Coach for Aurora, Illinois2021-2022 - Civic Design Coach for Birmingham, Alabama2022-Present - Equity Design Coach for Bloomberg Harvard 5 and 6, Innovation Training Program

Creative Reaction Lab educates, trains, and challenges Black and Latinx youth to become leaders designing healthy and racially equitable communities. Responsibilities:Creates the initial purpose and vision of Creative Reaction Lab, recruits founding board, and cultivates financial resources for sustainability. As President and CEO, responsible for the successful leadership, management, and growth of the organization according to the strategic direction set by the Board of Directors.

Previous Talks:Violence, Hate, and Broken Communities. Using Design to Challenge Injustices and Inequities. A People-Centered Dialogue: Transforming Lives with Design, Inclusion, and Civic EngagementFrom #Ferguson to Gun Violence: Transforming Lives with Design and Community EngagementPrototyping EquityVisual Communication: The Image of Community Activism and ChangeFrom Logos to Protest: Using Design to Start a Movement

The Design + Diversity conference explores proactive ways to make the design industry more diverse. This is the only conference that focuses on diversity issues in the design field. This event provides a platform for constructive conversation among those who design, innovate, and lead. We welcome the perspective of diversity and inclusion professionals, designers, and any active enthusiast.

Courses Taught:Strategic Digital Communication, Fall 2014 & Spring 2016Public Speaking, Summer 2016

Diversity Awareness Partnership, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is a catalyst to increase awareness, facilitate engagement and provide education about diversity and inclusion. Responsibilities:Managed the marketing and visual communication initiatives of Diversity Awareness Partnership. As the leader of Communications, responsible for the organization’s awareness campaigns, social media and content strategy development and implementation, organization and market research, public relations, social impact design and building community partnerships. Select Accomplishments:Remodeled and branded the DAP Connect individual giving membership program leading to a 75% increase in revenue.Created the advertising sales program with over $6K of revenue in the first year of rollout.Led the first online crowdfunding campaign exceeding goals by raising over $4K.Designed and launched citywide Listen. Talk. Learn. public awareness campaign in response to the Ferguson unrest.Expanded K-12 Diverse City Art Competition to Weekend Exhibition at the Regional Arts Commission.

Responsibilities:Corporate media and public relations representative for agency news, which includes writing press releases, pitching media, website content management and event assistance. Social Media Community Manager for all agency social accounts. Edited artwork mechanicals such as brochures, direct mail, websites and posters for all clients including AT&T small business unit, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and more. Select Accomplishments:Recognized as one of RT's exemplary employees in September 2012.Independently managed Eckert’s Farms’ and Nawgan Beverage‘s public relations efforts, an extension of service never provided in the agency’s 16 years of business. Increased agency’s creative recognition with media mentions in national publications such as Communications Arts and HOW Magazine, as well a local media outlets and industry blogs.Developed and managed social media promotion for agency and client, LouFest Music Festival, which led to an increase in online engagement; on the social platform of Facebook alone, weekly total reach increased by 484% and online conversations about the agency increased by 1500%.Initiated employee recognition program through national promotions and nominations.Social justice case study on agency’s partnership with non-profit Come Out Swinging (against Melanoma) was chosen for inclusion on national website aiga.org, hosted by AIGA: The Professional Association of Design.Developed Social Ambassadors program, whereas advertising and student community members provide candid mentions of agency in personal social accounts about events and agency work.Co-planned and promoted #RTFallForum 2012 (half-day advertising seminar and open house); attendance increased 68% from previous year.

MISSION STATEMENTAIGA St. Louis is a professional organization that promotes visual communications excellence and its value to the community.ABOUT THE AIGAAIGA, the professional association for communication design, is committed to furthering excellence in communication design as a broadly-defined discipline, strategic tool for business and cultural force.

Responsibilities:Designed all artwork for theatre productions and performing arts academy. Managed advertising and promotions sales, including product inventory management, supervision of advertising sales representatives, ad invoicing and ad designs. Managed organization’s online communications, such as website content management and e-blast creation, scheduling and distribution. Assisted Development Department in event communications and fundraising campaigns. Select Accomplishments:Co-created monthly e-communications platforms for STAGES Performing Arts Academy, targeting parents and donors.Assisted with repositioning and revision, including strategy and tactic development, of Academy course offerings, annual calendar, assessments and program outreach, leading to development of new courses and increase in retention.Exceeded sales projections for annual playbill as well as the Gala program, with over $70K in ad space sold in 2011.

Responsibilities:Conducted primary and secondary market research on property management and reserve studies competitors, as well as the internal DNI Properties image. After resignation of General Manager (immediate supervisor), assumed the role of Marketing Director for start-up companies within Gardner Companies portfolio of businesses.Select Accomplishments:Led brand development, including messaging, design, web development, and sales training, for start-up subsidiary businesses, Asset Guardians and Association Gateway. Repositioned and rebranded The Woods at Garden Walk apartments in Atlanta, Georgia. First direct mail campaign exceeded the entire previous campaign by 900% on the first day of launch alone.

The Katherine Dunham Fellowship Program was created by Sara and Jack Burke to give African Americans an opportunity to explore, gain experience in, and be mentored in the field of arts administration to help them find employment and achieve success working at cultural institutions.The purpose of the fellowship is 1) to provide opportunities for individuals who currently are under-represented in the field of arts administration to gain experience in a number of different arts adminsitration areas; and 2) to develop the pool of outstanding minority arts administration professionals.“Being named a Katherine Dunham Fellow is more than just a job. It is a network. It is an affirmation in the encouragement and promotion of cultural diversity within the arts. It is a lifelong honor. As a former Katherine Dunham intern, I have received ongoing support from not only the Regional Arts Commission and Sara and Jack Burke, but from the St. Louis arts community as a whole. This opportunity has instilled confidence in me and my future within the arts.”Responsibilities:Coordinated and managed annual grants submission process, including reviewing local grants applications and researching and writing national grant applications. Assisted marketing and gallery departments with event set-up, market research and gallery exhibition management. Initiated and developed preliminary plan for pilot arts administration networking program. Assumed role of lead graphic designer for all gallery exhibition collateral.

Marketing Assistant, Office of Undergraduate Admissions(June 2010 - January 2011)Judicial & Marketing Officer, Department of Student Affairs(June 2009 - May 2010)Advertising & Marketing Coordinator, Office of Student Life (University Program Board)(May 2008 - May 2009)Responsibilities:Led repositioning of Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Recruitment Services’ brand. Assisted Student Orientation Coordinator with marketing campaigns and rebranding efforts. Assessed university’s recruitment and retention of multicultural students. Co-initiated digital outreach program including blogging, Facebook, Twitter and website redesign. Managed monthly Student Affairs Department Faculty and Staff newsletter, including assuming the role of content manager and editor.Select Accomplishments:Co-initiated digital outreach program including blogging, Facebook, Twitter and website redesign. Initiated and developed social media presence for Admissions department. Co-developed new website frame and design for Admissions department. After departure, initial designs for Admissions were expanded to overall website design for entire university.Developed official university-wide Death of Student Protocol.