April Messenger Email & Phone Number

Olympia, Wa, Us

Connecting parents and caregivers, childcare providers and businesses in Thurston, Grays Harbor, Mason, Kitsap, Jefferson and Clallam Counties to the Universal Access and Living Wages Campaign to transform Washington’s child care system. I am excited to get started on this next chapter!

•Successfully led campaigns increasing compensation for ECEAP providers by 17%, creation of a Tribal Early Learning Fund of $7 million, Lived Experience Compensation and Guidelines creation, Changes to Head Start Eligibility to include SNAP, the Fair Start for Kids Act investment of $1.1 billion for early learning and support of many community centric campaigns affecting low-income children and families, including TANF, housing, Early Learning, school readiness, special education, and childcare.•Oversaw the development and implementation of a comprehensive family civic engagement framework, encompassing communications, leadership development, legislative advocacy, and grassroots organizing at the state and national levels.•Cultivated and maintained strong partnerships with state, local, and federal stakeholders to foster best practices in parent and family engagement.Actively participated in learning communities and partnerships at the state and national levels, contributing to knowledge sharing and collaborative efforts.•Devised and implemented effective advocacy, communications, and mobilization strategies to expand access to high-quality Pre-K, enhance teacher compensation, improve childcare access, and promote poverty reduction programs.•Played a pivotal role in the Parent Ambassador program, serving as a communications, mobilization, and government relations specialist.•Collaborated closely with the Executive and Deputy Directors to track, analyze, and inform policy options and best practices related to parent engagement at the policy level.•Partnered with staff to develop and execute advocacy strategies that aligned with policy and investment priorities.•Crafted and disseminated compelling written materials to advance key initiatives.•Managed funder relations, grant reporting, and presentations, ensuring transparency and accountability.•Built formal structures into the Parent Ambassadors Program including syllabus, materials, and regular meetings;

Seattle, Washington, United States

Manage advocacy opportunities and operations for the Early Learning Action Alliance, a broad, diverse group of over 70 organizations statewide who have early learning as a priority. Advocate for accessible, affordable, inclusive early learning opportunities to make sure all children thrive and are ready for kindergarten. Advocating for policies that are racially equitable for all children especially those furthest from opportunity.

Seattle, Wa

Olympia, Wa

Greater Seattle Area

Olympia, Wa

Coordinator for the WSA Parent Ambassador program. Guided and helped parents go through an extensive year long advocacy training program where low income parents learn the basics of government, about specific pieces of legislation, how to contact their lawmakers, how to provide effective testimony, and how to engage parents in their community. Provided training on important leadership skills - communications, goal-setting, conflict management, etc - that enable them to be more effective leaders and advocates. Traveled nation-wide to co-present this model to other Head Start agencies and parents.

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Public Policy Analysis And State Government

Project Management

Bachelor Of Business Administration - Bba

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Political Science And Government