As the Special Projects Strategist at Empowered, Celia guides organizations with her extensive experience in qualitative methodologies, policy research, policy writing, and organizational impact and effectiveness. Their work is grounded in LGBTQ+ and feminist praxis, community-centered design, and systems thinking.Notable Projects:🌟Evaluation of Denver Public Schools' Community Engagement process, approach, and methodology with recommendations for future studies and capacity… Show more As the Special Projects Strategist at Empowered, Celia guides organizations with her extensive experience in qualitative methodologies, policy research, policy writing, and organizational impact and effectiveness. Their work is grounded in LGBTQ+ and feminist praxis, community-centered design, and systems thinking.Notable Projects:🌟Evaluation of Denver Public Schools' Community Engagement process, approach, and methodology with recommendations for future studies and capacity building🌟Develop a series of focus groups to evaluate and inform the Butterfly Pavilion's cross-organizational work around diversity, equity, inclusion, and access🌟Identify key development and programmatic grants for organizations across arts and education sectorsOngoing:🌟Project Lead supporting the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts (CBCA) develop a community-informed Policy Framework to guide state-level advocacy, lobbying priorities, and change for creative industries Show less

DPL's Strategy and Evaluation Department is on the cutting edge of community and data informed decision making for public libraries. In this role, Celia is developing on-demand tools for staff to understand 'Backwards Design' of programs and policies, designing mixed methods evaluations (focus groups, interviews, surveys, observations) utilizing the 'Equitable Evaluation Framework,' and authoring reports to enable data-informed decision making. Her role focuses on equity, diversity, and… Show more DPL's Strategy and Evaluation Department is on the cutting edge of community and data informed decision making for public libraries. In this role, Celia is developing on-demand tools for staff to understand 'Backwards Design' of programs and policies, designing mixed methods evaluations (focus groups, interviews, surveys, observations) utilizing the 'Equitable Evaluation Framework,' and authoring reports to enable data-informed decision making. Her role focuses on equity, diversity, and inclusion in library practices, policies, and spaces by prioritizing evaluation projects that are community informed, impact Denver's most vulnerable residents, and build organizational capacity to support staff and customers.Notable Projects:🌟Designing a "Youth Spaces Evaluation Checklist" to understand space design, it's alignment to best practices, and how to prioritize investment in these spaces🌟Co-developing a series of Executive Retreats to update the library's service model and guide a reorganization process, resulting in a new organization-wide "Service Philosophy"🌟Supporting an evaluation of the "Plaza Program for Immigrants and Refugees" to understand the programs' impact on participants connecting with and learning from each other🌟Designing survey-based evaluations of internal trainings for staff including a program to bolster staff understanding of fostering positive interactions with youth 🌟Researching, conducting, and creating tools to improve equitable evaluation capacity on the team and across the organization Show less

As a research intern at NYU’s Education Justice Research and Organizing Collaborative (EJ-ROC), Celia studied healing-centered schools, ethnic studies, critical race theory, and culturally responsive education policies and practices by collaborating with partners, authoring memos, and developing frameworks. Her key project observed "attacks on critical race theory (CRT)" through tracking media, analyzing local organizing efforts against culturally responsive schools, researching dark money… Show more As a research intern at NYU’s Education Justice Research and Organizing Collaborative (EJ-ROC), Celia studied healing-centered schools, ethnic studies, critical race theory, and culturally responsive education policies and practices by collaborating with partners, authoring memos, and developing frameworks. Her key project observed "attacks on critical race theory (CRT)" through tracking media, analyzing local organizing efforts against culturally responsive schools, researching dark money funding, and monitoring state/local policy initiatives. This monitoring included a state-by-state comparison of “Divisive Concepts” policies which informed Celia's writing of a sample state policy and BOE resolution in support of culturally responsive education.Notable Projects:🌟Partnered with African American Policy Forum (AAPF) K-12 Working Group to coordinate response to attacks on CRT🌟Co-authored and graphic designed an "Organizing Toolkit" in response to attacks on CRT. Kit included a media guide, talking points, sample state policy and BOE resolution, culturally responsive policy demands, and guidance on running for school board🌟Consulted on Bronx Legal Services’ "Healing-Centered ELA and Art Policy Recommendations" for NYC DOE🌟Analyzed COVID relief fund fed/state allocation to CRE, mental health support, and learning loss programs Show less

As an Organizing Fellow, Celia directed relational organizing for Hamilton and Fulton counties for Tedra Cobb's Congressional bid against Elise Stefanik 🌟Recruited, trained, and managed a team of 30+ grassroots volunteers to enable relational organizing efforts 🌟Coached volunteers on talking points and communicating with flip voters utilizing self-authored documents 🌟Authored policy and congressional track-record fact sheets for volunteers across NY's North Country🌟Managed… Show more As an Organizing Fellow, Celia directed relational organizing for Hamilton and Fulton counties for Tedra Cobb's Congressional bid against Elise Stefanik 🌟Recruited, trained, and managed a team of 30+ grassroots volunteers to enable relational organizing efforts 🌟Coached volunteers on talking points and communicating with flip voters utilizing self-authored documents 🌟Authored policy and congressional track-record fact sheets for volunteers across NY's North Country🌟Managed VAN database growing contacts by 500+ people Show less

As a Political Intern and Advocate, Celia staffed hearings and conducted research on bills related to contraception in schools, community schools, child-care assistance, gun control, women’s incarceration, sliding scale pre-K, and sex-based violence in the military. Celia notably provided expert testimony on diversifying State House art collections that was readily adopted. As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded during her role, Celia pivoted to understanding peer commissions' approach to navigating… Show more As a Political Intern and Advocate, Celia staffed hearings and conducted research on bills related to contraception in schools, community schools, child-care assistance, gun control, women’s incarceration, sliding scale pre-K, and sex-based violence in the military. Celia notably provided expert testimony on diversifying State House art collections that was readily adopted. As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded during her role, Celia pivoted to understanding peer commissions' approach to navigating pandemic policymaking and supporting women and children in the United States. Show less

Political Intern for People for the American Way's NEXT UP and Latinos Votes! campaigns. 🌟Identified key state/local candidates for PAC investment, by evaluating their education, policing, and healthcare platforms🌟Pioneered a Google Sheets database to track elections and candidates across two dozen states🌟Developed independent expenditure plans utilizing demographics/polling to inform the allocation of resources to flip FL and VA State Senate/House seats including messaging… Show more Political Intern for People for the American Way's NEXT UP and Latinos Votes! campaigns. 🌟Identified key state/local candidates for PAC investment, by evaluating their education, policing, and healthcare platforms🌟Pioneered a Google Sheets database to track elections and candidates across two dozen states🌟Developed independent expenditure plans utilizing demographics/polling to inform the allocation of resources to flip FL and VA State Senate/House seats including messaging strategy for TV, radio, and digital🌟Acted as an event manager for the "Young Elected Officials" conference including keynote support, event planning, and coordination Show less

As a Municipal Research Assistant for Bert Johnson (PhD), Celia located, web scrapped, and data managed municipal minutes for local policymaking institutions across the United States for use in ongoing research about impacts of campaign finance, federalism, and state and local politics.

In the Office of the Ulster County Executive, Celia supported the work of County Executive, Michael Hein, through community engagement, research, and messaging management. 🌟Authored policy memos on local infrastructure, education, and sustainability plans🌟Drafted press releases, newsletters and legislative documents for county-wide distribution🌟Utilized Sales Force to manage and support local business diversification with a focus on resources for first time business owners… Show more In the Office of the Ulster County Executive, Celia supported the work of County Executive, Michael Hein, through community engagement, research, and messaging management. 🌟Authored policy memos on local infrastructure, education, and sustainability plans🌟Drafted press releases, newsletters and legislative documents for county-wide distribution🌟Utilized Sales Force to manage and support local business diversification with a focus on resources for first time business owners 🌟Managed tourism initiative for NYC-based companies investing in upstate satellite locations to encourage investment in local businesses and outdoor engagement Show less

In a self-directed and imposed high school internship, Celia supported the work of the Ulster County Public Defenders Office as a defacto-paralegal to MariAnn Connolly, Assistant Public Defender.🌟Attended meetings with county judge and authoring memos in support of two successful petitions for penalty reduction🌟Prepared memos to outline precedent for working cases (i.e. homicide, assault, possession etc.) by utilizing Westlaw 🌟Prepped key witnesses in numerous felony cases… Show more In a self-directed and imposed high school internship, Celia supported the work of the Ulster County Public Defenders Office as a defacto-paralegal to MariAnn Connolly, Assistant Public Defender.🌟Attended meetings with county judge and authoring memos in support of two successful petitions for penalty reduction🌟Prepared memos to outline precedent for working cases (i.e. homicide, assault, possession etc.) by utilizing Westlaw 🌟Prepped key witnesses in numerous felony cases 🌟Crafted lines of questioning utilized by the Assistant P.D.🌟Developed case timelines for presentation in court based on evidence and informant interviews🌟Managed front-office responsibilities: fielding phone calls; scheduling court appearances; crafting cover letters Show less