Working at Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Worked at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture researching, writing and proofreading online, following AP and NMAAHC style and accessibility guidelines. Also, analyzed analytics data to learn how online visitors interact with the museum's flagship site. Also, as a project liaison, coordinated tasks across the offices for projects that aligned with the museum's priorities and maintained open communication with chief internal stakeholders.

* Researched, edited and created web content, white papers, blog posts, news articles, press kits, reports and other correspondence for senior management, nonprofits and news organizations.* Lead media outreach, managed intern projects, and performed different administrative tasks.

Taught high school course in a D.C. public high school and a D.C. public charter school focused on community health storytelling with particular focus on social determinants of health and health disparities. Maintained the nonprofit organization’s website. Co-facilitated journalism workshop focused on trauma in the fall 2020. Also, worked on a collaboration between UHMP journalists, students from a D.C. public charter school, and Georgetown University public health graduate students.

- Provided non-medical home care service to a disabled parent - Created schedule based on their developmental needs- Delivered daily living assistance- Translated medical terminology into easy-to-understand language that aided compliance to a multi-area, multi-agency care plan.

* Interviewed in English and Spanish residents of every household that had not responded via the online or paper forms to collect Census information. Explained the purpose of the survey, assisted respondents complete the questionnaire, and verified data required for current, ongoing surveys, one-time surveys, and special censuses.* Brought my relevant language skills and cultural familiarity particularly in hard-to-reach communities.* Maintained and submitted records of hours worked, miles driven, and expenses incurred on the job.* Met with supervisor to review procedures, report issues or concerns, and receive updated instructions.* Attended team meetings and communicate with other Census takers via phone.

* Visited assigned neighborhoods and knocked on doors of households in preparation for the 2020 Census* Interviewed business owners and residents in assigned areas, explaining the purpose of the Census, answered their questions, and recorded their answers* Used devices provided by the Census to record information* Maintained and submitted records of hours worked, miles driven, and expenses incurred on the job* Met with supervisor to review procedures, reported issues or concerns, and received updated instructions

* Lead strategic initiatives and delivered recommendations for developing user-centered content.* Researched, synthesized, and designed data to define problems and propose solutions.* Worked closely with others to accomplish shared goals and build strong working relationships. * Provided mentorship to the entire 18F team, displaying empathy toward colleagues, partners, and the public to guide their research and content creation workflows. Coached clients, colleagues, or partners through the design process to ensure consistent high-quality content.* Prepared, wrote, designed, distributed, or (assisted in the creation, production, and release of) factsheets, newsletters, playbooks, and compliance documentation related to specific projects, guides, best practices and other written instructions composed in a plain language way. * Built relationships within GSA, with other agencies, with industry, and the tech community on behalf of TTS/18F through informational meetings, interviews, and conferences.* Conducted research, design, and prototyping exercises with methods including cardsorting, treejack testing, usability testing, wireframes, sitemaps, journey maps, or A/B testing.* Served as a content lead and critique group leader, facilitating weekly one-on-one and team critique sessions, conducting design training presentations with clients from other agencies.* Managed internal project to create, print, and distribute a collection of research and design practices to help product teams such as our partners and clients within the federal government, state-level agencies practicing user-centered design, startups and businesses everywhere, and people interested in learning these techniques.* Leadership roles: content guild co-lead, a chief contributor to the diversity guild, and a content lead* Projects included working with FEC, USCIS, the State Department, the White House, OPM, USCIS, Railroad Retirement Board, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Worked several weeks to help define and execute an outreach, recruitment, and communications strategy to attract applicants for the prestigious White House Presidential Innovation Fellows program's fall cohort. Drawing upon a recent detail on diversity and inclusion issues, I worked with internal human resources personnel, the Office of Strategic Communications as well as colleagues who are subject matters to ensure that we cast as wide a net to appeal to as many diverse candidates as possible. More than 400 people applied between late spring and early summer for the program.

* Analyzed diversity data and hiring flexibilities to ensure that outreach and recruitment strategies are designed to draw from all segments of society, including those who are underrepresented.* Monitored mission-critical roles and supervisor positions for under-representation and affected positive change due to an understanding of subtle and complex diversity and inclusion issues including those covered by the legally protected basis of race, sex, color, age, national origin, religion, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital and parental status, and genetic information.* Advised supervisors in recruitment activities and ensured that outreach efforts are effective in addressing barriers to diversity.* Consulted with employee affinity/resource groups to raise awareness and demonstrate our commitment to a diverse workplace, to help these groups access 18F senior leadership, and to identify opportunities for collaboration on diversity and inclusion initiatives across TTS.

Despite a very broad mandate, I developed and built consensus around an actionable strategy for achieving organizational priorities such as recruiting diverse new hires and improving the equity of promotions processes. I worked closely with 18F׳s Talent team and Senior Management Team to review internal promotion procedures, maintain a focus on hiring diverse candidates, and improve the depth of understanding of diversity and inclusion issues on the senior management team.I undertook research to compare 18F efforts with industry best practices by interviewing leaders of successful initiatives. The research took a level of initiative and time commitment beyond what was originally expected for the Senior Advisor role.Due to the research and strategic advising, the Talent Team was able to avoid costly tactical efforts that were unlikely to succeed based on comparative research. Talent created a formal feedback loop for hiring managers to provide feedback about whether appropriate efforts were made to reach diverse candidates — and modifying performance plans to reflect that feedback. This helped bring 18F more in line with industry leaders and focus on high-value strategies that are more likely to succeed.

* Developed and curated digital content to further Children’s mission, vision, and strategic plan. * Shared the public relations and marketing department’s work through event speaking, social media, and other external activities — and encouraged our team to participate.* Wrote, edited, and promoted press releases, guides, specialty webpages, blog posts, and other web, social, email content, images, video and activities associated with digital.* Organized and structured complex information to help diverse audiences locally, nationally, and internationally easily and quickly and efficiently find what they need. * Helped redesign the internationally recognized health system’s website, portals, and other digital tools used by physicians, researchers, residents, and clinical departments.

* Evaluated preliminary drafts and offered suggestions to contributing writers on presentation of subject matter and visuals for target audiences.* Edited complex stories, columns and blog posts to make them fair, balanced and accurate, and optimized content for print and digital presentation.* Coordinated with management team, editors, reporters, and photographers to conceive, assign, edit and digitally produce religious news for print and digital presentation.* Managed a team of columnists and other contributors; coordinated with other editors, reporters, photographers and graphic artists to maintain religious coverage in print and online.* Handled 100 percent of the department’s 100+ weekly calls and daily emails associated with religion.

* Selected stories to promote, wrote headlines and summaries, monitored wires, created galleries, and alerted breaking news while coordinating with editors, reporters, and photographers.* Edited the tablet and mobile apps, edited stories and blog posts, and updated social media accounts.* Analyzed traffic data for readership trends and helped troubleshoot tech issues.* Demonstrated ability to effectively manage and coordinate in a fast-moving newsroom.* Wrote blog posts and filed stories for local and religion sections.

* Created photo galleries, edited foreign copy, monitored wires, and updated the tablet and mobile apps.* Wrote headlines and summaries for content displayed on the digital platforms, monitored site traffic, sent breaking news alerts, and shared content on social media.* Demonstrated strong technical skills and an ability to work calmly but quickly on fast-breaking stories.* Developed digital audiences, displayed good communication skills and a passion for local, national and international news/features/sports and anything else of keen interest to readers.* Conceptualized stories and blog posts, and the appropriate packaging with strong emphasis on digital strategies and priorities.

* Created and monitored discussion threads organized by topic, interests and faith traditions.* Responded to reader concerns and reported issues to technical support.

* Composed blog posts, created specialty webpages, and promoted content through social media.* Managed multiple duties under strict deadlines, met or exceeded performance goals.* Participated special projects on a weekly basis, working with minimal supervision.

* Created video via iPhone and other mobile devices and promoted content on social media.* Created, edited, and updated videos, stories, and images for the station’s website.* Edited broadcast scripts for online stories posted before, during and after four daily newscasts.* Trained interns and fellow colleagues on newsroom software and reviewed their work.

* Served as the authority on diverse communities of faith and their corporate enterprises including publishing houses and other interests in the region, state, country, and the world.* Spearheaded coverage of breaking news, features, and special reports on various communities.* Managed multiple duties/efforts while anticipating multiple stakeholders’ complaints

* Covered diverse communities of faith and various spiritual paths throughout East Tennessee, southern Virginia, parts of North Carolina and Kentucky.* Secured a Kaiser Family Foundation grant with two colleagues to study HIV/AIDS in Appalachia.

Taught basic newswriting and editing courses to junior and senior communication majors as well as a course on the history of the black press spanning pre-Civil War through the 1960s.

* Covered the police beat, then covered four rural communities, before writing about religion.* Communicated with people outside the organization and represented the newspaper to customers, the public, government and other external sources.

As an undergrad, I interned during different semesters and summers at the Observer. Also, wrote for Reuters News Service in Charlotte, N.C.; the Hispanic Link News Service in Washington, D.C.; and Community Pride magazine, which targeted Charlotte’s middle-class African-American community.

Wrote briefs, stories about issues, institutions and individuals for the Washington-based operation.

As an undergrad, I interned during different semesters and summers at the Charlotte Observer. Also, wrote for Reuters News Service in Charlotte, N.C.; the Hispanic Link News Service in Washington, D.C.; and Community Pride magazine, which targeted Charlotte’s middle-class African-American community.