Leslie Mackenzie Email & Phone Number

May Township

I provide all-around support for the work of a teaching farm program that is part of The Food Group, MN. Big River Farms provides education and affordable land access to new and BIPOC farmers who are learning the skill of organic farming. This pulls together several of my favorite things: organizing, education, growing food, and building community.

Twin Cities, Minnesota

My goal is to build the capacity of Transition groups in the Twin Cities to help their community reduce its carbon footprint (climate mitigation) and prepare for a changing climate (climate adaptation). I maintain the transitiontwincities.org website and Facebook communities, help existing Twin Cities transition groups communicate and coordinate with one another, and help new groups form. I am a public speaker, writer, blogger, and a co-organizers of the 1st National Transition Gathering, held here in the Twin Cities. I have worked with Transition US in several capacities.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

I write search-optimized content for law firms, for-profit and non-profit companies, community groups and others. I analyze websites to identify user experience problems and missed marketing opportunities, consult with clients on website usability and search optimization. I am also a news reporter for The Country Messenger.

Minneapolis

I co-founded Transition Longfellow, a neighborhood sustainability group, in 2011. A network, not a membership organization, it has expanded its outreach from 4 to 750 since its founding. I serve on the steering committee, organizing and implement activities that help people take personal and collective action for sustainable change. I created and maintain the group's website and Facebook page, e-newsletter, give speeches to church and school groups, table at events, and facilitate discussion groups on permaculture, sustainable finances, personal power down, the sharing economy, and personal change efforts. I blog on sustainability topics at www.Thinkofitasanadventure.com.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Dance creates joy, improves health and builds community! I promoted the activities of the center by managing its web presence (website, facebook, twitter, pinterest), writing press releases, media queries, brand mgmt in products and with the facility, video mgmt. I also managed facility rental scheduling and contracts.

Eagan, Mn

In 2011, I was promoted to work with a select group of top law firm accounts. I analyzed existing web content and structure, wrote and revised search-optimized marketing content, wrote syndicated current event and legal articles, press releases, blogs and tweets to meet the marketing goals of my clients.

Eagan, Minnesota

Beginning as a contact writer, I wrote search-optimized marketing content for legal websites. I was hired after 6 months and at 1 year I was assigned a special project that combined writing and web development. At the conclusion of that project I was transferred to a growing team that assessed site performance and provided additional content. I was promoted to senior writer. • I wrote criminal content for www.dennerpellegrino.com, one of ten official honorees in the Webby Awards and winner of the Legal Standard of Excellence in 2007• I reviewed existing websites from the perspective of usability, conversion and traffic and proposed improvement and growth strategies• I trained new writers on interviewing techniques, website usability, and proprietary web development software• I mentored struggling writers and provided review for new and freelance writers

Minneapolis, Mn

I wrote grants, prepared annual reports and marketing pieces, advised nonprofits on website best practices and on web strategies to increase membership and improve fundraising. Clients included District 202, Junior Achievement, aMaze, Center for New Americans, Rainbow Families, and Rose Fund Development.

Minneapolis, Mn

The challenges of fundraising for this nonprofit teen center included involving teens in the work of fundraising for their own center and implementing a new donor management system with online donor communication capabilities. I was responsible for grant writing, individual donor campaigns, and special events. With a small team of volunteers we implemented 6 events in less than a year, meeting the stretch goal.

Minneapolis, Mn

Life's Missing Link was a truancy intervention and family support program. In addition to raising funds for these programs, I worked with a team to secure $4.6 million in funding to build a new young adult housing facility, the Lindquist Apartments. I secured all operating funds for the first year of services before ground was broken. I was responsible for foundation grants and government contracts, program reports, the individual donor campaign, and organizational communications.

Minneapolis, Mn

The homeless shelter had not had a development position for some time so part of my job was reorganizing the fundraising office and installing a new donor database. I was responsible for foundation grant writing, government contracts, and individual donor appeals. I developed a partnership initiative for church partners and worked on communication strategies.

Minneapolis, Mn

I fulfilled a wide range of roles in this unique nonprofit that engaged the public and the media in dialogue and conflict resolution when a member of the public complained about the journalism ethics of a print or broadcast news story:- Programs: I developed and implemented ethics programs, public forums, and a mock hearing program for high school and college students; I worked with a colleague to compile and edit a media ethics casebook.- Print Communications: I designed and wrote or edited print publications, and developed and maintained extensive research-oriented website and managed agency’s online visibility.- Public Speaking: I spoke to college and high school classes, civic groups, international journalists, and convention attendees. - Fundraising: I worked with a small team to execute fundraising appeals; I wrote grant applications that saw our funding increase from $90,000 to $250,000.- Administration: I managed the office, did bookkeeping, HR functions, staff training and supervision- Special Projects: I Initiated and coordinated a two-year organizational review/strategic planning process that, after I left, resulted in the addition of mediation services.

Minneapolis, Mn

In this 2-person shop, I wrote articles, columns, and book reviews for a national magazine for adoptive parents. I solicited articles and edited submissions; designed and laid out magazine using desktop publishing tools; created ads, managed photo shoots, and managed the printing bid process.

St. Paul, Mn

Freelance work as a writer, editor, proofreader, and desktop publisher for scholarly, academic and professional publishers, a local newspaper and national magazines. Clients included ACM, Deaconess Press, West Publishing, Hospice Journal, Family Daycaring, St. Paul Pioneer Press. Editor/advisor to non-native English speaking professors and graduate students submitting technical articles to American professional journals.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

I managed the workflow of three graphic designers; handled trafficking of 120 ancillary publications through the production process; secured bids and assigned work to outside contractors; drafted specs to convert 4-color textbook covers into 1- and 2-color cover art for ancillary products.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Managing Editor for two quarterly scholarly journals (MIS Quarterly and DATA BASE), responsible for editing and proofreading, layout and the bid process. I managed the peer review process and produced quarterly financial reports. Editor of the Proceedings of ICIS (professional conference) for two years.

Marts, Master Of Arts In Religious And Theological Study

Certificate, Fundraising

Fundraising certificate program at the Center for Nonprofit Management.

Bachelor Of Individualized Study, Public Relations For Health Care Organizations

Activities and Societies: Vice President, Public Relations Student Society of America Minors in journalism, public speaking, public.