Linn Groft Email & Phone Number

Washington, Dc, Us

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Researched community equity endowments and other community equity investment models as a tool to promote socioeconomic & racial equity in Washington, DC; Assisted with research and dissemination of best practices for negotiating community benefit agreements (CBAs) in Washington, DC

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

- Prepared memoranda and staffed the Councilmember during the Budget approval process- Prepared legal memoranda on statutory issues

During the fall and spring semesters, Linn worked with a team to research the use of community benefits agreements (CBAs) in Washington, DC. CBAs are legally binding agreements in which developers commit to providing community benefits in exchange for community support of a proposed development project. Through her research, Linn identified numerous case studies where CBAs were used to mitigate the negative effects of development, such as by guaranteeing affordable housing units, and to bring new resources and amenities, such as childcare centers, to an affected neighborhood. Through more than two dozen interviews with ANCs, community advocates, and other practitioners in the District, Linn and her team developed a set of best practices for implementing these agreements as part of the development process in Washington, DC. She also conducted a workshop for ANCs on CBAs and developed a model CBA template for practitioners to use when drafting a CBA.

Birmingham, Alabama Area

Breakthrough Birmingham seeks to increase academic opportunity for highly motivated, underserved students and put them on the trajectory of a successful college path; and inspire and develop the next generation of teachers and educational leaders through our innovative 6 week summer program.

Birmingham, Alabama Area

• Managed a team of nine direct-reports and coordinate SaveFirst-related activities for 40+ AmeriCorps members/site coordinators• Oversaw volunteer coordination, community partnerships, logistics, and outreach/marketing for 22 tax sites across Alabama, 4 sites in Memphis TN, and pilot sites in Spartanburg SC and Tallahassee FL (2015-16)• Served more than 9,000 families (2014-15), helping them to secure more than $15.6 million in refunds and save approximately $2.6 million in commercial fees -- representing a 15% increase in number of families served compared to 2013-14 and a 39% increase compared to 2012-13• Launched successful Tennessee pilot site in Memphis -- serving more than 400 families, engaging more than 75 student volunteers, and developing two service-learning courses at area colleges in first year

Birmingham, Alabama

• Responsible for coordinating all video pre-production, production, and post-production of videos about the organization’s efforts and about the clients engaged in the organization’s initiatives• Directed shooting setup with professional camera gear and conducted quality, comprehensive interviews with clients and volunteers from various backgrounds• Primary organization photographer for events and promotional activities• Primary editor on videos for use on website and in promotional activities

Sawyerville Day Camp, Producer/Videographer/Editor June - August 2013• Filmed, edited, and produced a short film primarily for fundraising and promotional purposes that highlights the significance of the relationships developed at Sawyerville Day Camp and the cultural and socioeconomic importance of the program on young people in the areaBlackSmith, LLC, Consultant Videographer and Photographer June - October 2012• Produced, filmed, and edited a 5-minute recruitment video for Regions Financial Innovation Summer Internship• Produced, filmed, and edited a 3-minute video about the SummerQuest interactive financial excellence challenge, a partnership between Regions Financial and the City of BirminghamACLU of Northern California, Videographer/Photographer January - February 2012• Provided photography of the immigrant rights movement and videography for a series of videos on the impacts of the H.B. 56 anti-immigrant law in AlabamaDocumenting Justice (International): Program to study and produce short documentary films on social justice issuesThe Story of Beth and Mercy (Kenya) May 2009 – November 2009Fixing the Road (USA) December 2009 – April 2010You Must Be Something (Rwanda) June 2010 – November 2010• Interviewed, filmed, and edited with Final Cut Pro• Films have been screened locally, at the 12th annual international Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival (Birmingham, AL), and the 2011 Africa World Documentary Film Festival

The New College at the University of Alabama and the David Mathews Center for Civic Life have partnered to administer an internship program to provide students opportunities to do community-based research and to develop their skills in what is known as “coaching community capacity.” All of this is done in the interdisciplinary environment of the New College.

RWANDA, FHI: A global health and development organization that has operated in 125 countriesResearch Intern June 2010 – August 2010• Conducted semi-structured interviews with project participants and coordinators in order to produce a qualitative documentation of the cluster-based community engagement model utilized in the Regional Outreach to Address AIDS Development Strategies (ROADS II) projectKENYA, Hekima Place: Children’s home in Karen, Kenya, for 54 girls orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS Assistant Grant Writer, Assistant and Supervisor of Youth May 2009 – July 2009• Assisted in developing a grant proposal to solicit funding for organizational development and expansion• Helped supervise children's academic and recreational activities, and assisted youth with studiesGHANA, Field Studies in Africa, Alabama in Ghana Program: May 2008 - June 2008• Examined balancing the interactions between people and the environment in development• Researched the educational potential of computer and internet technology in Ghanaian schools

Collaborated to develop and compile a body of research on causes of the high school dropout rate in the state of Alabama and best practices to increase student engagement and achievement across the state.

Created, in coordination with a professor of economics, an economic model to research "The Economic Consequences of Foreign Aid and the Proliferation of Disease in Developing Countries";Conducted primary research on previous economic studies related to the topic;Set up preliminary equations using Microsoft Excel;Developed and orally delivered research poster and PowerPoint presentations.

Developed and managed a budget of over $15,000, a 600% increase over the previous year;Developed a funding proposal and two Annual Financial and Activity Reports;General co-coordinator and financial coordinator for 180-person banquet, various issue awareness campaigns, speakers, and film screenings;Awarded Best Student Organization, Foundations Award for educational outreach, and Gold Star Award by the UA Coordinating Council for Student Organizations;Awarded the Caritas Community Service Grant by the UA Community Service Center.

J.D.

Master Of Public Policy

Activities and Societies: McCourt Scholar, Policy Innovation Lab at the Baker Center

B.S., Interdisciplinary Studies: Global Studies In Community Health & Development

Activities and Societies: Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility Scholar, Computer Based Honors Program, University Honors Program.