Patty Larson Email and Phone Number

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: •Organizational development (strategic planning, board development, fundraising planning)•Grant research/writing•Community needs analsis/organizing•Program design/management/evaluationTARGET AUDIENCE: Nonprofits and government agencies serving low-income communities, particularly immigrants and refugees.CLIENTS:• Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy (MCAEL), Rockville, MD (2018-present) Community ESOL Learning Group Initiative (design, launch & evaluation); Program Coordinator, Workplace ESOL Pilot Program • Faith Community Advisory Council, County Executive Office of Community Partnership, Montgomery County, (2015-2018) Engaged and supported 30+ faith communities in sponsoring refugees. Developed guidebook, "How Faith Communities in Montgomery County Can Welcome Our New Neighbors" and other resources; designed and implemented tutor training workshops; did extensive research on refugee housing options.• Latino Childcare Association of Maryland, Silver Spring, MD (2016-2018). Facilitates 3-year strategic planning process; trained board in grant preparation, resulting in grant award; designed/taught ESOL for Child Care classes for members.• Prince Georges County MD SPCA/Humane Society, Forestville, MD (2015) Facilitated comprehensive strategic planning process.• No One Left Behind (national organization to resettle U.S. government Afghan and Iraqi interpreters), Alexandria, VA (2014-2015) Conducted grant research & writing.• Montgomery County Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center, Wheaton, MD (2012-2014) established new office and programs at Gaithersburg Library, produced marketing video; developed ESOL Conversation Resource Book.• International Rescue Committee (IRC), Silver Spring, MD (2013) Conducted marketing campaign for immigration services program; developed corporate partnership with JW Marriott Hotel and provided citizenship application assistance to hotel employees.

Coordinated ESL program for adult refugees from three resettlement agencies (International Rescue Committee, Lutheran Social Services and Ethiopian Community Development Council). Managed six classes at three levels. Conducted testing and placement for 30+ refugee clients per month using CASAS testing.Taught Advanced ESL for Life and Work. Provided intensive career counseling to students. Wrote program reports for funding organizations.

Coordinated ESL program for adult refugees from three resettlement agencies (International Rescue Committee, Lutheran Social Services and Ethiopian Community Development Council). Managed six classes at three levels. Conducted ESL testing and placement for 30+ refugee clients per month using CASAS testing.

• Overview: Doubled size of Upcounty regional program, significantly increased visibility, improved quality of the English as a Second Language (ESL), citizenship preparation, civic engagement and legal aid programs, serving immigrants from around the world. Created a welcoming environment for all.• Citizenship: Established program to assist an average of 25 people per month to prepare and submit their citizenship applications, prepare for the examination and obtain legal advice; co-created 9-week citizenship preparation class; over 60 clients became citizens.• Civic Engagement: Co-designed, co-taught and refined pilot civic engagement class held four times in three regions in Montgomery County; other organizations now using this as a model.• ESL: Played central role in evaluating and re-designing ESL program, including researching best practices, organizing teacher training, and refining curriculum, in partnership with the Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy (MCAEL).• Communications: Developed and implemented strategies that broadened the constituency and generated new partnerships, through public events, local media and new materials.• Volunteer management: Recruited, oriented and managed over 30 volunteer instructors, program and administrative volunteers and paid interns. • Partnership development: Maintained and developed productive relationships with numerous partner organizations, including Casa de Maryland, the Literacy Council, Catholic Charities, the Montgomery County Bar Foundation, and Montgomery College.

Clients:• Caribbean Help Center (CHC), a Montgomery County non-profit that provides education, counseling and other services to French-speaking Caribbean immigrants (largely Haitians) to improve their livelihoods. Conduct fundraising research and write grant proposals; teach English as a Second Language. • Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management, Strategic Planning Coordinator, County Animal Response Team (CART). Coordinated effort to establish CART, working with team of government and non-profit emergency management organizations and volunteers

• Coordinated efforts of three regional Watershed Teams - citizen advisory groups composed of local government, non-governmental organizations, agriculture, and citizen representatives working to restore water quality. • Facilitated education, outreach and advocacy initiatives on nutrient reduction issues, including storm water management and agriculture run-off. • Built and maintained strong and diverse team membership.

Coordinated six district leaders to build broad-based voter support throughout the county, resulting in a solid victory. Recruited and managed dozens of highly-motivated volunteers. Organized well-attended candidate events and fundraisers.

*Managed training and organizational development programs for grassroots environmental and environmental justice organizations throughout the U.S. *Provided small grants and consultation to over 600 grassroots organizations.*Served on senior management team to address strategic direction, organizational change, budgeting, staffing and fundraising.

*Provided long-term management and technical assistance on social, economic and political issues in over 10 community-based natural resource management projects, with a concentration in Uganda, Zambia and Papua New Guinea. *Conceptualized and managed a global peer learning initiative for projects in eight countries; co-authored a book of case studies on best practices and action recommendations. *Led a two-year effort on participatory evaluation; designed evaluation systems; conducted evaluations; co-authored a widely-used training manual.

Developed and managed community and organizational development projects focused on women's empowerment, primarily in Senegal.

Coordinated public policy initiatives of the organization, working with a committee of 30 key international voluntary non-profits. Helped develop and advance public policy agenda on foreign aid funding and non-profit issues.

Organized campaigns in Iowa (where Hart placed second), and Montana, Utah and Idaho where Hart was victor. Recruited and managed local volunteers. Opened field offices. Conducted campaign activities.

Co-managed, with Haitian counter-part, nation-wide program, that included maternal-child health, agriculture, drinking water, vocational education and $1 million food distribution programs (nutrition clinics, school lunch and food for work programs) with staff of 80 people.

Conducted issues research, tracked legislation, and made policy recommendations, especially on foreign policy. Responded to constituent correspondence.