Sara Williams Email & Phone Number

Los Angeles, Ca, Us

Greater Los Angeles, California, United States

Lead communications and marketing department for nonprofit that finances, builds, and operates affordable housing across California.Develop and implement communications and marketing strategies and campaigns, working closely with senior leadership to drive positive results in brand awareness, advocacy, education, and community engagement.Serve as lead spokesperson and manage media relations for various business units, developing press releases, monitoring coverage, and creating crisis communications plans. Secured placements in key national, local, and industry outlets.Create content, including social media posts, newsletters, reports, videos, photography, and brochures, and manage communications channels, such as social media and company websites. Oversee redesign of company websites and manage vendor relationships (including filmmaker and web developer).Strengthen relationships with key stakeholders—industry partners, government agencies, community members, and clients—and organize and execute events and campaigns, including launch of high-profile public-private partnership and statewide advocacy efforts.Provide strategic communications counsel and support for senior leadership and board members, including media training and speechwriting.Establish streamlined processes and improved procedures to enhance cross-departmental collaboration and content development.

Greater Los Angeles, California, United States

Los Angeles County, California, United States

Competitively selected to be a part of the 2023 Housing & Houselessness Leadership Network (HHLN) program, a leadership development program for professionals working within and across the issues of housing and homelessness in Los Angeles County. The HHLN program provides professionals with enhanced leadership and management skills, creates spaces to practice professional growth, and develops meaningful networks to expand the participants’ capacity for impact. Across four-months, I learned from 1) peer coaching, 2) experienced leadership facilitators, and 3) the broader Coro and regional community through Coro’s unique blend of experiential programming. The curriculum included a wide range of professional skills-building, such as Adaptive Leadership, DEIB and Anti-Racism frameworks, Effective Communication and Advocacy, Effective Inquiry and Critical Thinking, Giving and Receiving Feedback, Human Centered Design, Interpersonal Leadership Styles™, Managing Diverse Teams, Project Management tools, Public Narrative frameworks, Self-Awareness and Self-Management tools, and Stakeholder Analysis and Coalition Building, among others. I am now a part of the broader Coro alumni community that includes over 11,000 alumni nationwide, spanning sectors, industries, experiences, and backgrounds, all eager to make an impact in our communities, teams, organizations, and in each other.

Greater Los Angeles, California, United States

Oversaw strategic communications, marketing, and branding for nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services for 100,000+ people living in poverty annually. Led and executed campaigns and projects in close collaboration with internal teams across 12 regional offices, as well as partners and other stakeholders.Expanded media outreach through cultivation of relationships with press contacts, and secured regular placements in mainstream and ethnic media, including CBS National News, Univision Noticias, Los Angeles Times, People Magazine, The Guardian, NPR. Secured 100+ earned media placements in 2020 alone.Managed and produced content in multiple languages for all digital properties (website, social media, emails). Expanded audience size by 250K% on Instagram (launched account), 150% on LinkedIn, 125% on Twitter, and 80% on Facebook. Increased email open rate by 92% and web traffic by 77%.Oversaw marketing and branding campaigns, including development and launch of new website, creation of new logo and tagline, and production of marketing materials. Created and disseminated various publications, such as new informational brochure (with translations in multiple languages) and first-ever digital annual report.Led production of videos for annual gala in conjunction with professional filmmakers. Identified video subjects, developed narratives, scheduled interviews and shoots, and provided feedback during post-production phase. Also regularly produced videos for social media channels and website.Managed marketing coordinator and multiple contractors who provided creative services and web support (graphic designer, web developer, filmmakers, and photographers).Planned, organized, and executed events in conjunction with executive, development, and legal teams, including annual gala; multi-day symposium in honor of 90th anniversary; virtual webinars and trainings; and community engagement events.

Greater Los Angeles, California, United States

Led digital efforts for communications and marketing team at the nation's second-largest Girl Scouts council, with 70,000+ members (girls and volunteers) and eight regional offices, selected as "best large nonprofit" by LA Business Journal in 2016. Developed and implemented external and internal campaigns, leading to organizational successes such as most successful Girl Scout Cookie season in history. Managed and created content across all digital channels (social media, blog, website, newsletters), and launched presence on new platforms. Supported transition to new web platform and case management system. Wrote and edited press releases and other media materials (including crisis situation responses), and provided media training for members. Created and designed print publications and other marketing collateral, including tribute journals for signature events.

Provided communications and marketing support for clients in various fields (e.g., legal, nonprofit, education). Created and coordinated digital content, including social media posts, videos, and eblasts. Wrote and distributed press releases and media alerts that generated news coverage. Advised organizations on communications and marketing strategy.

Greater New York City Area

Applied communications experience in fundraising/grantwriting role. Prepared and submitted grant applications that secured more than $4.1M in public and private funding. Wrote and proofread proposals, reports, and other stakeholder communications. Oversaw all phases of proposal development.

Greater New York City Area

Served as client liaison on behalf of five-person capstone team consisting of NYU Wagner MPA candidates. Conducted surveys, focus groups, and interviews with key stakeholders across nation. Created tools, user guides, and implementation plan for client to measure impact.

Greater New York City Area

Shared findings on website about impacts of grantmaking by writing and publishing grant outcome reports. Reviewed and made recommendations on more than 40 proposals for programs targeting vulnerable populations.

Greater New York City Area

Produced content for NYU Langone website intended for external and internal audiences. Provided strategic recommendations for building corporate partnerships, including vision statement, tiered benefits system, and targeted prospect list. Strengthened internal processes through creation and distribution of staff satisfaction survey.

Greater New York City Area

Acted as liaison between executive board of student-run academic journal and NYU community. Maintained and expanded social media presence, and established relationships with similar institutions around nation.

Greater San Diego Area

Led morning/mid-day team in creating #1-rated, hour-long television newscast in top-30 market. Managed live breaking news coverage with multiple reporters, national satellite feeds, and helicopter. Wrote and edited scripts for anchors, and designed graphics in conjunction with creative team. Vetted press releases and media alerts for stories worthy of news coverage.

Santa Barbara, California Area

Wrote and produced evening newscasts with coverage of large tri-county region. Participated in daily editorial meetings and pitched story ideas for reporter coverage.

Master Of Public Administration, Public & Nonprofit Management

Activities and Societies: Wagner Review - Executive Board; Wagner Experience Fellowship

Bachelor Of Arts, Broadcast Journalism & International Relations

Activities and Societies: Producer & Director at Annenberg TV News; Intern at Good Morning America, Sky News, KCBS/KCAL, KTTV, KGTV.

Journalism (Semester Abroad)

Activities and Societies: Produced short documentary on female African refugees seeking asylum.