Welcome to Brazen Careerist!

About Me

Welcome to my profile! I'm most interested in the intersection of organizing and advocacy with new media and the social web to further the goals and ideas of individuals, non-profits, corporations, and electoral campaigns.

My background is primarily in politics and advocacy, working on local, state, and national campaigns, most recently using those skills specifically to advocate for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Pennsylvania. I work with non-profits organizations and small businesses on strategic planning, communications, marketing, grassroots organizing, and coalition-building.

In college I was drawn to a fledgling program at The American University, the School of Public Affair's Leadership Program, that had so much potential yet wasn't living up to it's purpose or possiblity. Throughout my time at AU I built the program into what it is today, a massive four-year interdisciplinary program that cultivates new leaders in the political and public policy sphere.

Upon leaving college I delved head-first into political campaigns where I had the opportunity to build large-scale grassroots campaigns and field organizations to deliver the message of candidates and campaigns.

Upon moving to Philadelphia, I jumped head-first into the world of non-profits, and had the chance to build a grassroots infrastructure for legislative change in the lives of LGBT people across Pennsylvania through organizing, lobbying, and coalition-building. By building relationships with individuals and organizations throughout the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I had a unique opportunity to witness first-hand the remarkable work of thousands of activisits working toward social change.

I also spend a great deal of time volunteering and working with local and regional HIV/AIDS service organizations, including ActionAIDS and MANNA, an organization dedicated to providing meals to those afflicted by the HIV virus. I serve on several boards, including the SpiralQ Puppet Theater, an absoultely astounding community-based arts organization with roots in the ACT UP protests from the 1980s and 90s.

I am an organizer, lobbyist, advocate, and rabble-rouser- all for ideas and goals that broaden basic fairness andequality for all people- with a deep interest in marrying decades old community organizing and grassroots mobilization with the power and energy of new social media.

Work History

• Equality Pennsylvania
• Policy and Programs Director
• Febuary 2007 to January 2010

• Ohio Education Association
• Independent Expenditure Canvass Director
• August 2006 to November 2006

• The Haymarket Group
• Junior Associate
• January 2006 to August 2006

• Grassroots Solutions Consulting, Inc.
• Political Consultant/Organizer
• August 2004 to January 2006

• Missouri House Democratic Campign Committee
• Statewide Field Director
• Febuary 2004 to August 2004

• Dick Gephardt for President
• Iowa Field Organizer
• September 2003 to January 2004

• Congressional Schools of Virginia
• Director of Outdoor Living Skills
• May 2002 to August 2003

• The Office of United States Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich
• Staff Assistant
• May 2000 to October 2001

Education

• The American University
• Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, C.L.E.G. (Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, Government)
• 2001 - 2004

• Graduated Magna Cum Laude

• The Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies
• Certificate, Campaign Management Institute
• 2002 - 2002

• Olmsted Falls High School
• High School Diploma
• 1996 - 2000