Skills/Traits
  • Creative storyteller, weaving multiple voices and sources of evidence and complex or technical information into accessible and relevant content
  • Experience working with diverse groups of people, from high-ranking officials and people of all backgrounds, races, religions, genders, and political affiliation
  • Empathetic when speaking with and interviewing people
  • Research, copywriting, writing and reporting for print, web, and television
  • Public Speaking and event MC
  • Extensive world traveler with deep interest in history and protecting diverse cultures
  • Professional videography, and video editing with Avid, Adobe Premiere Pro
  • Basic Spanish, familiarity with Hebrew, Twi, and interest in languages
Professional Experience 
War Child Canada (Remote, Canada)                                                              February 2022 - Present
Position: Communications Manager
  • Oversee external engagement, communications, and marketing strategy for Canadian and U.S. audiences; telling the organization’s stories to maximize donor engagement in raising funds for global programming.
  • Working toward establishing and maintaining the organization’s brand identity and “voice,” and expanding and engaging the organization’s audiences through direct mailings, emails, newsletters, and social media platforms.
  • Develop new major donor PDF newsletter and new digital newsletter to update mid-level and monthly donors of War Child programming and events, sharing thoughtful context and insights.
  • Oversee and create content for social media platforms: copy, imagery, infographics, video editing (Avid and Adobe Premiere); revamping complicated backend logistics and creating streamlined methods for internal content sharing and approval processes.
  • Manage and update the War Child Canada and War Child USA web sites; procure web developer contractor to maintain security and ease of backend use and create strategies for efficient web pages with external impact.
  • Enact cross-departmental strategy with the growth/development team, international programs team, and international teams to gather and share appropriate content from War Child’s global programming to expand organizational presence.
  • Uphold dignity of vulnerable beneficiaries when sharing their stories and imagery with a broad audience; focus on their strength and respect their journeys.

City of London (London, Ontario, CA)                                                        October 2017-September 2021
Position: Corporate Communications Specialist and Videographer
  • Develop communications plans and strategies for service areas and projects throughout the City of London.
  • Create and work within budgets, coordinating media buys and organizing unpaid media opportunities to promote projects and events that impact residents throughout the city.
  • Collaborate to craft social media and communications strategies, newsletter content, event creation and on-brand storytelling.
  • Create and organize asset database to save for future use; created the AODA Audio/Visual Web Content accessibility policy.
  • Create written and video messaging and content for all divisions within the City of London including, but not limited to transportation, planning, culture, elections, neighbourhood engagement, development and compliance, culture
  • Draft speaking notes and coach City spokespeople to simplify language and put their best voice forward, whether to media or directly to residents.
  • Knowledge and experience using various social media platforms, digital content management tools (ex. Sprout Social), social measurement and listening tools, and paid social media advertising.
  • Shoot and edit video stories to publish on social media, press releases and web site, or to show at events, public site visits, or council meetings.

DaSiWa Productions (Ghana, U.S., Canada, Remote):                                         November 2015-Present
Position: Owner, Digital Storyteller, Videojournalist
  • Freelance Journalism for international news outlets; report, shoot, edit video news pieces; stories publish for Deutsche Welle, The Times of Israel and The Global Sisters Report
  • Digital Storytelling and marketing for NGO’s, startups and established organizations wanting to promote their brand and/or share their mission and value; shoot, edit and produce overview videos and provide pictures for external use.
  • Communications consultation re: social media/web presence development, organizing internal communications policy and donor outreach materials, external messaging, blogs
  • Videography and writing for ad agencies, featuring clients in publications and online
  • Examples of Clients: Pillar Nonprofit; London Jewish Federation; Realtor, Steve Kleiman; Twelve Canada; PEG Ghana, Village Bicycle Project
 
Challenging Heights (Winneba, Ghana):                                                              April 2015-April 2016
Position: Communications Officer          
  • Design and implement internal and external communications for all aspects of a multi-faceted NGO operating in Ghana, West Africa.
  • Produce pictures, videos, weekly blog posts, quarterly newsletters and daily social media for domestic and international audiences.
  • Work with local and international partners to ensure cohesive messaging related to programs and provide materials for use in various international fundraising contexts
  • Maintain the Challenging Heights website and Facebook page (tripled number of organic followers in less than 6 months).
  • Contribute to, organize, and provide visuals for annual reports and grant applications.
  • Collaborate with organization’s advocacy team to create materials for press releases and advocacy campaigns directed at government leaders, policy makers, police and the public.
  • Develop and implement communications strategy and policy, including creating new “informed consent” protocol for the protection of beneficiaries.
 
WHNS-TV, Fox Carolina (Greenville, SC, USA)                                                  October 2010-March 2015
Position: Anchor/Multi-Media Journalist                                                    
  • Weekend news anchor for local affiliate in DMA 37
  • Live reporting on location for the 10 and 11 p.m. newscasts during the week
  • Conduct interviews, write, video, edit and front live daily news stories for audiences in Northern GA, Western SC & Western NC; create web and social media postings
  • Oversee weekend staff for on-air show; oversee station social media on weekends
  • Emmy-Nominated “one-man-band” video-journalist (reporter/photographer)
 
WJHL – 11 Connects, WJHL-TV (Tri-Cities, TN, USA)                           September 2008- September 2010
Position: Digital Journalist                                                  
  • Live reporting of news updates and traffic reports for daily morning show
  • Conduct interviews, write, video, edit and front live daily news stories for audiences in Northeast TN, Southwest VA; contribute content to web site & partner newspaper
  • Award winning “one-man-band” morning reporter/photographer
Awards
  • Social Science & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Graduate Scholarship Recipient, 2021-2022
  • Selected by Graduate School Dean at McMaster University to serve on the prestigious Vice-Provost Selection Committee, 2022
  • Emmy Nomination: Southeast Regional Emmy, “Craft Category: Video Journalist”: June 2012.
  • First place, collaborative reporting, “Nursing Home Sexual Abuse.” 2010 Golden Press Club competition sponsored by the East Tennessee chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists: “If only the nursing home officials followed through like the Bristol Herald Courier and News Channel 11. Thorough coverage – well done!”
  • "Best Sports Breaking News Reporting" - Tennessee Associated Press Awards, 2010, For "Football Team in Shock After Player Dies During Game"
  • First Place, Mountain Empire Journalism Contest, of the Greater Tri-Cities chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, for Healthcare/science and technology: "Nursing home sexual battery alleged." In collaboration with Michael L. Owens of the Bristol Herald Courier.
  • MegaAwards, Best News Story – Community Division – August 2009, “For Outstanding Journalism at Media General Newspapers.” Investigative reporting in collaboration with a newspaper reporter from the Bristol Herald Courier.
Volunteer Experience
  • Co-founder of CHW Service Chapter, Gesher L’chaim, October 2018-Present
  • Volunteer Ally for Bridges Out of Poverty/Goodwill Circles, January 2020-April 2021
  • Advisory Board member, Banting House National Historic Site, February 2017-Present
  • Volunteer coach and mentor, Start2Finish, London Ontario, Fall 2016
  • Volunteer BBYO advisor and mentor to high school leaders in Greenville, SC 2014-2015
  • Greenville Rotaract service group, Volunteer and Board Member – 2011-2014
  • Volunteer/Mentor, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, MD, TN & SC – 2007-2015
  • Volunteer/Driver, Greenville Meals On Wheels delivery – January 2010-April 2015
  • Volunteer/Fundraiser, Relay for Life, Team Captain - Spring 2010, Spring 2008
  • Volunteer, LIFE, work with at-risk youth in urban & rural Argentina – January 2008
  • Volunteer, So Others May Eat, serving meals in Washington, D.C. – Summer 2007
Previous Journalism Experience
  • Intern, ABC World News, Washington D.C., January – May 2008
  • Reporter/Photographer, International Reporting, Vietnam, Spring 2008
  • Reporter, Anchor, Photog, etc. Capital News Service, College Park, MD, Fall 2007
  • News Intern, WTTG Fox 5, Washington DC, Summer 2007
  • Intern, CNN Productions, Atlanta, GA, Winter 2006-2007
Education
  • McMaster University, Master of Globalization, 2022
  • University of Maryland, Philip Merrill College of Journalism, College Park, MD
                  B.A. May 2008; Major: Journalism, Concentration: Sociology.
  • University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. Study Abroad, Fall 2006.
 
 
     References Available Upon Request