Freelance Writer
JUNE 2016 – PRESENT
- Writing communications materials for non-profits, including press materials (press releases, media advisories), marketing collaterals (event flyers, brochures), web copy and blogging, and social media copy
Assistant Press Secretary | NYC Department of Consumer Affairs
AUG 2012 – MAY 2016
- Agency spokesperson; helped develop and implement communications strategies
- Fostered relationships with key journalists (local and national)
- Managed all incoming media inquiries to ensure timely reply; monitored news trends
- Responsible for press materials, including speeches for commissioners, press releases, op-eds, blog posts, fact sheets, and story pitches
- Created copy for marketing materials, including video scripts (English, Spanish), PSAs (English, Spanish), and ads (English, Spanish)
- Translated reports and studies to Spanish
- Doubled social media following to 10,000+ across channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube); launched agency’s Instagram account
- Developed standards for using the City’s first live chat interface as an outreach and communication tool with the 80,000+ businesses licensed by the agency
Financial Education Associate | NYC Department of Consumer Affairs Office of Financial Empowerment
DEC 2010 – AUG 2012
- Financial empowerment programs spokesperson with Spanish-speaking media
- Wrote monthly e-newsletter sent to 200+ partners
- Maintained City’s online directory of financial education services
- Managed outreach efforts and partner relationships; created and delivered presentations monthly on City’s programs
- Organized quarterly forums and trainings for 172 non-profits
- Designed financial counseling course curricula (CUNY School of Professional Studies, Columbia School of Social Work)
- Researched and co-authored “Municipal Financial Empowerment: A Supervitamin for Public Programs Strategy #2: Professionalizing the Field of Financial Education and Counseling”
Program Assistant | NYC Department of Consumer Affairs Office of Financial Empowerment
SEP 2009 – DEC 2010
- Helped develop and manage tax preparation pilot programs for low-income New Yorkers, including researching relevant tax policy changes, ensuring data collection from partners
- Collaborated on the design and content of the City’s tax information website
- Developed training for the City’s tax-time savings program ($aveNYC), which was nationally replicated (SaveUSA); conducted citywide site visits to ensure compliance with the program’s marketing requirements
- Coordinated orientation and placement of 200 volunteer tax preparers
- Managed distribution of 600,000 tax time marketing collaterals to 500+ sites across New York City
AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer | Neighborhood Trust Federal Credit Union
AUG 2008 – AUG 2009
- Developed content (English, Spanish) for website and marketing materials
- Executed grassroots outreach campaign with the Dept. of Consumer Affairs for the City’s tax-time savings program ($aveNYC); leveraged 62 low-income New Yorkers to open first-time savings accounts and save $28,758
- Assessed the needs of credit union members: designed, administered, analyzed survey of 400 clients; redesigned new-account-opening manual; created a guide to improve cross-sell of new and existing products and services
EDUCATION
Cornell University | 2004 – 2008
Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Literature
Minor in Inequality Studies, Concentration in Latino Studies Program
SKILLS
- Fluent in English and Spanish (native speaker)
- Microsoft Office programs
- Basic Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
- Basic HTML, CSS and Javascript
- WordPress, SEO and Google Analytics
- Bitly, Buffer, Hootsuite
- Facebook, Google+, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Vimeo, YouTube