Resume

Bilingual communications and advocacy specialist with experience working in a variety of internationally-focused non-governmental organizations in the fields of immigration, labor rights, human and civil rights, global justice, US foreign policy, and economic and social justice issues.

Education:

BA English Literature, University of South Florida, 1998

MA International Relations, University of Florida, 2006

Experience:

•  Communications Coordinator, Farmworker Justice, (www.farmworkerjustice.org, www.harvestingjustice.org).  Coordinate publications (newsletters, brochures, annual report); write op-eds, blog posts and in-depth reports to educate Congress, media, and the public about farmworkers’ issues; handle all media outreach work for news events, build and maintain organizational websites, and utilize social media tools as part of strategic campaigns for farmworker justice.  November 2007-present.

•  Contributing Writer and Reviewer, Counterpoise Journal of Alternative and Independent Press.  Writer of reviews of books and magazines on social and economic justice and international affairs. June 2007 – present;

•  Translator, Watching America (http://www.watchingamerica.com) and World Meets Us (http://www.worldmeets.us).  Translator of editorials regarding U.S. foreign or domestic policy.  Fall 2006 to present.   

•  Research intern, Coca-Cola World Citizenship Program, Habitat for Humanity Latin America and Caribbean office. Part of a research team that carried out an impact study of housing communities in four Latin American countries. May 22- August 4, 2006.

• Full time volunteer corps member, Christian Peacemaker Teams. International accompaniment work for threatened individuals and communities in conflict zones.  January 2003- June 2004. 

1.      Worked with the Anishnaabe (Objibway) people on the Asubpeeschoseewagong American Indian reservation during their blockade to prevent illegal logging on native lands and enforce treaty rights.

2.      Accompanied rural fishing and farming communities and local human rights activists in and around Barrancabermeja, Colombia.  Wrote and edited reports on the local human rights situation, Advocated for changes in US foreign policy that negatively affect peace-making efforts of Colombian civilians.

• Co-founder and volunteer, H.O.M.E. (Homeless Outreach Mobile Effort) Van, a mobile, free “store” providing socks, personal hygiene products and food to homeless residents.  This project eventually became incorporated with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, now has hundreds of volunteers, twice weekly excursions and one paid staff member. September 2002-2006.

• Office assistant, West Palm Beach Public Defender, Gainesville Extension Office, Death Row Liaison.  Assisted in maintaining office communications with inmates and lawyers; provided logistical support for death penalty abolition events. October 2000-May 2001.

Relevant coursework:

• Gender and International Development

• Politics of US Foreign Policy

• Trade and Human Rights in the Americas (at the University of Florida Levin College of Law)

Skills:

Familiar with both PC, Mac and Linux operating systems; MS Office Suite 2007, Adobe Photoshop; Google Applications; installation, set up and administration of online open-source Content Management Systems (such as Joomla!); phpBB (open-source software for online forums)and MediaWiki; fluent in CSS and HTML markups plus rudimentary knowledge of PHP and MySQL databases. 

Languages:

English (native) Spanish (semi-fluent)

References available upon request.