Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
University of Wisconsin Law School
J.D., May 2011
▪ Advanced Opportunity Fellow, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2008-2011
▪ LEO Program, Contracts Teaching Assistant, 2009
Scholarships
● Joan Bright Rundle Scholarship Recipient, 2010
● Wisconsin Black Law Alumni Association James Thomas Memorial Scholarship Recipient, 2009
● State Bar of Wisconsin- Diversity Scholarship, 2009
● Foley & Lardner Minority Scholarship Recipient, Foley & Lardner, 2009
University of Wisconsin-Madison
B.A. Political Science, Women’s Studies
AWARDS
Turnout! Mobilizing Voters in an Emergency, Book Contributor, 2020
She the People, named one of 20 Women of Color in Politics to Watch, 2020
Featured in the Documentaries Not Going Quietly, And She Could Be Next, and Birddog Nation,
2020
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Purple Wisconsin Blogger, 2014 – 2016
And Still I Rise – Black Women in Labor, Featured Profile, 2015
Bill Moyers, 20th Activist to Watch Award, 2014
Berger-Marks Foundation, Edna Award Winner, 2013
National Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition, Semi-Finalist, 2009 & 2010
State Superintendent of Public Schools, “Friend of Education” Award Recipient, 2006
Academy for Educational Development - New Voices Fellowship Program, Fellow, 2004-2006
Glamour Magazine Top Ten College Women, Semi- Finalist, 2002
EXPERTISE
Progressive Politics
Multi-Racial Organizing
Black Voter
Race and Politics
Criminal Justice
Legal System Policy
Healthcare Policy
Education Policy
TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS
● Alumni of Rockwood Leadership Program
● Alumni of Black Organizing for Leadership and Dignity (BOLD)
● LexisNexis Training Class, Professional Research Skills Certification, 2011
● LexisNexis Training Class, Drafting motions, briefs, pleadings, and contracts certification, 2011
● Earned perfect score (100%) on National Development Council’s Real Estate Finance Exam, 2007
BOARD & UNION SERVICE
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, Board Member, 2019-Present
United for Respect, Board Chair, 2020 - Present
Re:Power, Board Vice-Chair, 2021- Present
Be A Hero, Founding Board Member, 2019-Present
The Action Lab Retreat Center, Board Member, 2017-Present
Step-Up Louisiana, Board Member, 2020- Present
Working Families Party, National Committee Representative, 2017- 2022
CPD Action, Board Co-Chair, 2015 – 2017
Working Families Organization, Board Member, 2015
Wisconsin Working Families, Board Co-Chair, 2015
Milwaukee Workers Organizing Committee, Vice-President, 2013 – 2016
Partnership for Working Families, Board Member, 2013
9to5 Wisconsin, Board Member, 2012-2014
Wisconsin State Public Defender Association, Secretary, 2011
Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Board Member, 2008 –2010
Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment (PAVE), Board Member, 2004
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Synergy Power Consulting
Founder & Chief Imagineer, June 2022 - Present
▪ Coach-collaborator consulting firm supporting the next generation of social change leaders
▪ Adjunct Training Faculty - The Management Center
▪ Supporting a variety of social justice leaders & organizations
Center for Popular Democracy/CPD Action, 36 states, Puerto Rico, Washington DC
Network President & Co-Executive Director, January 2017 - January 2022
▪ Co-Director of one of the largest community organizing networks in the country
▪ Shared responsibility for raising and fiscal stewardship of a $30+ million dollar budget,
including $10-$15 million dollars in sub-grants to our affiliates and partners annually
Building and helping lead our Network’s resistance work during the Trump Administration, as well as our federal advocacy, political and racial justice programs
Development and overseeing of organization systems, strong supervision and management practices, and legal and financial compliance.
Resonsible for maintaining strong relationships across our network, building network culture and alignment, and actualizing network priorities.
Act as organization’s primary spokesperson and media representative
Liberty Hill Foundation, Los Angeles, CA
Chief Program Officer, September 2015 – January 2017
▪ Directed the competitive grantmaking, training and capacity building programs for LA’s social justice foundation
▪ Assisted in raising the budget for training and capacity building programs
▪ Tripled the number of people training through our programs in first year
Wisconsin Jobs Now, Milwaukee, WI
Executive Director, September 2013 – September 2015
▪ Director of largest base-building C3/C4 organization in Wisconsin
▪ Established C3 arm in 2013
▪ Executed merger, acquiring 100,000+ digital list
▪ Raised annual budget of $2 million, including securing 20 new funders
▪ Led strategic priorities in Economic, Education, Racial, and Criminal Justice
▪ Conducted largest electoral/civic engagement (I.E.) field program in Wisconsin
Webb Law Firm, Milwaukee, WI Associate, March 2012 – May 2014
▪ Managed second highest caseload
▪ Focused litigation practice representing clients on various criminal/family law issues
Citizen Action of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI Economic Justice Director, May 2011 – September 2013
▪ Directed the economic justice priorities for the organization
▪ Participated in organizational development through grant writing, management and reporting
▪ Recruited and supervised staff, interns, and volunteers
Wisconsin State Public Defender, Milwaukee, WI Assistant State Public Defender, June 2011-March 2012
● Provided aggressive and effective representation to low-income clients
Judicial Intern Program, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Judicial Intern for Magistrate Judge Patricia Gorence, 2009- 2010
● Drafted decisions, conducted research and wrote memos on various civil and criminal areas of law. Gained significant expertise in the certification of class action lawsuits, the Economic Loss Doctrine, and 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claims
Consumer Law Litigation Clinic, Madison, WI Student Attorney, 2009-2010
● Handled consumer-side individual and class action lawsuits in state and federal court covering a variety of consumer law issues
Good Jobs and Livable Neighborhoods Coalition, Milwaukee, WI Lead Community Organizer, 2007- 2009
▪ Helped design and pass Community Benefit Standards through Milwaukee’s Common Council
▪ Led coalition of community, faith, & labor groups in the award-winning MORE Ordinance campaign
Institute for Wisconsin’s Future, Milwaukee, WI
Academy for Educational Development, New Voices Civil Rights Fellow
Youth Reclaiming Our Communities (ROC) Founder and Program Director, 2004-2007
▪ Developed and coordinated a statewide powerbuilding program for high school students
▪ Created popular education materials, wrote grants, and handled media work
United Council of UW-Students, Madison, WI
Multicultural Issues Director, 2003-2004
● Worked to increase access to higher education though skill building, lobbying, and advocacy
● Planned several leadership and skill building conferences