STRATEGIC

COMMUNICATIONS

BREAK THROUGH THE NOISE

Strategic Communications: The purposeful and planned use of communication to achieve specific organizational goals. It involves carefully selecting the right message, channel, and audience to influence perceptions and behaviors in line with an organization's objectives.

It’s a loud world. Trying to angle for attention by strategizing your messaging makes sense — but it’s more humane to take a deep breath and ask yourself some questions — What do I have to say? Who truly needs to hear it? Is now the right time to say it? What tone do I want to set? Taking that pause to ask these questions will lead to skillful communications.

SERVICES

Reports & Proposals

White papers, grants, and project proposals all require someone who can get to know your organization quickly and ask the right questions. These longer pieces of writing benefit from someone can tell an effective story, and who can weave together various kinds of information, including data, history, and anecdotes. Steeped in facts, this writing comes alive under the care of someone who knows how to locate and use your organization’s voice.

Newsletters & Annual Reports

Never underestimate newsletters and annual reports! They may seem pedestrian, but they are very useful ways to maintain contact with your audiences. While no one wants to be flooded with information, many of us welcome a light reminder people of an event, an educational tip, or introduction to a new team member. Annual Reports are a chance to tell a story — think of it as a short story — of what you’ve accomplished, who you’ve collaborated with, what mattered.

Interviews

Communications Adjacent

The previous kinds of writing may entail interviews, but sometimes a project is all about going out and getting stories. You need to be able to ask good questions and to listen. I’ve conducted hundreds of interviews, both in research toward writing projects, and more formally for public events. The stories harvested during these interviews have anchored social media campaigns, fundraising brochures, and community engagement projects.

Yes, but what does this really mean? Why should people care? Will anyone notice? How do we talk about our work effectively?

These are some of the kinds of questions I ask in projects that aren’t exactly communications but near siblings. This might include:

  • Leading programs and workshops to help people communicate across different fields and settings of work, such as academic v. community.

  • Considering the arrangement and order of information in digital, printed, or other formats.

  • Providing writing coaching for those who have something to say but aren’t quite sure where to start or feel stuck.

  • PROPOSALS & GRANTS

    I served as co-author on a 100+ page proposal by a research university for community engagement designation by the Carnegie Foundation. I’ve written successful smaller grants for my own arts practice, and served as editor and contributor to a grant that garnered 1.6M for a research center.

  • ARTICLES

    Write articles for a wide range of publications and clients about topics that range from small town community building to hunger on campus. I love doing the interviewing and sleuth work that goes into these pieces!

  • INTERVIEWS & MODERATION

    For my first book I interviewed over 100 people, which helped me get over any hesitation I ever had about picking up a phone. I love doing interviews, whether as background research or as an ends to itself, such as a video series I led during the pandemic. I am also a skillful and seasoned moderator.