DAWA' SON GOES BEHIND
Everett,WA
Summary
Dedicated Community Organizer with 10 years of empowering underserved communities with interests in communicating with local community organizations, local and state governments. Skilled at connecting organizations with powerful allies to solicit real change and effective action. Known for bringing diverse groups together to achieve universally beneficial goals.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Public Policy Impact Manager
United Way Of King County
Seattle, WA
08.2021 - Current
- Identifies and researches relevant issues in United Way's main investment and public policy areas in coordination with Impact investment managers, directors, Brand staff, and other internal staff
- Ensures public policy priorities are developed and pursued in a manner that centers racial equity and the voice of communities most impacted by the issues we seek to address
- Writes and posts blog articles, composes action alerts, and writes letters and emails to public officials and constituents on public policy issues
- Supports Board oversight of Public Policy by preparing meeting and briefing materials and helps identify potential members for engagement and issues/speakers for meetings
- Manages lobbying contract and direct lobbying activity, including reporting to appropriate disclosure agencies
- Manages and coordinates direct advocacy from United Way donors, Board members, direct service recipients, volunteers, and other stakeholders
- Identifies organizations with whom to align policy and advocacy efforts
- Prepares materials as appropriate
- Helps identify and organize meetings and/or discussions around relevant new and timely public policy issues/efforts
- Coordinates with the advocacy efforts of United Way's Systems Change work.
Non-profit Founder
Do Good Multnomah
Portland, Oregon
07.2014 - 01.2016
- Developed key operational initiatives to drive and maintain substantial organizations growth
- Led recruitment and development of strategic alliances to maximize utilization of existing talent and capabilities
- Attracted major donors, generating millions of dollars in donations of funds, land and material
- Developed programs to hire co-managers from within, building and maintaining cohesive leadership structure
- Created organization's mission and vision statements for use by all employees
- Advised on high-level hiring decisions for key leadership positions, conducted senior hire interviews and nominated new board members.
Co Founder
The Mother Tree PDX
Portland, OR
07.2012 - 12.2015
- Developed key operational initiatives to drive and maintain substantial organizational growth
- Set, enforced and optimized internal policies to maintain responsiveness to demands
- Advised on high-level hiring decisions for key leadership positions, conducted senior hire interviews and nominated new board members
- Cultivated forward-thinking, inclusive and performance-oriented business culture to lead industry in innovation and push progress
- Investigated and addressed organizational development challenges to proactively mitigate problems
- Managed teams of 8 professionals focused on improving affordable housing initiatives
Regional Advocacy Project
State Wide Organizer
Portland, Oregon
07.2013 - 11.2014
- Identified community organizations and leaders to establish and nurture relationships to help build awareness and win reforms for the public
- Participated in strategy development and planning to grow organizing programs and advance campaigns
- Trained effective social change leaders to run strategic campaigns by organizing news conferences, building strong coalitions and generating grassroots support
- Operated an outreach office to recruit and lead a team of canvassers to fundraise for important issues
- Discovered opportunities to gain deeper insight into creating efficient and streamlined processes
- Educated staff on organizational mission and goals to help employees achieve success
- Managed team of 5 employees, overseeing hiring, training, and professional growth of employees
Co Manager
Sisters Of The Road
Portland, Oregon
07.2013 - 08.2014
- Facilitated change management activities for department and staff of 15 individuals
- Expanded cross-functional organizational capacity by collaborating across departments on priorities, functions and common goals
- Conducted monthly inventories of raw materials and components on the work floor
- Cross-trained existing employees to maximize team agility and performance
- Accomplished multiple tasks within established timeframes
- Interviewed members of specific populations to understand and document issues
- Recruited and managed volunteer teams
- Operated an outreach office to recruit and lead a team of canvassers to fundraise for important issues.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Social Work
Illinois State University
Master of Science - Social Work
Portland State University
Skills
- Strategic planning
- Budgeting
- Staff Management
- Negotiation
- Problem-Solving
- Interpersonal Communication
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Multitasking Abilities
- Analytical and Critical Thinking
- Flexible and Adaptable
- Decision Making
Accomplishments
I OWN A START UP!
After working in social work, direct behavior services and organizing community for 11 years. I decided to try my hand in starting a business by utilizing the same strategies, relationship building skills and ethics that I learned as a community organizer and social worker. I took a year break to go to barber school and I created Shear We Go LLC to be an on-demand mobile barbering service. I'm franchise focused and cooperatively inspired to center brand growth and employee empowerment. Shear We Go is tech driven with an app and website designed for user friendly service. Shear We Go not only delivers barbering services; I wrote the policy and procedures, the business plan, formed the LLC, formed bank and credit accounts, built the website and organized the key relationships of the contracts we currently have. I operate the business part time so it will not interfere with my duties at King County Regional Homeless Authority. Visit www.ShearWeGo.com for more information.
Timeline
Public Policy Impact Manager
United Way Of King County
08.2021 - Current
Non-profit Founder
Do Good Multnomah
07.2014 - 01.2016
Regional Advocacy Project
State Wide Organizer
07.2013 - 11.2014
Co Manager
Sisters Of The Road
07.2013 - 08.2014
Co Founder
The Mother Tree PDX
07.2012 - 12.2015
Bachelor of Science - Social Work
Illinois State University
Master of Science - Social Work
Portland State University