SALLY JO SNYDER
COMMUNITY ORGANIZER
Pittsburgh,PA
Summary
For over thirty years I have been a community organizer involved in community building, bearing and becoming.
I have created, organized and lead self-advocates in successful campaigns in inclusion, racial justice, educational justice and health care justice.
With a degree in public education, I have taught the basics of community organizing and created curriculum for self-advocates and with those too often most easily labeled and left behind.
I am an established writer and talented public speaker.
Overview
5
5
years of post-secondary education
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Advocacy and Consumer Engagement
Consumer Health Coalition
Pittsburgh, PA
03.2007 - 08.2020
- Began and lead the Advocacy efforts of the agency into a recognized best practice for self-advocates involving over 35000 persons annually. Built disability self-advocate chapters in Allegheny, Washington and Westmoreland Counties
- Provided testimony on Patient-Centered healthcare and advocacy for the Aging Committee of the United States Senate
- Lead intersectional advocacy efforts for including LGBT in the Pennsylvania State Constitutiion
- Directed the regional advocacy efforts for Medicaid Expansion, Paratransit and Public transportation funding and Activated Patient Campaigns.
- Designed self-advocacy curriculum and trained over 35 self-advocates in legislative visits, writing and having published letters-to-the-editor, base-building, creative advocacy projects and public speaking.
- Frequent speaker and organizer of local and state rallies
- Created and oversaw the Human Library Project for Persons with Behavioral Health
National Coordinator Children's Sabbath Program
Children's Defense Fund
Washington, DC
07.2005 - 02.2007
- Increased faith-based institutions national participation and involvement by 60%
- Co-writer for the Children's Sabbath Manual
- Keynote speaker and workshop leader for pubic education reform for events in Alabama, California, Colorado, North Carolina and South Carolina
- Workshop leader for the national Sojourners conference and Proctor Institue
Regional Coordinator
Good Schools Pennsylvania
Erie, PA
02.2002 - 06.2005
- Organized several hundred local community advocates and six campus chapters around public education reform resulting in passage of several state educational policies
- Organized thousands of United Methodists statewide
- Wrote and secured Episcopal support of United Methodist Church advocacy involvement in public education reform
- Regular guest who highlighted children’s advocacy and public education issues on a local radio show with 30, 000 listeners
Education
Bachelor of Arts - English And Secondary Education
Point Park University
Pittsburgh, PA 08.1983 - 05.1987
Master of Arts - Ordained Ministry
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Pittsburgh, PA 09.1989 - 05.1991
Skills
Community Organizer with over thirty years experience
undefinedTimeline
Director of Advocacy and Consumer Engagement
Consumer Health Coalition
03.2007 - 08.2020
National Coordinator Children's Sabbath Program
Children's Defense Fund
07.2005 - 02.2007
Regional Coordinator
Good Schools Pennsylvania
02.2002 - 06.2005
Master of Arts - Ordained Ministry
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
09.1989 - 05.1991
Bachelor of Arts - English And Secondary Education
Point Park University
08.1983 - 05.1987