Surilma Mendez
Klamath Falls,OR
Summary
Motivated bilingual in English and Spanish. Driven a team of 10+ to success. Proven track record in empowering stakeholders through strategic campaign initiatives, utilizing data-driven decision-making and creative problem-solving. Amazing team leader. Here for the community and always willing to go above and beyond.
Overview
2022
2022
years of professional experience
Work History
Climate Campaign Strategist
Majority Action
Las Vegas, NV
- Worked within cross-functional teams using data and analytics and technologies to drive decisions.
- Established strong relationships with clients through regular communication updates, enabling trust in our strategic recommendations.
- Trained junior team members on best practices in campaign strategy development, fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth.
- Implemented A/B testing methodologies to refine messaging and maximize response rates.
- Spearheaded the planning, strategy and coordination of a comprehensive campaign aimed at empowering investors and impacted stakeholders to employ capital strategies to align with the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
- Oversaw campaign delegation and utilize technological organizing tools when implementing detailed work plans.
- Fostered and sustained external relationships with over 30 grassroots movement partners across the country.
- Lead the development and refinement of strategic partner campaign messaging.
- Lead the partner narrative and creation of materials/toolkits for over 30 national coalition partners.
Organizing Director
Make the Road Action
Las Vegas, NV
- Improved organizational efficiency by streamlining processes and implementing new management systems.
- Played a key role in talent acquisition strategies, attracting top candidates to the organization and reducing turnover rates significantly.
- Ensured compliance with all relevant regulations, proactively addressing potential issues before they escalated into costly problems for the company.
- Negotiated contracts with vendors, securing favorable terms that maximized value while minimizing costs.
- Managed a team of six full-time staff and five part-time Youth Fellows dedicated to complex, multi-tooled campaigns including, but not limited to: Environmental Justice, Ending the School to Prison/Deportation Pipeline, Immigrant Justice, Health Equity, Housing and Unemployment, and Economic/Worker Justice.
- Integrated policy, legal, and organizing principles from internal teams and national coalitions to ensure messaging cohesion across states.
- Developed and implemented organizing and campaign strategies, actions, rallies, and press conferences.
- Managed the development of robust campaign goals, plans, strategies, budgets, and tactics.
- Recorded and reported metrics for organizational goals and campaign plans.
- Utilized Values Based Narrative strategies to support comms work.
- Recruited and trained new staff and volunteers in English and Spanish.
- Spearheaded C3/C4 GOTV efforts that included hiring and training new canvassers and volunteers, tracking metrics to ensure we were meeting goals/deliverables, and coordinating with state partner tables and national partners/funders.
- Developed and led training’s in both English and Spanish across issue areas.
Director of Community Outreach
Make the Road Nevada - Make the Road Action
Las Vegas, NV
10.2019 - 12.2021
- Promoted grassroots marketing initiatives in community and created broad buy-in and support of outreach programs.
- Managed budgets and resources effectively to maximize the reach of outreach programs.
- Drove increased community involvement through targeted campaigns that promoted awareness of opportunities for residents to actively engage with their neighborhood''s development initiatives.
- Served as a public face for the organization at local events, cultivating positive relationships with community members and representing the interests of both the organization and its constituents.
- Recruited trained, and mentored a strong team of volunteers committed to making a difference in their communities.
- Collaborated with internal departments to align organizational goals with community outreach initiatives, ensuring maximum impact across multiple areas of focus.
- Cultivated and maintained relationships with community medical facilities, agencies, churches and other outreach partners.
- Provided leadership, guidance and support to staff members.
- Monitored office performance and implemented daily trainings to meet fundraising goal
- Supervise and lead employees to high performance levels
- Researched and drafted informational briefs and fact sheets
- Designed and led regular trainings on canvassing and outreach
- Manage a full team of 12
Community Outreach Specialist
Make the Road Nevada - Make the Road Action
Las Vegas, NV
06.2018 - 09.2019
Lead Organizer
Mi Familia Vota
Las Vegas, NV
02.2016 - 11.2017
- Participated in strategy development and planning to grow organizing program and advance campaigns.
- Lead Organizer- Hired and supervised a team of 20+ canvassers to conduct civic engagement of Latino communities.
- Designed messaging and visual communications strategy related to election procedures and voter registration.
- Utilized the Voter Action Network (VAN) to track voter data and adhere to hard deadlines.
- Organized and led citizenship workshops in partnership with other immigrant and civic rights organizations and elected officials offices.
- Recruited and trained new staff and volunteers in English and Spanish.
- Spearheaded C3/C4 GOTV efforts that included hiring and training new canvassers and volunteers, tracking metrics to ensure we were meeting goals/deliverables, and coordinating with state partner tables and national partners/funders.
- Generated reports to evaluate program success and make modifications.
- Wrote e-mails, promoted events via social media and drafted phone scripts to recruit volunteers.
- Transcribed data and organized spreadsheets to record pledges, phone calls, and canvassing.
Skills
- Social media strategyProficient in Microsoft Office and Google Suites
- Familiar with CRMs including Salesforce; VAN
- Bilingual in English and Spanish
- Creative problem-solving skills willingness and Ability to learn quickly and adapt to changing environment
- Ability to work independently and exercise good judgment and successfully execute time, management Ability to execute my own time to maximum advantage on a day-to-day basis
- Ability to maintain a positive approach under pressure
- Ability to follow verbal and written instructions
- Ability to work collaboratively With a team
- Professional demeanor and maturity
- Creative direction
- Policy analysis
- Coalition building
- Paid advertising
- Opinion polling
Languages
Spanish
Full Professional
Timeline
Director of Community Outreach
Make the Road Nevada - Make the Road Action
10.2019 - 12.2021
Community Outreach Specialist
Make the Road Nevada - Make the Road Action
06.2018 - 09.2019
Lead Organizer
Mi Familia Vota
02.2016 - 11.2017
Climate Campaign Strategist
Majority Action
Organizing Director
Make the Road Action