Tadai Abilla
Washington,DC
Summary
Dedicated public servant and community leader with 10+ years of experience improving communities through government service, community engagement, program management, strategic partnerships, and nonprofit leadership. Committed to ensuring residents feel heard, connected to resources, and represented in the decisions that affect their communities. Proven ability to build trust across diverse stakeholders, lead high-performing teams, navigate complex community challenges, and turn constituent needs into meaningful action and measurable outcomes. Brings a collaborative approach to public service, stakeholder engagement, cross-agency coordination, strategic planning, and program development, grounded in a genuine passion for strengthening communities and improving the quality of life for the people they serve.
Overview
1
1
Certification
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Community Engagement Specialist
District Department of Transportation
Washington, DC
01.2026 - Current
- Develop and implement community engagement and stakeholder outreach strategies supporting transportation, infrastructure, pedestrian and bicycle safety, roadway, parking, curbside management, and public-space initiatives.
- Liaised with residents, businesses, elected officials, ANCs, BIDs, community organizations, and government agencies to strengthen stakeholder relationships and enhance responsive communication.
- Planned and facilitated public meetings, stakeholder briefings, community forums, and presentations, translating technical information into accessible formats and integrating community feedback into project planning.
- Coordinated with engineers, planners, project managers, and cross-agency partners to resolve constituent and 311 concerns, support project delivery, monitor community issues, and produce reports, briefings, and stakeholder communications.
Co-Founder
Hustle Hard Global
Washington, DC
09.2014 - Current
- Founded and led a youth development and sports-based nonprofit initiative serving underserved communities in East Africa, designing and implementing basketball camps, tournaments, educational programming, life-skills training, and scholarship initiatives that engaged 600+ youth, including 450+ participants in life-skills programming.
- Led organizational strategy, program development, community outreach, donor engagement, and impact measurement, ensuring programs addressed youth development, health education, leadership, and educational access within underserved communities.
- Developed and managed strategic partnerships with organizations including Washington Mystics, Essentia Water, &Pizza, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, and DTLR, enhancing program reach and resource availability.
- Launched branded apparel and earned-revenue initiative, diversifying fundraising and strengthening brand awareness, achieving 65% revenue increase.
- Established and administered scholarship and financial assistance program, providing $3,000 in educational support to six student-athletes for tuition, books, and uniforms.
Community Outreach Manager
DC Government
Washington, DC
06.2024 - 01.2026
- Directed community outreach and public engagement initiatives, represented the Mayor and District government at public meetings and community events, and facilitated communication, conflict resolution, advocacy, and coalition building across diverse communities.
- Led community engagement, constituent services, and stakeholder outreach within an assigned Ward, serving as a key liaison between the Mayor’s Office, residents, elected officials, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs), community organizations, businesses, and District agencies.
- Managed and resolved complex constituent and community issues involving housing, public safety, health and human services, education, economic development, and environmental concerns, coordinating cross-agency responses to improve service delivery and community outcomes.
- Developed strategic partnerships and maintained relationships with government agencies, community leaders, advocacy organizations, civic associations, and other stakeholders to advance Mayoral priorities, strengthen community relations, and facilitate collaborative problem-solving.
- Streamlined operational workflows through process improvements, enhancing overall efficiency of community engagement initiatives.
- Analyzed constituent engagement, case management, and agency responsiveness using database systems; prepared actionable reports and recommendations for leadership while supervising community engagement staff.
Program Director
Fairfax County Government
Alexandria, VA
06.2022 - 06.2024
- Directed the planning, implementation, and evaluation of community-based recreation, education, wellness, fitness, volunteer, and special-event programs, ensuring inclusive and equitable services responsive to the needs of adults, older adults, and individuals with disabilities.
- Led program operations and staff management, overseeing recruitment, training, supervision, scheduling, performance management, budgeting, data collection, and compliance with County policies to enhance service delivery.
- Spearheaded community engagement and participant recruitment strategies, utilizing stakeholder feedback and community needs assessments to enhance service delivery and increase participation.
- Developed and managed strategic partnerships with County agencies, nonprofit organizations, community groups, civic associations, and public/private partners to expand resources, improve program accessibility, and address emerging community needs.
- Supported facility and program operations, managing resource allocation, scheduling, risk management, and performance measurement to ensure efficient and high-quality recreation and community services.
General Manager
Squash on Fire
Washington, DC
07.2021 - 06.2022
- Directed day-to-day business and facility operations for a premier sports and hospitality venue, overseeing guest services, front desk, kitchen, and bar functions while maintaining high standards for customer experience, operational efficiency, safety, and service delivery.
- Collaborated with executive leadership on strategic planning, event management, promotions, and business operations, overseeing staffing, logistics, and execution to enhance customer engagement for events and special functions.
- Led staff recruitment, hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, payroll, performance management, and team development across multiple departments, fostering clear communication, accountability, and a service-oriented workplace culture.
- Managed facility operations, vendor relationships, inventory, procurement, maintenance, and technology upgrades as primary liaison with property management and external service providers, ensuring smooth operational flow.
- Cultivated client and stakeholder relationships, conducted facility tours, identified business opportunities, and supported business development and customer retention efforts to boost revenue and brand awareness for Squash On Fire and Upper West Side Café.
Manager, Grassroots & Event Marketing
Monumental Sports & Entertainment
Washington, DC
10.2016 - 02.2021
- Led grassroots, experiential, and event marketing strategies across the DMV, managing a 14-person team and executing game-night activations, tailgates, community events, and promotional campaigns that contributed to a 69% increase in subscriber acquisitions.
- Partnered cross-functionally with marketing teams for the Washington Wizards, Washington Mystics, and Washington Capitals to develop integrated marketing campaigns, digital content, fan engagement initiatives, and brand activations that increased brand awareness, audience engagement, and customer acquisition.
- Managed relationships with professional sports teams, VIP members, community partners, universities, sponsors, and vendors, identifying partnership opportunities and executing marketing activations and events that enhanced community engagement.
- Directed recruitment, hiring, training, scheduling, and development of event and game-night staff, leading large-scale university marketing activations across DMV, including Howard, Georgetown, George Mason, and Bowie State, resulting in a 50% increase in subscriber acquisitions during back-to-school campaigns.
- Analyzed marketing performance, subscriber acquisition, churn, revenue, and campaign KPIs to evaluate ROI and refine marketing strategy; redesigned subscription promotions and incentives that increased subscriber acquisitions by 10%.
Education
Master of Science - Sports Management
Georgetown University
Washington, DC05-2017
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
University of The District of Columbia
Washington, DC05-2013
Skills
- Program & Project Management
- Community & Stakeholder Engagement
- Strategic Partnerships & Relationship Management
- Sports & Entertainment Marketing
- Event Planning & Execution
- Community Outreach & Public Engagement
- Team Leadership & Staff Development
- Strategic Planning & Implementation
- Nonprofit Management & Youth Development
- Marketing & Strategic Communications
- Business Development & Sponsorships
- Operations & Budget Management
Certification
Medication Administration Training (MAT), Food Handlers, CPR
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES
- Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. - Member and Zetas Have Heart Coordinator
- Sports Management Leadership Academy (SMLA) - Advisory Board Member
Accomplishments
- High School Hall of Fame Inductee
Timeline
Community Engagement Specialist
District Department of Transportation
01.2026 - Current
Community Outreach Manager
DC Government
06.2024 - 01.2026
Program Director
Fairfax County Government
06.2022 - 06.2024
General Manager
Squash on Fire
07.2021 - 06.2022
Manager, Grassroots & Event Marketing
Monumental Sports & Entertainment
10.2016 - 02.2021
Co-Founder
Hustle Hard Global
09.2014 - Current
Master of Science - Sports Management
Georgetown University
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
University of The District of Columbia