WORK STYLE:
Deadline-oriented; creative problem-solver; thorough,
detail-oriented; meticulous; self-directed.
EXPERIENCE
§
Feature
writer, columnist, books editor/reviewer, travel writer
§
Professional
written and spoken communication skills
§
Copy editing,
proofreading, fact checking
§
Newsletters,
brochures, marketing material
§
Promotion,
marketing, community outreach
§
CP, AP and
Chicago Style Manual training
PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
Freelance Writer - 1995
to Present
Self-employed - Part-time
and Full-time
§
Freelance
writer: Clients included Seminole Tribune, Wawatay Online,
Health for Native Life magazine, Globe and Mail newspaper,
Turtle Island Native Network News, Foxy magazine,
Word (urban culture) magazine, Aboriginal Voices magazine,
Scottsdale Progress, Arizona Woman, various websites
§
Guest or
Keynote Speaker: Union of Ontario Indians; Elders Gathering
(Toronto); Stop Hunger (Toronto); Glendale
Singles (Phoenix); Women's groups, various public school
functions
Communications Officer -
2003-2004
Working Skills Centre/Job
Track Centre
(An HRSDC project for
SARS economic recovery; nine-month contract.)
§
Promoted HRSDC
programs
§
Ran workshops
in career development, self-marketing, and life skills
§
Promoted
clients to employers, including seasonal
part-time opportunities. (For the Christmas shopping season,
organized a job fair, inviting merchants from the Eaton
Centre to meet Job Track clients.)
§
Organized
off-site job fairs
§
Created
marketing materials
§
Organized
marketing campaigns, media buys
§
Wrote press
releases and news articles
§
Developed a
16-week Speaker Series by professionals on emerging careers
§
Assisted in
hiring and training staff
Publisher / Facilitator -
1999-2002 (self-employed)
Satin Moccasins Wellness
§
A monthly
newsletter promoting healthy lifestyles for First Nations
women
§
Facilitated
Wellness and Life Skills workshops to various organizations,
including Nameres (Native Men's Residence), YWCA, Working
Skills Centre
Community Outreach Worker
/ Client Advocate - 1998-1999
Anishnabe Health Toronto
(Six-month contract)
§
Provided
information and referral services to clients
§
Made phone
calls on their behalf or provided intervention in severe
cases
§
Offered Life
Skills workshops, nutrition counseling, one-on-one life
coaching
§
Ran the "Field
to Table" fresh produce program
§
Conducted
Needs Assessment for street women programs
§
Wrote reports
on what programs worked and why
Writer, Copy Editor, Fact
Checker - 1996-1997
Aboriginal Voices
magazine, Toronto
§
Staff writer;
advertising sales
§
Created an
employee incentive program, soliciting the business
community for sports and theatre tickets, TTC passes and
grocery vouchers
§
Wrote
proposals ($30,000, the biggest grant in their history)
§
Created
employee protocol handbook
§
Sold
advertising; created media kit; designed advertising
campaigns
Writer, Copy Editor, Fact
Checker - 1990-1996
PHOENIX magazine,
Phoenix, Arizona
§
Staff writer,
copy editor, and fact checker
§
Wrote
features, travel, calendar of events
§
Created a
"Kids’ Stuff" activities and special events section that
drew record readers and advertisers for children's products
and services
EDUCATION
§
Communications, Journalism major: Centennial College,
Toronto
§
Wellness &
Lifestyle Management: Post-diploma one-year course, Honors,
Centennial College, Toronto
§
Life Skills
Coaching: YWCA, Toronto
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
§
Special events
and conference planner, including a Mother's Day spa day for
homeless women; children’s powwow, job fairs, wellness
events, career days, fund-raisers and a 16-week speakers
bureau.
§
Poetry and
short stories in miscellaneous publications
§
Canada Council
Grant, 1996 (to research Aboriginal literature.)
§
Athena Award
(runner up) Phoenix Arizona, 1994
VOLUNTEERISM
§
Paradise
Valley Middle School and Alhambra Traditional School: Career
Day organizer and speaker; volunteer track and field coach;
student newspaper facilitator/mentor
§
Judge for the
Arizona Authors Association annual writing contest, 1993
§
Street Patrol,
assistance to the homeless, Anishnabe Health Toronto,
Toronto
§
Children's
Christmas Party, Native Canadian Centre, Toronto
§
Loggerhead
Marinelife Centre, Juno Beach, Florida: Blogger for "Cycling
for Sea Turtles" fund-raising bike ride from Juno Beach,
Florida to Sherbrooke, Quebec, June 2005; worked in office
organizing and filing press releases; assisted at special
events
§
Florida Trail
member, supporter and weekend hiker. Assisted in trail
maintenance and hurricane clean-up, 2004-2008
§
Front of House
volunteer - Black Theatre Troupe (Phoenix); Phoenix
Children’s Theatre (995); Canadian Stage Company, 2002; Dora
Mavor Moore Awards (Toronto) 2009
