WORK EXPERIENCE
9/2006-current
Director & Publisher: The Extraordinary GONZO
Gatewood Elementary
Seattle, WA
- Hired by the Principal to build and orchestrate a sustainable creative literacy program designed to Amplify the Voice of Children. I balanced the development of innovative, multimedia curricula, the integration of technology in storytelling, fundraising, grant writing, volunteer training and coordination, and live performances at local coffee shops.
- Designed and produced three, 40 page, 11x17, K-5th grade student-written tabloids called The Extraordinary GONZO, involving all 300 students during in-school hours.
- Designed and independently published Gatewood's first student-collaborative yearbook.
- Received an $850 smART Ventures Grant from the Mayor’s Office of Cultural & Arts Affairs.
- Coordinated two fundraisers: (1) produced GONZO t-shirts; (2) fortune cookies, custom written by GONZO students.
- Produced an 8 minute GONZO Documentary.
- Hired to launch The GONZO at two other elementary schools in Seattle.
- Created an accredited GONZO Service Learning course at the University of WA
7/2008-current
Graphic Designer, Team Lead
>>THRIVE Raw Foods Cafe
Seattle, WA
- Hired to create the logo and brand identity for the cafe, and to be a Team Lead of the Raw/Live Foods store within the restaurant.
10/2007-2/2008
Director & Publisher: THRIVE, for families to flourish
>>Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth
Bellingham, WA
- Hired to create and launch a magazine designed to celebrate the families of Bellingham, documenting the riches of who family is for each other.
10/2003-9/2006
>>AmeriCorps* VISTA National Service Member
Gatewood Elementary
Seattle, WA
- As director of The Gonzo after school newspaper project for at-risk and below standard K-5 readers, I renovated an unused classroom, transforming it into a multimedia studio for creative literacy. Guided by the schools theory of the Multiple Intelligences, I worked with the Principal and teachers to fuse music with language.
- Wrote and received a $10,000 grant from ADOBE to launch THE GONZO, a creative literacy initiative.
- Designed and produced three, 8 page newspapers in an after school literacy program.
- Wrote and produced Dr. Seuss-like Hip Hop songs. Performed them with 4th/5th graders at assemblies and graduation.
- What's Your Mission?
- Cream of the Crop
- Aldiferous Fikes & the Optimo Eye
- 2006: Awarded Top Prize for Hip Hop adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax at the National Service Symposium.
- 2005: Awarded Top Prize for Spoken Word at the National Service Symposium in Portland, OR.
EDUCATION
-
>>Art Institute of Seattle- Web Design & Interactive Media
-
>>Landmark Education
Seattle, WA- Trained and developed in leadership, communication, teamwork and the production of breakthrough results.
-
>>University of WA
Seattle, WA- B.A., Comparative History of Ideas
- Studied cross-cultural religions and art.
- Lived abroad in London, UK, studying theatre and religious architecture.
GALLERY
REFERENCES
- Rhonda Claytor, Principal, Gatewood Elementary
rclaytor@seattleschools.org 206.252.9400 - Darren Radu, 4th/5th grade Teacher, Gatewood Elementary
dsradu@seattleschools.org 206.252.9400
download recommendation letter
- Cat Koehn, Director, Notre Dame AmeriCorps*
- Martha Tierney, Director, Notre Dame AmeriCorps*
martha.tierney@gmail.com 206.461.8550 download recommendation letter