“Storytelling is used to identify and exchange learning episodes, explore values, and inspire people toward the possibility of change, enrich quantitative information with qualitative evidence, make out connections and create common purpose, and improve the effectiveness of strategic decisions.”
For businesses, the use of storytelling can be powerful to provide engaging education and training for ongoing growth and development. Additionally the facilitation of storytelling from team members within an organization is also important for shaping effective communication and informing strategic change. I am grateful to have opportunities to be immersed in storytelling at the organizational and community-level through the delivery of:
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As a public health consultant, I have experience with examining and building up the stories at organizations which typically include improving the execution and operationalization of missions and visions; as well as enhancing the experiences and narratives of the workforce who are responsible for carrying out the services. This involves the provision of tailored technical assistance around program implementation, strategic communication, organizational development/branding, human-centered design and change management.
As an anthropologist and social worker, I am rooted in formal training and education in humanity, human behavior, and human services management. Additionally, I have provided technology transfer and implementation science support to over 100 community-based public mental health projects while working part of SAMHSA’s Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network. Technology transfer defined as the nexus between development, dissemination, and implementation; specifically focused on translation and adoption to help accelerate the diffusion of innovation. Previously, I worked at the VA Greater Los Angeles Health System to help implement the Whole Health Personal Health Planning Initiative with older Veterans in the Gerofit Clinical Program for Health Promotion and Falls Prevention, of which I also formalized a theory of change and logic model for ongoing evaluation research and program planning purposes. Overall, my skills in human-centered design are grounded in a decade of experiences and training around implementation science, design thinking, human services, and human behavior.
I apply my skills as an anthropologist, specifically Linguistic Anthropology to be sensitive to language, social organization, and communication of major public health and social problems. My initial work in communications was as a founding Social Media and Marketing Intern with the UCLA Volunteer Center where I designed an interactive marketing campaign to incentivize volunteerism among students while also promoting the UCLA Brand. This work also involved leading different committees to strategize content for social media to promote civic engagement among undergraduates at UCLA. After this yearlong internship, I translated my skills, developing and overseeing various online communications and social media for the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation and MusicMendsMinds, Inc. I’ve also supported strategy for external affairs and program design for Westside Pacific Villages.
I am also certified in Public Health with the National Board of Public Health Examiners, and pay special attention to broader community health issues such as the opioid epidemic, loneliness epidemic, and rapid population aging which increases the need and value for chronic disease epidemiology in the United States. The bulk of my technical assistance experience has been accumulated through SAMHSA’s Opioid Response Network where I provided technical assistance to various organizations and agencies within the Pacific Southwest (Hawaii, California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and select Pacific Jurisdictions and Territories).
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On top of examining and building upon the stories at organizations, I am also available to deliver powerful stories and lessons learned (evidence-based practices) to organizations and professionals through education and training. This includes pedagogy, lecturing, presentations, public speaking, and online learning.
I am an Assistant Adjunct Professor of Social Work for Western New Mexico University, where I teach a variety of courses in social work. I believe in the power of communicating theories of social work and social sciences effectively to engage students while also translating concepts into meaningful learning and professional development outcomes. I am also available for mentoring through the UCLA ONE Network and Alumni Mentoring Program, where I provide individual coaching and mentoring sessions focused on self-branding and long-term professional planning.