About

Hi, I’m Emily!

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For decades, I have worked alongside advocates and education and policy leaders at the state and national level to ensure all young children and their families can thrive. I am deeply passionate about creating and executing programs, initiatives and strategic communications that advance policies and systems, inspire people and move them to action.

  • I have successfully created and executed statewide and national initiatives and communications campaigns for funders, nonprofit organizations, school districts and policymakers. My work has consistently focused on helping communities understand complex systems and mobilizing them to act. Among other issues, I’ve created or led communications strategies focused on:

    • increasing federal investment in Early Head Start with the National Head Start Association;

    • addressing racial disparities in early care and education, with a focus on eliminating suspensions and expulsions, with the NC Coalition for Inclusion, Not Expulsions;

    • growing support for family-friendly workplace policies such as child care and paid leave to improve early childhood health and well-being outcomes with the North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation (NCECF); and

    • improving access to infant and perinatal mental health supports with Perigee Fund.

  • My work has led to measurable positive impact for the organizations I’ve served.

    • NHSA received a $960 million funding increase as a result of a 2022 campaign to advocate for increased federal investment in Early Head Start.

    • As the co-creator of Family Forward NC with NCECF, I launched a successful employer certification that now includes more than 125 employers across NC. Family Forward NC has engaged more than 10,000 employers in the initiative and expanded its work to states as diverse as Montana, Florida and Pennsylvania. I led the marketing and communications work for this initiative, which includes a robust storytelling campaign.

    • I led the North Carolina Coalition for Inclusion, Not Expulsions to create and launch its Strategic Action Plan and website in 2024. The Coalition is steadily growing support to eliminate suspensions and expulsions in early care and education in North Carolina.

  • I’m a data nerd. I’ve worked with clients across the country to help them understand their marketing analytics and optimize their work based on data and audience research. 

  • My background as a journalist and my love of storytelling have equipped me with the ability to craft powerful content that engage diverse audiences. You can see some of my storytelling work here, here and here.

  • I am a collaborative leader who has successfully worked on complex initiatives where multiple stakeholders—including board members, business leaders, policymakers and parents and families.

  • I have extensive experience working with leaders and organizations of all types to advance their thought leadership work. I have worked with CEOs, former governors, education leaders and state agency department leaders to support their thought leadership in a variety of capacities.

  • I’ve successfully built and managed large-scale community investments for the largest health insurer in North Carolina, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.    

  • I am a proud Durham, North Carolina resident, an avid runner, a mostly-successful baker and a mother of two children.

Let's chat.