Government Affairs, Policy Specialist
Resume:
Marwa Alnaal 774-***-****
*** ******** **** *** *** **********@*****.***
Westborough, MA 01581 linkedin.com/in/marwa-alnaal August 11, 2020
Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC)
Office of Health Equity
1010 Massachusetts Ave, 6th Floor
Boston, MA 02118
To Whom It May Concern:
I am greatly appreciative of the opportunity to introduce myself to you and discuss what I can offer BPHC’s Office of Health Equity as Policy and Strategy Specialist.
During my years of experience, I have been able to maintain a high level of professionalism. I am always able to multi- task, which has proved to be a great asset during my previous employment. I have proven to be an extremely punctual, organized, articulate, and professional individual in all that I do. Additionally, I also possess leadership skills, am conscientious and of sound judgment, a very quick learner with a team player attitude and excellent written and verbal communication skills. I have experience in researching legislative history, drafting testimony, and presenting and discussing legislation with members of the legislature. During my time with the UNDP in Damascus, Syria, I was able to assist my colleagues in determining and implementing new programs surrounding the topics of youth and social cohesion and the issues surrounding marginalized and vulnerable groups. I did extensive work with IDP’s, especially women and children, and pushed for the need for reproductive education and awareness on harassment and equality, while simultaneously working with the Health Ministry and other NGO/I-NGO’s to push for better healthcare, government transparency, equality, and accountability in Syria. Later, I went on to help in the academic sector in Damascus, while working to jump-start an NGO in the country which would have developed an orphanage for children with special needs. Upon my return to the United States, I have leaped back into the NGO sector and worked with the MDS to help member dentists to protect the profession of dentistry through legislation as a registered lobbyist. Additionally, I lead the MDS Foundation and PAC, as well as grassroots meetings. Working within the MDS Strategy and Government Affairs department, I was able to expand my knowledge and better my skills in government relations and public affairs and communication. During my time with the Town of Westborough, I enhanced my knowledge in the functions of municipal and state government. In my professional life, I have been able to reap the benefits of experiences in both the international and national (USA) political world which has left me blessed with a better understanding of the world and a sea of knowledge that has developed me in every aspect-both in my personal and professional life. Due to all my experiences, I am pursuing my master’s in public administration with an expected graduation date of December 2020.
What my resume does not reveal is my professional demeanor and appearance. In a business environment, these qualities are of the utmost importance in dealing with clients as well as co-workers. In me, you will discover a reliable, detail- oriented, and extremely hard-working associate-one who will serve as a model to encourage other staff members to demonstrate the same high standard of professionalism. I have included a writing sample as well as references, to serve as additional resources.
I am confident that in me, you will find the perfect candidate for the position of Policy and Strategy Specialist with BPHC’s Office of Health Equity.
Please feel free to call me at 774-***-**** or email me at **********@*****.*** to arrange an interview. Thank you for your time, I look forward to learning more about this opportunity. Best Regards,
Marwa Alnaal
Marwa Alnaal
297 Turnpike Road Apt. 406 Westborough, MA, 01581 774-***-**** **********@*****.*** linkedin.com/in/marwa-alnaal I have 9 years’ experience in cross-cultural situations and experienced with at-risk populations. I am an experienced specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the international affairs industry. Skilled in non-profit organizations, working with refugees and IDP’s, municipality functions and work, intercultural communication, political science, educational dissemination, qualitative research, monitoring and evaluation, and community organizing. I am an expert in identifying issues, synthesize conclusions into recommendations, and implement action plans. Highly advanced writing level and exceptional capacity to execute administrative tasks and manage logistics. Registered Lobbyist in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. SKILL SET
• Bilingual—English and Arabic • MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) • Project management • Data Collection • Data Management and Analysis • Research Methodology • Statistical Analysis • Report Writing • Oral Presentations • Grant and Proposal Writing • Community Assessment • Program Planning • Cultural Competence • Lobbying • Problem Solving • Legislation • Written and Verbal Communication Skills • Computer Skills • Strong Interpersonal Skills • Time Management • Coordinating Video and Audio Conference Calls • Creating and Maintaining Databases • Salesforce Experience • Massachusetts Conflict of Interest Certificate• MA Registered State Lobbyist RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Massachusetts Dental Society Southborough, MA
Coordinator, Government Affairs October 2017– Present Government Relations:
• Conduct extensive research on current and proposed legislative and regulatory measures
• Assist in recommending policies related to legislative and regulatory issues
• Assist in drafting testimony and MDS position papers
• Attend oral health advocacy coalition meetings
• Provide staff support to any legislative focused councils, committees, and/or taskforces
• Attend legislative and regulatory hearings as needed Grassroots:
• Develop and implement plans to expand and strengthen the MDS Grassroots Network
• Coordinate and attend grassroots meetings with members and legislators
• Implement grassroots campaigns in coordination with legislative strategies
• Work with other MDS staff in planning and coordinating all aspects of the annual lobby day in Boston Political Action Committee:
• Serve as staff liaison to PAC Board of Directors
• Assist organization with the development of annual Strategic Plan updates
• Provide staff support with regards to annual budget process
• Create and implement solicitation and donor recognition campaigns
• Complete all internal and external financial disclosures to ensure compliance with State and Federal laws and regulations Foundation:
• Managing the MDS Foundation—charitable arm
• Serve as staff liaison to the Foundation Board of Directors
• Assist organization with the development of annual Strategic Plan updates
• Provide staff support with regards to annual budget process
• Create and implement solicitation and donor recognition campaigns Advisory Finance Committee Westborough, MA
Administrative Assistant April 2017– Present
• Provided assistance to the Advisory Finance Committee for the Town of Westborough
• Attended meetings in which finance issues were discussed and voted upon by committee members.
• Documented meeting minutes to post onto Town of Westborough website Management and Human Resource Development (MHR) Damascus, Syria Academic Supervisor and Syrian Management Forum Supervisor July 2016 – February 2017
• Served as Academic Supervisor for MHR. MHR offers BBA and mini MBA/MBA programs through the International School of Business Management (ISBM) located in Warsaw, Poland.
• Assisted students with their coursework, along with providing basic tutoring sessions.
• Meeting with prestigious international universities in order to develop contracts of coordination (including, but not limited to, the International School of Business Management [ISBM]).
• Developing schedules for courses and working on EMBA, MMBA, and MBA for students in their respective choices.
• Served as supervisor for the Syrian Management Forum (SMF).
• Developed a schedule for the forums. Furthermore, designed stationary for SMF, booked locations, and booked speakers for the Forum.
• Conducted a series of workshops and activities to develop the National Certified Training program/certificate that is now being offered throughout Syria.
Syrian American Wish Association (SAWA) Damascus, Syria SAWA Representative in Syria December 2014 – February 2017
• SAWA is an NGIO that supports the needy Syrians, and their families of all religious, and ethnic backgrounds, in the United States, Syria, and abroad, and to help them regain economical, and social prosperity, while promoting friendly, and prosperous ties between the Syrian, and American people, for the mutual benefit of both.
• Met with officials in order to gain approval for the opening of an orphanage in Damascus for the children with special needs.
• Developed Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) between SAWA and other parties.
• Searched for locations for the orphanage, along with studied possible options for medical staff that are to be on site for the orphanage.
United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Damascus, Syria Intern August 2014 – May 2015
• Supported Project Leaders by providing research and documentation of project results.
• Assisted in researching and developing new ways to raise funds for early recovery and livelihoods programs.
• Developed and researched a social cohesion document focused on the need for social cohesion in Syria Developed and researched a document focused on the need for more youth inclusion in Syria. Syrian-American Forum Boston, MA
Organizer/National Board Member February 2011 – July 2014
• Developed articles explaining the situation in Syria for SAF, a non-profit organization in the United States.
• Partook in news conferences, news interviews, and radio and newspaper interviews as a representative of the Forum.
• Initiated the New England region into SAF
• Organized events (national, regional, and state) for SAF.
• Partook in workshops regarding journalism and event planning/organization. CVS Pharmacy Westborough, MA
Certified Pharmacy Technician, CPhT September 2012– May 2014
• Provided assistance to customers with minor medical advice regarding medication under supervision of the pharmacist on duty.
• Entered re-fills/new prescriptions for customers to be processed by pharmacist and pharmacy staff.
• Filled prescriptions for customers to be verified by the pharmacist on duty. EDUCATION
Clark University Worcester, MA
Master of Public Administration Expected December 2020 Clark University Worcester, MA
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) – Political Science—International Relations 2009-2013 LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Clark University Diversity and Inclusion Task Force (Alumni Council) Worcester, MA
• Task force to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of alumni of color, LGBTQ+, and ensuring diversity amongst alumni to help Clark University
• Deepening the involvement of alumni with Clark through programs, communications, and volunteer opportunities
• Hosting listening sessions in Boston, NYC, Worcester, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
• Working with the Clark University Office of Multicultural and First-Generation Student Support and ClarkCONNECT to assist and host panels for current Clark students
Damascus Youth Voluntary Team (DYVT), Volunteer/Youth Coordinator Damascus, Syria
• Conceptualized event topics and guest speakers
• Marketed events, made flyers and managed Facebook Page
• Held youth group sessions in order to help youth during difficult times. These sessions would focus on rehabilitating certain youth groups back into society (education and vocational training).
• Processed and distributed care packages to shelters throughout Damascus.
• Assisted other voluntary groups in different cities throughout Syria to develop their own community groups.
• Held annual tournaments for the youth (academic and athletic)
• Actively worked with IDP’s and refugees in neighboring Arab countries. Assisted them in documents needed for applying for visas to certain embassies, and assisted in tutoring their children in academics STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF SALES RESTRICTIONS FOR FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS: BROOKLINE WARRANT ARTICLE 19
The Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS) represents approximately 5,000, or 80 percent, of dentists in the Commonwealth—including more than 120 licensed dentists in Brookline—through initiatives in education, advocacy, and promotion of the highest professional standards. As the leading authority on oral health care in Massachusetts, we take great pride in championing oral health and lending the voice of dentistry to worthy initiatives that can make a difference in the lives of residents across the Bay State. Reducing tobacco use is a priority issue for the MDS due to the oral health complications caused by smoking and tobacco products. In addition to heart disease, lung disease, and other health problems, tobacco use has been associated with serious oral health impacts including gum disease and oral cancer. The MDS joins fellow members of the Tobacco Free Mass Coalition in urging Brookline Town Meeting members to vote in favor of Article 19 to tighten the town’s flavored tobacco product sales restriction policy. Removing the exemption for mint, menthol, and wintergreen products, as well as the exemption for retail tobacco stores, will help reduce tobacco use and nicotine addiction—especially among youth—which will improve health, save lives, and reduce health care costs.
Menthol cigarettes make up more than a quarter of the cigarette market in the United States. 1
Because of the
cooling properties and reduced throat irritability of menthol cigarettes, they are associated with increased initiation and greater addiction. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that it is “likely that menthol cigarettes pose a public health risk above that seen with nonmenthol cigarettes.” 2
According to the FDA’s Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee 3
:
• Menthol cigarettes increase the number of children who experiment with cigarettes and the number of children who become regular smokers, increasing overall youth smoking.
• Youth smokers are more likely to use menthol cigarettes than any other age group. Over half (54 percent) of youth smokers ages 12-17 use menthol cigarettes, compared to less than one-third of smokers ages 35 and older.
• Prevalence of menthol use is even higher among African American youth: seven out of 10 African- American youth smokers smoke menthol cigarettes.
• Menthol cigarettes are associated with increased nicotine dependence and reduced success in smoking cessation. While smoking rates have declined overall in recent years, use of menthol cigarettes has increased significantly. Overall, nearly 40 percent (38.8%) of smokers use menthol cigarettes. Menthol smoking rates have increased among young adults and remained constant among youth and adults, while non-menthol smoking has decreased in all three age groups. 1 https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/reports/federal-trade-commission-cigarette-report-2015-federal-trade- commission-smokeless-tobacco-report/2015_cigarette_report.pdf 2
https://www.fda.gov/downloads/ScienceResearch/SpecialTopics/PeerReviewofScientificInformationandAssessments/UC M361598.pdf
3 https://www.fda.gov/advisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/tobaccoproductsScientificAdvisoryCommittee/ Two Willow Street
Southborough, MA 01745-1027
800-***-**** • Fax: 508-***-****
massdental.org
Despite recent gains, tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable illness and premature death in Massachusetts, and the tobacco problem is far from solved 4
:
• Tobacco use costs Massachusetts and our residents more than $4 billion annually in health care costs.
• At least 2,100 Massachusetts kids (under age 18) become new daily smokers each year.
• In Massachusetts, 9,300 adults die each year from their own smoking.
• Approximately 103,000 Massachusetts kids alive now will ultimately die prematurely from smoking. A 2019 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated that overall tobacco use among youth is rising, driven by a spike in e-cigarette use. 5
In 2018, there were 1.5 million more current youth e- cigarette users than in 2017. In Massachusetts, almost half of high school students reported having vaped at least once, according to the 2015 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey. 6
This surge in youth vaping prompted
the U.S. Surgeon General to issue an advisory declaring it an epidemic. He warned of the dangers of e-cigarette use among teens and stressed the need to protect children from a lifetime of nicotine addiction and associated health risks.
While smoking e-cigarettes may pose fewer health risks than smoking regular tobacco cigarettes—the leading cause of preventable death in the United States—it is by no means harmless. E-cigarettes still contain nicotine— the addictive drug in regular cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products—which increases the risk of high blood pressure and diabetes. Many also include flavoring agents that may cause a chronic lung disease called bronchiolitis obliterans.
7
E-cigarettes also can have a significant impact on oral health. A study supported by the American Dental Association Foundation
8
determined that vaping sweet e-cigarettes, including popular mint varieties, can increase the risk of dental cavities. Scientists evaluated e-cigarette aerosols and found that they have similar properties to high-sucrose, gelatinous candies and acidic drinks. The Massachusetts Dental Society’s Word of Mouth publication includes more information on the dangers of e-cigarettes featured in the Winter/Spring 2019 cover story, “The Youth Vaping Epidemic.” Learn more at massdental.org/vaping and massdental.org/wordofmouth. The MDS urges Brookline Town Meeting members to help protect residents from tobacco and nicotine addiction, and its detrimental impacts on oral and overall health, by voting in favor of Article 19. 4 https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/problem/toll-us/massachusetts 5 https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/youth-tobacco-use/ 6 http://www.doe.mass.edu/sfs/yrbs/
7 https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/electronic-cigarettes-good-news-bad-news-201********** 8 https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2018-archive/october/study-some-ecigarette-liquids-may-increase-caries- risk
References
1. Ms. Kathleen McKeon—Former MDS Strategic Communications Manager (Govt Affairs Team): ********.*****@*****.*** / 513-***-****
2. Ms. Josephine (Jody) Hensley, MEd-- Chair, Town of Westborough Advisory Finance Committee
(supervisor): *********@***.*** / 508-***-****
3. Ms. Mary Piecewicz,MBA, MSPC, PMP-- Clark University, Associate Dean, School of Professional Studies: **********@******.*** / 508-***-****
4. Mr. Joseph (Joe) O'Brien-- Clark University, Executive Director, ClarkU MPA Senior Leadership Program/Instructor: ***********@*****.*** / ********@******.***/ 508-***-**** 5. Ms. Michelle Weaver-- MDS Graphic Designer: ********.**********@*****.*** / 774-***-****
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