Peer Educator Freelance Writer
Resume:
Zanele Chisholm
Community Director
*.************@*****.***
She/Her
I am a community organizer, storyteller, and healer with a passion for empowering diverse community members to seek out their paths of joy, love, and purpose. Willing to relocate: Anywhere
Work Experience
Founder and CEO
Awakening Ekhaya - Toronto, ON
January 2022 to Present
Awakening Ekhaya is a community-centered sacred organization working to empower, heal, and liberate all communities through arts, performance, wellness-based ritual, and conversation. Tarot & Oracle Reader
Awakening Ekhaya - Toronto, ON
August 2021 to Present
Through the healing practice of tarot and oracle readings, I help bridge people to the center of their power and align with their most joyful and highest path and purpose. Founder
Black Women Speak
June 2020 to Present
I created an online social platform specifically centering on Black women and creating community with each other in our own space and under our own terms. Playwright
Awakening Ekhaya - Toronto, ON
June 2019 to Present
I am currently working on my debut musical, "The Things I Became". Editor-in-Chief
New Wave Magazine - Toronto, ON
August 2021 to January 2022
As editor-in-chief, I organized funding and budgeting for New Wave Magazine. I facilitated hiring for all of our volunteer positions and structured as well as maintained the function of the magazine through an organized system of roles and tasks which I assigned. Youth Peer Educator
METRAC - ReAct - Toronto, ON
June 2021 to December 2021
As a Youth Peer Educator, I work with youth, including BIPOC, newcomers, 2SLGBTQIA+, and disabled youth, ages 14-21 and young girls and non-binary children ages 10-13. I help create weekly programming for engaging 1.5-hour workshops centered around confidence, mental health, oppression, education, empowerment, and an array of issues pertaining to young people. Social Media Coordinator
Ryerson English Department - Toronto, ON
January 2020 to September 2021
Working with Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook I help run the English Department's social media by creating original posts and graphic content.
Desktop Publishing Specialist - Contract
Black Girls Magazine
June 2021 to August 2021
I help manage the social media, website, and marketing for Black Girls Magazine. As the Desktop Publishing Specialist, I managed outreach and promotion for a virtual summer workshop series, creating promotional content for social media as well as managing registration forms and communication with participants and their guardians.
Residence Desk Agent
Ryerson University - Toronto, ON
August 2019 to June 2021
Working with the Ryerson residential community has allowed me to have a unique perspective as a Ryerson student working with incoming first-year students and working to create the most comfortable and safe environment possible for these students. Working as a desk agent I deal with security, privacy, customer service, independent roles, and student interaction. Freelance Writer
Woo Your Boo
December 2020 to May 2021
I helped create monthly content for Woo Your Boo writing advice-based articles around love, relationships, and personal growth.
Committee Member
Ryerson Anti-Black Racism Committee
November 2020 to May 2021
As a committee member, I provide insight into the experiences of Black students attending Ryerson University. I've helped lead discussions around Anti-Blackness on campus and conducted community forums around recommendations for addressing Anti-Black racism within educational institutions. Managing Creative Editor
New Wave Magazine - Toronto, ON
September 2020 to May 2021
I manage the creative section at New Wave Magazine. Co-Host
Consent Comes First & Ryerson Library - Ryerson Reads - Toronto, ON October 2020 to April 2021
I co-host an Instagram Live show called Zanele and Dhriti Tea and Chat in collaboration with Ryerson Reads for Eternity Martis' "They Said This Would Be Fun". Creative Editor
New Wave Magazine - Toronto, ON
September 2019 to September 2020
I was asked to come on to the recently revived New Wave Magazine team and help run the creative section. My job as a creative editor includes editing submitted written pieces, organizing submissions, responding to emails and reaching out to writers, collecting information and sending it to the main section editors, and being a link between the writer and New Wave. Our fall issue will be premiering January 2020. Content Writer
Her Campus - Toronto, ON
October 2018 to September 2020
Working with Her Campus Ryerson for over a year now, I have gained a plethora of experience in creating new and exciting consistent monthly content for a ryerson community based project. Not only have my writing skills improved through the job but also my ability to capture the attention of Ryerson students and engage in a proactive and progressive matter as well. Communications Administrator
The Language Lab - Toronto, ON
May 2019 to October 2019
During my time working at the small business, the language lab, I was able to strengthen my knowledge of social media, curated content, and understanding my audience. I created several social media ads, tweets, and posts for the Language Lab and worked closely with my boss. Being a remote job, I was expected to complete much of the work independently and I was able to live up to every deadline. Content Writer
New Wave Magazine - Toronto, ON
November 2018 to April 2019
I had my creative writing published in both the fall and spring issue. I worked with the creative team, editing, pitching, and finalizing my work.
Team Member
McDonald's - Toronto, ON
August 2018 to April 2019
I work as a Team Member for McDonalds, located inside Eaton Center Mall. I’ve handled everything from cooking fries to taking orders or restocking. I work quickly and efficiently and am able to quickly solve customer issues.
Storyteller
The Moth - New York, NY
October 2017 to June 2018
During the months of October, November, and December I spent time participating in a storyteller workshop where I learned how to share personal moments in one’s life in five minutes. I performed at my high school Moth storyslam and was then selected to perform at the all around high school grand slam in New York City. In May of 2018 I was selected to perform my story again at Lincoln Center to potential Moth participants. In June of 2018, I was selected to perform my story at the Moth Ball. Iowa Young Writer’s Studio
University of Iowa - Iowa City, IA
July 2017 to July 2017
I was accepted into the extremely selective and prestigious Iowa Young Writers’ Studio where I spent two weeks in July 2017 strengthening my craft as a short story fiction writer, screenwriter, and literary translator.
Writer and Editor
(Un)Popular Opinions Magazine - New York, NY
February 2017 to June 2017
Through The Beacon School’s Magazine Writing Elective, I and students in the class created, wrote for, edited, and published the first-ever online, student-run magazine. Skills I developed while working on the magazine include but are not limited to magazine writing and editing, design and layout, and InDesign. Young Writers’ Workshop
92Y Street - New York, NY
July 2016 to July 2016
I was accepted into and participated in the 92Y Street’s Young Writers’ Workshop during the month of July in 2016. I spent three works working with publish authors and writing professionals honing my skills in Poetry, Fiction, and non-Fiction. At the end of the program I had created a portfolio of work that I could potentially publish.
Education
BA in English
Ryerson University - Toronto, ON
August 2018 to Present
Skills
• Microsoft Office (10+ years)
• Web Design (1 year)
• Editing (7 years)
• Creative Writing (10+ years)
• Leader (4 years)
• Child Care (2 years)
• Indesign (Less than 1 year)
• Cashier
• Customer Service
• Proofreading
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Social Media Management
• Writing Skills
• Blogging
• Research
Links
http://www.awakeningekhaya.com
https://blkwomenspeak.com/
https://zanelechisholm1.wixsite.com/thetimecapsule https://zchisholm2000.wixsite.com/diaryofbloomingwoman Awards
Scholastic Arts & Writing Gold Key
February 2017
I was awarded a gold key for my short story “Unchained Tracks”. Publications
Revival Love
https://www.hercampus.com/school/ryerson/revival-love October 2018
A young woman’s journey to being loved, lonely, and okay with it. I Am my Hair: Exploring Black Hair as an Expression of Liberation https://www.hercampus.com/school/ryerson/i-am-my-hair-exploring-black-hair-expression-liberation November 2018
Embracing your opposition to the norm as liberation. Unpacking Jordan Peele’s Us From a Human Perspective https://www.hercampus.com/school/ryerson/unpacking-jordan-peele-s-us-human-perspective April 2019
On Death: Seven Steps Through Grief
https://www.hercampus.com/school/ryerson/death-seven-steps-through-grief April 2019
On Creativity & Sorrow
https://www.hercampus.com/school/ryerson/creativity-and-sorrow March 2019
More Than Words
https://www.hercampus.com/school/ryerson/more-words March 2019
She Came Here to Dance: A Journey Towards Understanding the Effects of Sexual Violence
https://www.hercampus.com/school/ryerson/she-came-here-dance-journey-towards-understanding- effects-sexual-violence
January 2019
Uncompromising Love: Reimagining Pride and the World for Queer Black Women
https://www.cherie.com/campaign/6839695458923773957/black-queer-women-deserve-to-be-loved- and-protected
June 2020
Split Ends
https://theeyeopener.com/2021/03/short-story-split-ends/ March 2021
Desirable Woman
https://theeyeopener.com/2020/02/desirable-woman-it-shouldnt-be-so-complicated-to-love-a-black- woman/
February 2020
It shouldn't be so complicated to love a Black Woman. Peaks and valleys: The many rhythms of the orgasm
https://aloveofonesown.theeyeopener.com/mini-orgasmic February 2021
I’m 20 years old and I’ve never orgasmed—or at least that’s what I thought. Additional Information
As an aspiring writer and current college student, I hope to use the skills I have attained through numerous writing programs and opportunities to find a job where I can continue to grow and learn more about my fields of interest and those surrounding it.
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