Award Winning High Pressure
Resume:
Elizabeth Vanessa Vinson
Journalist
Award-winning journalist and photographer with track record of success reporting on immigration injustices at the U.S.-Mexico border. Feature writer and enterprise reporter with strong understanding of AP style grammar. Working knowledge of U.S. policy issues that impede equity for all. Develop and pitch compelling and engaging material for online and print publications that advocate for social justice change. Dedicated communications professional with strong organizational skills, research and public speaking skills. Thrive and succeed in high-pressure atmospheres. Further experience working with low-income Latinx youth and families through advocacy, outreach and volunteer work. Diligent and proactive worker competent in most areas of computer technologies. Thrive in diverse work settings, where justice, equity and inclusion are at the forefront. Able to work independently or in a team setting. Fast and eager learner. Excellent critical and analytical thinking skills. Extremely creative, with the ability to brainstorm new ideas for publication or campaigns. Prior work as a professional photographer, with a working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop. Fluent in Spanish.
Contact
Address
Montgomery, AL, 36106
Phone
adz5h6@r.postjobfree.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-vinson-splc/
Photography portfolio
https://lizvinsonphotos.com
Awards
Winner, Best in Show, 2022 – received highest award in the Montgomery Photo Festival International Competition.
Winner, Gold Anthem Award, 2023 – the highest award in the News & Journalism category for my story documenting the cruel treatment several Black men endured in solitary confinement.
Skills
Investigative research
Story development
Feature writing
Editing
Grammar usage
Interviewing
Fluent in Spanish
Personal interviews
Researching information
Excellent communication abilities
Reporting news
Breaking news expertise
Storytelling
Breaking News
Monthly Reporting
Languages
Spanish
English
Work History
2023–02 – 2023-05
2018-05 –2023-02
2015-05-
2018-05
Communications Director
Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition
Directed communications support for team members to build and transform the coalition.
Strategized communications plans to streamline our yearly goals.
Created weekly bulletin sent out nationwide to supporters.
Crafted materials such as the annual report; press releases; talking points; commentaries and op-eds.
Provided support and guided our communications coordinator to ensure optimal coverage of news secured on our initiatives.
Staff Writer
The Southern Poverty Law Center, Montgomery, Alabama
Lead writer for the SPLC's “Attention on Detention” – a series that highlights those currently fighting for their release from immigrant detention.
Travel to various cities to meet and interview immigrants, then write articles describing their plights to the U.S. and how they are now thriving.
Lead writer for the SPLC's Immigrant Justice Project, LGBTQ+ and Special Litigation practice groups, as well the lead writer on the movement to remove Confederate iconography across the U.S.
Write and pitch op-eds for management centered around LGTBQ+ rights and immigration reform.
Write breaking news that is elevated to the nation, via our main website and social media platforms.
Regular contributor to the Center's quarterly newspaper, The SPLC Report, to uplift the SPLC's litigation and other initiatives.
Responsible for creating the SPLC's weekly internal newsletter that summarizes achievements of the Center throughout the week.
Freelance Reporter
The Montgomery Advertiser, Montgomery, AL
Lead writer for the paper’s arts and entertainment section.
Provided opinion columns, essays and metro news to be used for print and online publication.
Responsible for interviewing people of interest to create newsworthy stories regarding city and governmental updates.
Independently produced a 20-page travelogue publication distributed to 17 publications within the state of Alabama.
2011-01 - 2015-05
Instructor of Spanish
The University Of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Responsible for instruction of beginner to accelerated levels of Spanish courses.
Created and developed all lectures, as well as materials to be used for grading.
Implemented oral interview testing as way to measure Spanish proficiency.
Led independent studies related to contemporary U.S. Latinx issues.
Created engaging lesson plans, fostered culture of discovery and provided well-organized classroom structure to help students succeed in program.
Assessed student knowledge of Spanish and applied appropriate methods to address learning needs.
Education
2009-2010
M.A: Spanish, Applied Spanish Linguistics
The University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa, AL
GPA: 4.0
2000 - 2004
B.A.: Spanish, Telecommunications and Film
The University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa, AL
Dean's List Spring semester 2004
GPA: 3.4
2003
La Universidad de Alcalá de Henares - Madrid
Continuing education in Spanish
2003
La Universidad de San José
Continuing education in Spanish
Interests
Photography
Travel
Languages
Writing
Researching
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