Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)

Founder/Executive Director at Mobilizing Our Brothers Initiative (MOBI)+
Programs Officer, Communities of Color at GLAAD

As the Senior Director of Communities of Color and Media at GLAAD, I  lead the organization’s efforts to promote visibility, understanding, and acceptance among Black LGBTQ+ communities and Communities of Color through media advocacy. Building on my successful tenure as the Director of Communities of Color and Media within the GLAAD Media Institute (GMI), I will continue to drive initiatives aimed at combating stigma, advancing equity and access for Black queer creators, and amplifying diverse storytelling.

GLAAD

Senior Director, Communities of Color and Media

Mobilizing Our Brothers Initiative (MOBI) is a series of curated social connectivity programming for Black gay and queer people of color to see their holistic self while promoting community, wellness, and personal development. MOBI achieves this through signature programming: MOBItalks, a personal and professional development series for Black gay men  and MOBIfest, an interactive wellness experience that celebrates Black queer voices in entertainment, music, visual arts and media. With a focus on wellness, MOBI connects individuals to opportunities to better themselves before, during, and after our programs.

Executive Director: Identifies, cultivates and solicits major and planned gifts, and relationships with foundations, corporations, individuals and community organizations. Monitors MOBI activities; identifies and corrects problems related to areas such as funding, expenditures and related matters. Supervises MOBI staff. Manages and coordinates volunteer and professional relationships in support of MOBI events, major/planned gift fundraising activities, and the annual campaign. Creates and oversees the distribution of marketing materials for MOBI. Meets with community members and organizations to increase organizational visibility and to gain financial support.

Mobilizing Our Brothers Initiative (MOBI)

Executive Director

Management: Responsible for strategic planning and overall management of recruitment, community relations, and education that promotes increased involvement in research studies. Promote increased understanding of research activities conducted by the Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention (Project ACHIEVE) and network partners.

Supervisory: Facilitate and organize weekly recruitment and community education coordination meetings with Principal Investigator (PI). In collaboration with site coordinators, recruit, train, and evaluate full-time, part-time, and per diem recruitment staff, including employment decision-making. Manage Internship and Volunteer program.

Community Education: Develop and conduct educational and outreach activities. Identify community education needs and opportunities. Coordinate training and research dissemination to other Community Based Organizations (CBOs). Provide strategic community education presentations, which includes forums, workshops, and other activities.

Recruitment: Coordinate and monitor all recruitment efforts for recruiting potential participants into various research studies. Identify viable active and passive recruitment venues to increase study participation. Manage social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to increase research study recognition. Analyze data of recruitment efforts.

Community Relations: Establish and maintain ongoing partnerships with CBOs that continues to build cooperation, trust, credibility and appreciation. Serve as primary liaison with organizations, community partners, and the Community Advisory Board (CAB). Maintain database of community resources and relevant activities. 

Budget Management: Oversee multiple project budgets for community education and recruitment and make executive decisions on spending allocations for material development, outreach efforts, staffing needs, and CAB functioning.

New York Blood Center

Manager of Community Engagement

As the Director, Communities of Color and Media within the GLAAD Media Institute (GMI) at GLAAD, I’m responsible for promoting visibility and understanding among Black communities and communities of color, through the media as a means to educate, entertain, inform, and combat stigma while driving acceptance. I work to drive equity and access for Black queer creators in media and entertainment, while amplifying Black Queer voices by increasing diverse storytelling.

Director, Communities of Color and Media

As the Associate Director, Communities of Color, I serve as the primary project director of Accelerating Compassion, a three-year grant aimed at reducing HIV and AIDS stigma and accelerating acceptance of LGBTQ people of color, particularly those living in the South. Additionally, working towards increasing visibility and representation of communities of color in media.

Associate Director, Communities of Color

As the Director of Community Outreach for Impulse Group NYC, I was in charge of the messaging and community outreach goals of the organization, including on/offline, in marketing materials, throughout the community, and at events. I ensured that everything the group did encouraged a healthy atmosphere, community and lifestyle.

Impulse Group NYC

Vice President

Advisor, Young Black Gay Mens Leadership Initiative (YBGLI), 2016 - 2017
Chair, Young Black Gay Mens Leadership Initiative (YBGLI,  2015 - 2016
Vice Chair, Young Black Gay Mens Leadership Initiative (YBGLI), 2014 – 2015 
Organizing Committee Member, YBGLI, 2013 - 2017

Young Black Gay Mens Leadership Initiative (YBGLI)

Chair

Managed editorial content and featured writer for DBQ Magazine, a national publication.
Served as Managing Editor from December 2011 to December 2013.
Served as the Health Editor overseeing the Health Section of DBQ Magazine until June 2015.

DBQ Magazine

Health Editor

Research Coordination: Conducted in-depth qualitative and quantitative interviews with study participants. Organized and implemented active and passive recruitment efforts for National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and National Institute of Health (NIH) funded research projects. 

Supervisory: Scheduled and supervised field recruiters in outreach efforts. Trained and supervised over 20 field recruiters. Conducted interviews and trainings for newly hired field recruiters. 

Administrative: Collected and analyzed data from different approaches of internet and field recruitment. Monitored and tracked multiple project contacts and schedule appointments of eligible participants. Maintained daily and weekly reports.

Recruitment and Outreach: Recruited hard to reach target populations for research studies including HIV positive MSM drug users, HIV negative young Black and Latino gay men, and older adults living with HIV. Conducted outreach in nontraditional venues.

Research Foundation of CUNY

Recruitment Coordinator

● Accounted for office administration leading to efficient and timely processing of all required administrative forms, reports and related information for 400 unit apartment community
● Conducted daily occupancy reports and annual file audits
● Marketed model apartments to applicants to ensure overall high occupancy rates
● Collected application fees, deposits, and rental deposits of residents

Schatten Properties

Leasing Consultant

● Developed press releases for the Rutherford County Salvation Army highlighting major events
● Conducted field interviews with executive and community members to generate story ideas
● Assisted with pitching stories to newspapers, radio, and television stations

Middle Tennessee State University

News & Public Affairs Office Intern

● Managed Marketing Committee in developing strategic plans for new membership recruitment
● Responsible for branding the organization on campus as the premier business fraternity
● Coordinated events to raise economical, academic, and health awareness amongst collegiate peers

Alpha Kappa Psi

Director of Public Relations, Zeta Psi Chapter

Program Coordination: Created and implemented HIV prevention intervention programs that lead to risk reduction and behavior modification for target populations most at risk, including young MSM of color under the age of 24.

Social Media Management: Established online communication and outreach efforts leading to over 50,000 impressions that are still currently being implemented today on Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace.

Supervisory: Recruited, trained, and supervised over 80 volunteers annually with over 850 volunteer hours. 

Testing/Counseling: Administered over 1,500 HIV Counseling/Testing Sessions with at-risk populations.

Creative: Created and executed 3 targeted HIV and STD prevention awareness campaigns. Designed flyers, brochures, and other promotional and informational pieces aimed at generating awareness and support of events. 

Administrative: Maintained monthly, weekly, and individual event reports for grant reporting. Maintained program database for regular mailings and email blasts to program participants and supporters.

Nashville CARES

Young Brothers United Coordinator/HIV Counseling & Testing Specialist

● Controlled inventory and stock for two departments, resulting in a decrease in shrinkage
● Built end caps and promotion displays to improve visibility and increase sales

DaShawn Usher