Community Organized Relief Efforts (CORE) - Head of Communications and Community Engagement - COVID-19 Response, NYC

As Head of Communications and Community Engagement for CORE Response during the height of the COVID-19 crisis, I served as a key leader in New York City’s rapid response infrastructure. Tasked with mobilizing urgent public health efforts in the early days of the pandemic, I led a nimble team of over 20 staff—including two direct reports—in designing and deploying a citywide communications and community engagement strategy for testing and tracing operations. In a moment defined by uncertainty, I worked cross-sector with the NYC Mayor’s Office, Test + Trace Corps and local governments to deliver accurate, inclusive, and actionable public health messaging that reached the city’s most vulnerable communities.

I brought a crisis-tested approach to public engagement—prioritizing trust-building with mutual aid networks, faith-based groups, and community-based organizations across all five boroughs. By rapidly translating outreach materials, activating hyperlocal partnerships, and utilizing both traditional and digital channels, we ensured clear access to life-saving resources. This targeted strategy resulted in 4,000+ individuals being tested each month and a 50% increase in CORE’s operational footprint within just four months.

In addition to overseeing daily testing metrics and reporting to senior leadership and city officials, I also built and trained a Street Team of 20+ community mobilizers—ensuring consistent, culturally competent engagement at each site. My leadership helped shape not just CORE’s impact, but the city’s broader response strategy—grounding it in equity, clarity, and human connection during one of the most critical public health emergencies in modern history.