2018 Communications Institute
2018 Communications Institute: The Power of Voice
On June 10 – 14, 2018, The Opportunity Agenda conducted its 9th annual Communications Institute, through which we trained social justice opinion leaders on a variety of communications skills and strategies.
The invitation-only Institute took place in New York City. The cohort of 17 Fellows received comprehensive training on a variety of communications skills, including framing and narrative development, media strategy, and on-camera interviews.
The substance of the Institute is five days of intensive, in-person training and skill-building, including on:
- Narrative and Messaging to Persuade and Activate Audiences
- Media Strategy
- Spokesperson Skills
- Broadcast Media Appearances
This year’s Institute focused on The Power of Voice in a time when social justice leaders are being actively silenced. The Opportunity Agenda is proud to launch these voices into the discourse to reframe the debate for social justice in the United States.
The 2018 Communications Institute was made possible, in part, by the generous contributions of the Ford Foundation, The JPB Foundation, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Marguerite Casey Foundation, the Tow Foundation, Nathan Cummings Foundation, the Open Society Foundations, The Libra Foundation, Unbound Philanthropy, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and individual donors.
Meet the 2018 Fellows
Cynthia Pompa
Advocacy Coordinator, ACLU Border Rights CenterCynthia Pompa is a proud native to the borderlands who grew up in both Cd. Juárez, Chih. and El Paso, TX. She is the Advocacy Coordinator at the ACLU Border Rights Center in El Paso. In this role, she works to develop and coordinate advocacy and organizing strategies among the...
Get To know Cynthia
Jennifer Ramo
Executive Director, AppleseedJennifer Ramo is the founder and Executive Director of New Mexico Appleseed. An experienced attorney, she designed New Mexico Appleseed’s effective system of change and created Appleseed’s first in the nation programs such as the Hunger-Free Students’ Bill of Rights (prohibited lunch shaming children whose parents owe school meal debt),...
Get To know Jennifer
Topeka K. Sam
Founder and Executive Director, The Ladies of Hope Ministries (The LOHM)Topeka K. Sam is the Founder and Executive Director of The Ladies of Hope Ministries – The LOHM – whose mission is to help disenfranchised and marginalized women and girls transition back into society through spiritual empowerment, education, entrepreneurship, and advocacy. She is also the co-founder of HOPE HOUSE NYC...
Get To know Topeka K.
Qiana Torregano
Spokesperson/Advocate, RESULTSQiana Marie Torregano is a New Orleans native, Master Teacher, and RESULTS Spokesperson. She is humbled to represent her eclectic city and great state as an educator and advocate. Her vision is "A quality lifestyle for every citizen. As lifelong learners we are charged to use our knowledge and voices...
Get To know Qiana
Manar Waheed
Legislative and Advocacy Counsel, ACLUAs Legislative and Advocacy Counsel at the ACLU, Manar works on the intersection of issues impacting Muslims, Arabs, Middle Easterners, and South Asians, including immigration, national security and counterterrorism, and hate violence. Manar was previously the Deputy Policy Director for Immigration at the Obama White House Domestic Policy Council in...
Get To know Manar
Roy Waterman
Criminal Justice Project Manager, Jewish Council for Public AffairsRoy Waterman is the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) Criminal Justice Project Manager. This project is focused on educating and empowering the Jewish community relations field to advocate on criminal justice reform at the national and local level. He will assist to mobilize these communities against the modern day Civil...
Get To know Roy
