About me

I have fifteen years of experience in strategic communications and storytelling. I work with organizations to highlight their impact and tell their story in new ways across multiple platforms: from video, to blogs and newsletters, to comics and executive communications.

I’m a Puget Sound native who has also lived abroad for seven years gaining a global perspective. I earned a master’s degree in Cairo, Egypt where I studied migration before writing for a business magazine and publishing articles on food security, green energy development, and environmental policy, among other topics. After returning to the U.S. I transitioned into non-profit communications. I continue to write blogs, social media campaigns, videos, comics, op-eds, and press releases that boost engagement, inspire new audiences, and raise an organization’s profile.

Usually I’m the author, but I’m also often a coach for other creators, helping them finish a project across the finish line. I’m driven to be on teams that work in support the greater good—from supporting integration of immigrants and refugees in King County, to helping build a more equitable education system in Washington, or ensuring environmental protections are upheld as our state grows.

Joanne’s newsletters and blogs were not just updates; they were stories filled with life, great pictures, and insightful narratives that kept our staff and stakeholders connected and informed, especially during the challenging time of the pandemic.
— Yuliya Matyushkina, ReWA ESL coordinator and former colleague