Emma Baratta, MA

Experience

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  Matt Longjohn for Congress

  Aug 2018 - Nov 2018

  Field Intern

  • Worked under the Kalamazoo County Field Organizer to successfully flip Kalamazoo County blue for the first time against Rep. Fred Upton• 666 doors knocked with 112 persuasion and turnout conversations completed during canvassing• Completed 4,779 hand dials and completed 1,389 successful turnout and persuasion conversations via a predictive dialer system and hand dials

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  Western Michigan University

  Aug 2018 - Apr 2021

  • Handled the political, legislative, and lobbying affairs of the WMU student government• Ensured voting representation in both state and national student government organizations • Organized voter registration efforts • Planned and executed virtual campus events on topics such as social justice, voting rights and responsibilities and collaborative advocacy.• Wrote and passed university legislation resulting in improved accessibility to menstrual products on campus and encouraging the elimination of required attendance on Election Day to improve student voter turnout. Show less

  • Western Student Association Vice President for Political Affairs

    Apr 2020 - Apr 2021

  • Student Ambassador

    Aug 2018 - Aug 2020
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  U.S. House of Representatives

  Apr 2019 - Aug 2019

  District Intern

  Rep. Sean Casten, Illinois’ 6th Congressional District• Answered office phones, communicated constituent service issues to caseworkers• Entered data and constituent information from phone calls, office visits, and town halls into IQ system and Google Sheets format.• Assisted in staffing at town hall meetings and community events

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  Michigan Immigrant Rights Center

  Jan 2020 - Apr 2020

  Intern

  • Draft motions, statements, and letters on the behalf of lawyers and legal assistants in both English and Spanish• Maintain client information and case data in PIKA, Microsoft Access, and Excel formats.• Translate legal documents from Spanish to English

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  Michigan Immigrant Rights Center

  Aug 2021 - Nov 2021

  Legal Assistant

  • Participated in intake interviews and Know Your Rights presentations in Spanish and English using Dari and Pashto interpreters • Prepared immigration and legal documents, grant and other reporting and professional communications• Translated legal documents including birth certificates, marriage certificates and other identification from Spanish to English

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  Western Michigan University

  Jan 2022 - Jun 2023

  • Serve as a liaison between Western Michigan University (WMU) and elected officials, reestablishing WMU Day at the Capitol to improve engagement and encourage investment from the Michigan State Legislature.• Collaborate with local government on the creation and implementation of civic engagement workshops and activities for WMU students resulting in the creation of a WMU Neighborhood Association to improve engagement between the city and university. • Analyze higher education policy initiatives at the state and federal level to identify programs and funding for the benefit of WMU• Write monthly Bronco Advocacy Network newsletter using Constant Contact• Develop and oversee team project and task management system• Schedule meetings and manage calendars for senior university leaders• Manage hourly employee payroll and track senior leaders leave time• Process invoices, travel reimbursements and independent contracts Show less • Mediate across political and social divides on campus and in the community• Develop programming promoting civil discourse, open inquiry, and viewpoint diversity • Coordinate campus and community wide events with nationally recognized authors, civic leaders and U.S. Congressional Representatives• Moderate campus-wide discussions and free speech cafés • Oversee social media promotion developed on Canva for Instagram and Facebook • Write and file grant applications and develop grant reports, resulting in $3,000+ in investment in We Talk programming Show less

  • Graduate Assistant, Government Relations

    Jan 2022 - Jun 2023

  • Project Coordinator, We Talk Civil Discourse Initiative

    Jan 2022 - Jun 2023
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  Global Ties Kalamazoo

  Jun 2023 - now

  Program Manager

  • Design, implement and facilitate international exchange programs for emerging and established leaders from across the globe with their professional counterparts in Kalamazoo.• Build and maintain relationships with a broad spectrum of community partners in West Michigan• Actively identify and recruit new community hosts, partnerships and volunteers• Evaluate and support the implementation of an organizational strategic plan.• Manage program budgets and track business expenses, assist in securing grant funding.• Coordinated and publicized a three-day national summit which brought professionals from across the country and the U.S. Department of State to explore how local community organizations are building solutions to global problems in Kalamazoo•Supervise and support university interns Show less