Sonya Rifkin

Experience

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  Equilibrium Dynamics

  Aug 2008 - Jun 2010

  Data Entry Coordinator

  Created new data entry and organizational systems for emotional competence workshop evaluations

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  DataCenter

  Feb 2009 - Jul 2010

  Community Research Intern

  Trained in "research justice" methods and helped manage research database for a Right to the City report on public housing agencies

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  City of Oakland

  Jan 2011 - May 2011

  Mobile Food Vending Policy Intern

  Master's thesis for the Oakland Planning Department; conducted study of comparative practices in local mobile food vending policies in seven cities, and facilitated workshops with Oakland vendors and merchants.

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  ChangeLab Solutions

  May 2011 - Oct 2013

  Healthy Planning Fellow

  Research and writing support for technical assistance and publications about land use planning for healthy neighborhoods. Areas of focus include affordable housing, local food systems, regional transportation planning, and active transportation (bicycle/pedestrian).

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  DataCenter/OccupyResearch

  Oct 2011 - Jan 2012

  Research Assistant

  Coordinated weekly conference calls for international network of activists and researchers; Co-facilitated collaborative development of a survey instrument and survey guide.

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  Homestead Apothecary

  Oct 2015 - Feb 2017

  -Developed and coordinated public programs and low-cost clinics; produced newsletter with subscriber base of 5000; coordinated annual Herbal Medicine Fair Rewrote product labels to meet FDA standards and developed staff training manual

  • Education and Events Coordinator

    Mar 2016 - Feb 2017

  • Web Projects Manager

    Oct 2015 - Mar 2016
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  City of Berkeley

  May 2016 - Aug 2017

  GIS Analyst

  -Worked with the GIS Manager and department staff to design static maps, mapping applications, and StoryMaps for internal and public use, and maintained the Enterprise GIS network.-Deepened institutional knowledge of ArcGIS Online's web maps and apps, and improved existing apps for the Planning, Public Works, and Parks Departments.-Conducted spatial analysis to support staff projects-Trained and supported staff across the city to become confident ArcGIS Online and Open Data users

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  National Union of Healthcare Workers

  Oct 2017 - Jan 2023

  Highlights:-Collaboratively trained and led work of staff researchers-Helped thousands of union members and their negotiators do background research on wages and hospital finances to win good contracts, including fighting takeaways on healthcare during the pandemic-Directed 500+ member survey to document short-staffing across a hospital system. Recruited team of member leaders to direct survey design, and produced a 4-page report referenced in local news coverage of workplace actions.-Presented findings about corporate hospital profits at community town hall in Eureka, CA, alongside members and local public health leaders-Led Environmental Services worker complaint with state regulators following use of a hazardous and improperly tested cleaning product, including background research with multiple state and federal occupational safety agencies-Co-led development of union-wide COVID-19 model workplace safety policies and contract language in early 2020-Prepared written & verbal arguments against the merger of two California hospital systems, contributing to the Attorney General's rejection of the deal-Co-led campaign that resulted in two California counties improving oversight of medical staffing in the county jails Show less

  • Research Coordinator

    Jun 2021 - Jan 2023

  • Researcher

    Oct 2017 - Jun 2021
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  Self-employed

  Feb 2023 - now

  Freelance Movement Researcher