Selected projects in strategic communications, policy translation, storytelling, and audience engagement.

2026 Legislative Session Review

Turning complex policy into practical guidance for providers

Challenge

An important value ARRM provides to members is analyzing policy changes, translating those changes to members, and gathering member feedback to inform future policy agendas. The two human services omnibus bills that emerged from the 2026 legislature were unusually large, containing dozens of provisions that meant major changes for providers.

Approach

Built a legislative review structured around practical impacts rather than legislative chronology. Wrote an introduction/executive summary that hit all the measures that providers cared about the most. Ensured that the document was easy to navigate and included calls-to-action to reengage members in future grassroots advocacy.

Outcome

Created a resource providers and other stakeholders could quickly reference and use in planning and advocacy efforts.

Skills

Policy communication • Writing • Strategic messaging • Stakeholder communication

---

Building Value: How Authenticity Drives Member RENEWALS

Helping industry professionals use tools effectively in an evolving comms landscape

Challenge
As AI tools become increasingly capable of producing content at scale, communications professionals face questions about how to preserve authenticity and maintain meaningful engagement with audiences and members while operating on slim budgets.

Approach
Developed and delivered a presentation exploring where AI can support communication efforts and where human context, organizational voice, and audience understanding remain essential. Used side-by-side examples and practical scenarios to ground broader communication principles in real-world applications.

Outcome
Presented a framework for thinking about communication value beyond content production, emphasizing trust, authenticity, and relationship-building.

Skills

Thought Leadership • Public Speaking • Strategic Communications • Audience Analysis • Presentation Design • AI & Communication Strategy

---

Individualized Home Supports (IHS-T) Policy One-Pager

Turning a misunderstood service line into a policy win

Challenge
In 2025, the Minnesota legislature passed devastating changes to Individualized Home Supports with Training (IHS-T) in an attempt to reduce the human services budget. However, it was clear to ARRM that policymakers did not understand the realities of how providers implemented IHS-T on the ground, or what the changes meant for people receiving the service.

Approach
Created a concise, plain-language communication tool that translated policy details into accessible comparisons and practical implications. Prioritized clarity and readability over technical jargon. Worked closely with the policy team to determine why prior advocacy efforts had succeeded or not succeeded, and what advocates needed from the document in order to be successful in 2026.

Outcome
Developed an advocacy resource that ARRM’s team and members used when talking to legislators throughout the 2026 session. The 2025 changes were amended in 2026, correcting some of the damage done by the prior year’s law as a result of ARRM’s advocacy efforts.

Skills

Policy Translation • Writing & Editing • Advocacy Communications • Visual Communication • Information Design

---

ARRM Openings Portal – Newspaper Ad

Driving traffic to a new line of business for ARRM

Challenge
ARRM launched the Openings Portal with the dual purpose of connecting ARRM members with program site openings and helping Minnesotans with disabilities and their families more easily locate available housing across the state. The challenge was creating a simple, visually clear advertisement for Access Press, a print newspaper published by Minnesotans with disabilities for Minnesotans with disabilities, that could quickly communicate the portal’s purpose while encouraging immediate engagement across print and digital environments.

Approach
Designed a clean, mobile-centered advertisement focused on accessibility, simplicity, and immediate recognition. Used a minimal visual hierarchy and familiar search imagery to reinforce the portal’s function while emphasizing ease of use through concise, audience-centered messaging. Incorporated QR functionality to reduce barriers between discovery and action.

Outcome
Created a versatile promotional asset supporting awareness and adoption of ARRM’s Openings Portal across outreach and marketing efforts. The design helped reinforce the portal as an accessible, user-friendly resource for individuals and families navigating disability services options.

Skills

Graphic Design • Visual Communication • Accessibility-Focused Design • Messaging Strategy • Audience Engagement • Brand Consistency • Print & Digital Marketing • Information Design