444 W St. James Place #415
Chicago, IL 60614
(773)317-7095 cell
(773)528-9168 home
writetrutham@yahoo.com
Professional Summary
Comprehensive experience working in public relations for non-profit organizations, political campaigns, and educational institutions writing press releases, maintaining Excel and Access databases, writing and producing newsletters, brochures grants, inter- and external memos and letters, content for web sites.
Professional Experience
Intern Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance
Greater Chicago
2002-Present
• Write articles for the Spectrum newsletter.
• Write press releases announcing upcoming educational events.
• Write grants to help group receive funding to continue to do more outreach
and bring more programs, speakers to Chicago area.
• Research speakers working on new treatments and publications about bipolar
and depressive disorders for possible symposiums.
• Help plan, organize, and staff two yearly symposiums.
• Assist the office coordinator answering calls for information on support
groups and other referrals.
• Write and design letters on Word.
• Help with maintenance of media and membership database on Access.
• Assist with mailings.
Freelance Killer Words, LLC West Hartford, CT.
2000-Present Write marketing materials for brochures, direct mail, radio, television,
print ads, posters, and content for web sites.
Full-Time
1999-2000 Shore Line Times Madison, CT
News Reporter—Wrote over eight hard news and feature length stories a
week for bi-weekly paper.
Intern Hartford Advocate Hartford,
CT
Summer 1998 Pop Culture, News Writer and Editorial Assistant. Assisted editors
with research, organization, writing, editing, design and layout.
Intern
Summer 1997 Hartford Courant Hartford, CT
New Technologies Writer. Wrote, researched, and edited content for their web
site and digital section of print paper.
Intern
1995-97 Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) Campaign
’96 Boston, MA
• Maintained media database.
• Called reporters and publicists.
• Edited press releases and speeches.
• Researched upcoming issues for debates.
• Organized Chapter of the College Democrats.
• Helped maintain database for Boston office of Democratic National Committee.
Intern
1998-99 The Hartt School of the Performing
Arts West Hartford, CT
• Maintained media database.
• Called reporters about upcoming events.
• Wrote and edited press releases.
• Designed flyers to advertise events around campus in community at large.
• Worked with PR director and deans to develop 5-year plan to market college
and increase enrollment.
Publications I have had health and mental health related articles
appear in the following Chicago-area publications: Conscious Choice, Windy City
Time, Inside Publications, Streetwise.
Skills
AP Style Manual, Univ. of Chicago Style Manual, APA Style, Spanish, ability to work under pressure and in diverse environments, good listener, adapts to changing environments quickly, Quickbooks, Appleworks, Frontpage, Microsoft Office Suite, Excel, Access, Word, Powerpoint, Outlook, Dreamweaver, HTML, Adobe PhotoShop, Quark Express, Adobe Pagemaker, and lots more design and web design software.
Education
June, 2004 DePaul University Chicago, IL
MA/Writing
May, 1999 University of Hartford West
Hartford, CT
BA/Journalism
Attended Simmons College Boston, MA from
1995-97
Graduated Magna cum Laude (GPA 3.57)
Lambda Pi Eta, National Communications Honor Society, 1999
“Honorable Mention” Nonfiction Writing Award--English Dept.
Community Activities
Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic Chicago, IL
Wrote legal manuals and articles for newsletter.
Goldie’s Place Chicago, IL
Planned, wrote, and edited four page newsletter for a non-profit working to
help homeless people find jobs.