PROJECTS
Some of the projects and campaigns I’m most proud of.
VERA INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE ANNUAL REPORT 2023 (2024)
I served as editorial director for Vera’s 2023 annual report, celebrating the organization’s work and accomplishments over the course of the year. This report was written by Erica Bryant with additional editorial support provided by Lisha Nadkarni and additional writing contributed by Nazish Dholakia and Sam McCann. Creative direction and design were provided by Valerie Ginorio-Meyer and Neil Shovelin. Original photography was provided by Paul Lewis Anderson, Giants.com, Sergio Mantilla, Obed Obwoge, Victoria Stevens, Jenn Terrell, and Reece T. Williams. Click here to view the report.
VERA INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE ANNUAL REPORT 2022 (2023)
I served as editorial and creative director for Vera’s 2022 annual report, celebrating the organization’s work and accomplishments over the course of the year. This report was written by Erica Bryant; photography was provided by Justin Katigbak, Andrea Morales, Tina Russell, and Reece T. Williams; and illustrations were provided by Mike Centeno and Michelle Garcia. Click here to view the report.
SEEKING HELP, INSTEAD IMPRISONED—UNTIL THEY FOUND REPRESENTATION (2022)
I served as editorial and creative director for a multimedia project combining written content with illustrations and featuring firsthand accounts of two women who, after entering the United States to seek safety, found themselves imprisoned instead of aided. Research shows that detaining people in prison-like conditions is not necessary to ensure they participate in immigration court proceedings. Yet, the two interview subjects were forced to spend weeks locked up in jail. This piece was authored by Erica Bryant and illustrations were provided by Mike Centeno. Click here to view the project.
DRIVER’S LICENSE SUSPENSIONS FOR UNPAID DEBT: PUNISHING POVERTY (2022)
I served as editorial director for a multimedia project combining written content with photography and a video detailing how counterproductive laws that suspend driver’s licenses for unpaid court fines and fees make it harder for millions to work and provide for their families. This piece was authored by Nazish Dholakia, creative direction was provided by Sara Duell, and photography was provided by Andrea Morales. Click here to view the project.
THE PEOPLE RESPONDING TO 911 CALLS INSTEAD OF POLICE (2022)
I served as editorial director for a multimedia project combining written content with photography and profiling two crisis response programs, which a growing number of cities have rolled out. These programs take a different approach to 911 calls that involve people with mental health conditions or substance use issues—situations often referred to as behavioral health crises. In these cases, police have historically been the default first responders, but are often not trained to respond safely and effectively. In fact, police responses can often worsen these situations. In many cases, the mere presence of armed, uniformed officers causes distress. Every week, interactions between officers and people experiencing mental health crises end in handcuffs—and can even turn deadly. This piece was authored by Nazish Dholakia, creative direction was provided by Sara Duell, and photography was provided by Justin Katigbak and Tina Russell. Click here to view the project.
[IT’S] A TORTURE CHAMBER: STORIES FROM RIKERS ISLAND (2022)
I served as editorial director for a multimedia project combining written content with photography and audio recordings featuring firsthand accounts of those impacted by Rikers Island, New York City’s notorious jail complex that is the site of an ongoing human rights crisis. More than 80% of the people confined on Rikers have not been convicted of a crime and endure horrific conditions as they wait for trial. On the inside, crumbling infrastructure, staffing deficits, and the pandemic have made life even more dangerous and degrading. On the outside, family members are desperate for information, as backlogged courts leave their loved ones indefinitely trapped in inhumane conditions. This piece was authored by Erica Bryant, creative direction was provided by Sara Duell, and photography was provided by Reece T. Williams. Click here to view the project.
60 YEARS OF FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE (2022)
I served as editorial director for Vera’s 2021 annual report, celebrating 60 years of the organization’s work. This report was written by Erica Bryant; creative direction and design were provided by Sara Duell and Gloria Mendoza; photography was provided by Anjali Pinto and Jeanette Spicer; and illustrations were provided by Mike Centeno, Jasjyot Singh Hans, and Gloria Mendoza. Click here to view the report.
ICE’S DEADLY PRACTICE OF ABANDONING IMMIGRANTS WITH DISABILITIES AND MENTAL ILLNESSES ON THE STREET (2021)
I served as editorial director for a multimedia project with Vera combining written content with illustrations and an audio recording. Attorneys report that there is a consistent pattern of people who have been declared mentally incompetent due to cognitive disabilities or mental illnesses being ejected from immigration detention without any notice to their attorneys, families, or caregivers and are left to fend for themselves in places like parking lots and bus stations, with only the clothes they had when they were arrested and debit cards they often can’t activate. Some are never found. This piece was authored by Erica Bryant, creative direction was provided by Sara Duell, and illustrations were provided by Michelle Garcia. Click here to view the project.
ANTI-OPPRESSION TOOLKIT (2020)
I worked with colleague Justine Abigail Yu to develop Wanderful’s Anti-Oppression Toolkit, a first-of-its-kind toolkit containing resources, webinars, and guidance for making the travel industry truly equitable for people at all intersections of identity. This undertaking was even awarded with a silver medal at the 2021 WTM Responsible Tourism Awards. Click here to view the toolkit.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: VOTING GUIDE FOR TGNCNB PEOPLE (2020)
In the fall of 2020, I spearheaded a project that offered a digital guide to voting for transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary people. Voting is a fundamental and essential component of participating in our democracy, and it is imperative that everyone be able to exercise their right to vote. Click here to view the guide (updated in 2022).
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: PROTESTING WHILE LGBTQ OR HIV+ (2020)
This Know Your Rights guide for LGBTQ and HIV+ people outlines protesters' rights, how to prepare for a protest, what to do if arrested, what to do once released, and more. This guide was conceived of by me and involved collaboration with attorneys across the country in a short timeframe, as the information it contains was necessary for urgent protests occurring at the time. Click here to view the guide.
WANDERFUL WEBSITE REDESIGN (2020)
In March of 2020, I undertook the task of rebuilding Wanderful’s website and migrating all content — which had previously been hosted on WordPress for over eight years — to Squarespace. Parts of the website (including the blog) still remain hosted on WordPress, but are interlinked seamlessly with the Squarespace site to create a consistent experience. The redesign was necessary for Wanderful’s vision, as its prior structurally and visually out-of-date site was impeding its success and ability to earn conversions. The new site’s design focuses on concision, cohesion, and a simplified user experience. Click here to see before and after comparisons. You can also visit Wanderful’s website right here.
X GENDER MARKERS BY STATE (2020)
This interactive and continuously-updated map outlines where and how to obtain a nonbinary gender maker on driver’s licenses, state IDs, and birth certificates throughout the United States. This project leaned on the expertise of a paralegal/attorney team but all design components were led by me. Click here to view the map.
WISH YOU WERE QUEER (2o19)
Wish You Were Queer was a merchandise collection and editorial campaign for Lambda Legal’s 2019 Pride season. This effort involved creation of community-oriented merchandise in collaboration with a designer and fulfillment vendor, shop website redesign, social media advertising, email marketing, and photoshoot set at Brooklyn's iconic queer beach at Jacob Riis Park. This project’s creative vision began with a desire to celebrate the varied faces and identities of queer community while converting followers into purchasers and supporters engaged with our mission and work. Click here to see more.
#STOPKAVANAUGH (2018)
This educational and informational campaign aimed to spread awareness about the ways in which the United States federal courts are being weaponized against LGBTQ people and those living with HIV. Justice Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court was the convergence of these issues. This campaign involved coordination across social media, earned media, website, email, video, advertising, and more. The campaign earned recognition at the 11th annual Shorty Awards as a finalist for Twitter: LGBTQ Community Engagement, bronze distinction for Twitter Video, and audience honor for Twitter and Twitter Video. Click here to see more.