Repairing America’s Broken Democracy: Bridge Alliance Members Take Action – Katie Usalis, Strategic Partnerships Director – RepresentWomen

As part of a new series on citybiz, Repairing America’s Broken Democracy: Bridge Alliance Members Take Action, each month David H. Nevins, president & CEO of Nevins & Associates, will interview leaders from different Bridge Alliance member organizations doing work to support and protect our democracy around the country. The Bridge Alliance is a coalition of more than 100 organizations working together as active stewards of our democratic republic. Bridge Alliance member organizations span the ideological spectrum, but are unified to work efficiently, outside arbitrarily defined political lines. The Bridge Alliance supports the democracy ecosystem and advances the healthy self-governance movement. The Bridge Alliance nurtures consistent and open communications between its members, developing a foundation of trust to foster collaboration. For more information, visit www.bridgealliance.us.

Katie Usalis serves as RepresentWomen’s Programs & Partnerships Director. In this role, Katie focuses on developing and overseeing program strategies that activate and equip changemakers to advance structural solutions to the representation crisis in U.S. politics. She holds a Master’s degree in International Development from the Institut Barcelona d’EstudisInternacionals (Barcelona Institute of International Studies).

Before moving to Spain, Katie lived and worked in Myanmar for several years where her passion for social justice and human rights led her to serve as a Program Manager and regional Inclusion Advisor for partnerships across Myanmar and Cambodia. She brings unique experience working in diverse contexts and across language barriers to develop program strategies specifically aimed at removing cultural and institutional barriers to equity. Naturally inclined to systems thinking, she is skilled at turning big visions into tangible strategies, building impactful relationships, and is passionate about the value diversity brings to governance work. She strongly believes that fair political representation is a structural catalyst to better policies and a more sustainably just society. In her free time, she loves rock climbing and going on adventures outside!

About RepresentWomen:

RepresentWomen champions and advances the adoption of evidence-based solutions that break down structural barriers to women’s political power. We are committed to building a 21st century democracy in the United States, with gender balance in elected and appointed positions, at every level of government.

The Bridge Alliance is a coalition of over 90 organizations dedicated to rejuvenating America. With each organization focusing on a different sector of the movement, our members represent a combined three million supporters in the burgeoning field of civic reform and civil discourse. In addition, more than one billion dollars has been invested towards improving government effectiveness nationwide.

The Bridge Alliance acts as a hub of information and connectivity for over 90 civic action organizations.

We provide the infrastructure for our members to expand individually, collaborate on shared goals, and inform others that are invested in democracy revitalization. This generates a collective impact for greater than any one group could make alone.

David Nevins is president & CEO of Nevins & Associates, a highly regarded strategic communications company and proactive public relations partner. The firm’s regional and national client base is a unique mix of organizations across a variety of industries including: healthcare, professional service firms, finance, not-for-profits, distributors, state agencies, national media companies, technology, political and grassroots campaigns, real estate development, sporting events, and more.

With more than 30 years of experience in marketing, public relations, and community and government relations, David is a talented and seasoned executive. Prior to founding Nevins & Associates in 1983, David served as the Director of Marketing for both Towson University and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. In 2001, he was tapped by the CEO of Comcast to employ his marketing expertise as President of the company’s regional sports network, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic. David is a Past President of the Board of Governors for the Center Club and is a former Chairman of the Board of Regents for the University System of Maryland, a position to which he was appointed by the Governor of Maryland. David has chaired the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission and the Maryland Higher Education Loan Corporation, served as President of both the Jewish National Fund and the Towson Business Association and was a member of the PNC Bank board.

David is highly involved in the business, civic, and political communities, and his many years of active leadership in numerous organizations have built a network of contacts that he regularly puts to use for the firm’s clients. For more information, visit www.nevinspr.com.