Kari Jones
 

Executive Communications

National Nurses United

Oakland, CA 

2023-present
Responsible for elevating the voice of Bonnie Castillo, RN, executive director of National Nurses United (NNU), the largest union of registered nurses in the United States. I write Bonnie’s speeches, op-eds (Teen Vogue, USA Today and more), award-winning blog posts, other internal and external executive communications. My writing for Bonnie began in 2016 (see below) and included writing for her as she made the TIME 100 list of most influential people of 2020. At the time, I was doing the work of multiple people, wrangling press and overseeing leadership communications for NNU. My current focus is solely executive communications.

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Communications Specialist
National Nurses United
Oakland, CA 
2014-2022

Created short- and long-form written pieces (feature stories, op-eds, releases, statements), conducted media trainings, and handled media relations for the largest union of registered nurses in the United States. In 2016, I was tapped to write for Bonnie Castillo, RN, who was, at the time, NNU's associate executive director. I continued on in that role when she became NNU executive director in 2018. I'm especially proud of the powerful, unwavering, fiercely compassionate pieces we produced during Covid-19. I'm also proud to have written for Bonnie as she made the TIME 100 list of the most influential people of 2020. In my time at NNU, I won the Max Steinbock "highest single award for journalistic excellence" in the International Labor Communications Awards for NNU magazine story "Dearly Departed," an exploration into Covid patient death from the perspective of ICU nurses. In 2023, I transitioned out of my dual roles of press work and leadership comms, and I now focus specifically on executive communications for the union.
 

Institute for the Study of Knowledge Management in Eduction (ISKME)
Communications Direction (consultant)

​Half Moon Bay, CA
2010 - 2014

 

​Oversaw communications for global education nonprofit. Helped hone research papers for publication, wrote a monthly newsletter on college completion, and handled other organizational communications for non-profit education research institute.


Co-organizer, Communications Director
One Billion Rising Oakland
Oakland, CA
February 14, 2013

Co-produced and ran media for a 500-person rally on the steps of Oakland, California's city hall, dedicated to ending sexual violence.

 

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Development and Communications Consultant
Lost Valley Environmental Educational Center
Dexter, OR
2009-2010

 

I  lived on site at Lost Valley during my year-long contract assignment to help improve the communications strategy for an organization dedicated to teaching students from around the world how to lessen their impact on the planet. I transitioned Lost Valley's printed newsletter to a digital format, worked with the executive director to convey his voice in organizational communications, and oversaw internal and external communications. When I wasn't in the office cabin, I was earning my permaculture design certificate and turning the largest compost pile anyone has ever seen.

 

 

Communications Consultant
Sacred Heart Medical Center Foundation
2007-2009

Crafted proposals, brochures, and executive communications related to fundraising efforts of not-for-profit hospital. Developed storyboard, wrote and oversaw design of donor newsletter.


Copywriter
JWT Advertising
Detroit, MI
2001-2006

While writing about cars and trucks was a career step for a young writer coming up in the Motor City, this job did teach me to condense extremely complex information about regenerative braking or engine components—into language that is more easily accessible. That skill keeps on giving.
 

 

Contributing Writer
Metro Times
Detroit, MI
2002-2006

Covered Arts (theater, books, and dance) as a freelance writer for Detroit’s alternative newsweekly.