SYDNEY L. JONES 400 Blairwood Drive Fort Worth, Texas 76134 [email protected]
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SYDNEY L. JONES 400 Blairwood Drive Fort Worth, Texas 76134 [email protected] External affairs professional with over 15 years of experience working with elected officials, community leaders, and boards to advance policy and public relations agendas. Demonstrated expertise in political campaign management, strategic planning, program and project management, and capacity building. Solid record of accomplishment in teaching, public speaking, managing relationships with diverse constituencies and fundraising for political, educational, and social causes. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE August 2020-Present Adjunct Faculty Member, Collin College, McKinney, TX • Provide instruction to undergraduate students taking political science courses; currently teaching two sections of Texas Government in person and online • Plan classes and implement and evaluate teaching/learning objectives and student learning outcomes August 2019-Present Adjunct Faculty Member, Paul Quinn College, Dallas, TX • Provide instruction to undergraduate students taking political science courses including, US/Federal Government, Texas Government & Comparative Politics; teach some courses online • Plan classes, implement and evaluate teaching/learning objectives and student learning outcomes August 2017-Present Adjunct Faculty Member, Division of History & Political Science, University of North Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX • Provide instruction to undergraduate students taking political science courses; currently teaching two sections of American & Texas Government (Law & Institutions, Public Policy) • Teach two upper-level courses: Congress & the Legislative Process and Campaigns & Elections • Plan classes and implement and evaluate teaching/learning objectives and student learning outcomes; undertake divisional and professional responsibilities of part-time faculty, including office hours August 2020-September 2020 Contracted Researcher, City of Fort Worth, Office of the Police Monitor, Fort Worth, TX • Assisted other with the development of the City of Fort Worth’s “Police and Community Perceptions” survey, including creating questions for the survey • Ran a frequency and crosstab analysis of data using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) • Interpreted the findings from the analysis and wrote the first draft of the report to the City Council • Assisted the Police Monitor and staff in editing and revising the final report January 2019-May 2019 Campaign Manager, Daryl Davis for Fort Worth City Council, District 6, Fort Worth, TX • Oversaw the most competitive city council race of the cycle against the longest serving councilman, a 7-term incumbent; raised almost $20k with contributions less than $500 • Successfully contributed to increasing voter turnout by 49%, reducing the incumbent’s win margin from 62% in 2017 to 55% in 2019 • Developed campaign message and wrote candidate’s speeches, designed all campaign literature including mailers, postcards and walk-pieces; coordinated social media ad buys with communications consultant; • Helped candidate secure endorsement from the Fort Worth Star Telegram (the local newspaper) and endorsements from local Democratic clubs and other prominent community leaders • Managed and trained all volunteers for the campaign in canvassing, text and phone banking, and various other tasks; planned all campaign events 1 January 2019-May 2019 Campaign Manager, Marcus Brookins for Mayor, Forest Hill, TX • Managed and trained all volunteers for the campaign in canvassing, text and phone banking, and various other tasks; planned all campaign events • Successfully contributed to increasing voter turnout by 10%, forcing a run-off between two former mayors • Developed campaign message and wrote candidate’s speeches, designed all campaign literature including mailers, postcards and walk-pieces August 2018-August 2019 Adjunct Faculty Member, Department of History and Government, Tarrant County College-River Campus, Fort Worth, TX • Provided instruction to undergraduate students taking political science courses; taught US/Federal Government (dual credit courses) and Texas Government • Planned classes, implemented and evaluated teaching/learning objectives and student learning outcomes April 2018-November 2018 Campaign Manager & Consultant, Albert Roberts for Tarrant County D.A., Ryan Ray for State Representative, et al, Ft. Worth, TX • Provided general political campaign advice to candidates running for district attorney, state representative and state senate • Served as de facto campaign manager for two campaigns, working other consultants and managing volunteers • Developed budget and campaign strategies (fundraising, communications/messaging, field/outreach and personnel) for each campaign • Planned major fundraising event for eleven candidates running for office in Tarrant County that raised more than $25K • Designed campaign material, including general literature, walk-pieces, mail and social media content August 2016--April 2018 Deputy District Director, Office of Congressman Marc Veasey, Texas 33rd Congressional District, Fort Worth, TX • Assisted the Congressman in his official duties by serving as a surrogate, representing him in the district at events he cannot attend, and arranging opportunities for him to assist and interact with constituents • Interacted and met regularly with Tarrant County elected officials, community leaders and activists, key constituents, and other individuals in order to help accomplish the Congressman’s policy and district goals • Assisted with the development of outreach strategies that maximized the congressman’s impact with constituents • Served as current staff liaison and advisor to the congressman’s Congressional Youth Advisory Council and liaison to the local education community; advised congressman on youth and education issues • Managed programs and projects the office sponsored annually, including the office’s annual job fair and Teen Summit December 2015-December 2017 Executive Director & Co-Founder, Music Mentors of Texas, Fort Worth, Texas • Co-founded local non-profit that offers free private music lessons to children in underserved communities; served as its first chairman of the board; drafted and filed all founding and legal documents, business plan and 3-year strategic plan • Oversaw all operations of the organization, including hiring and managing a part-time staff of seven, managing the organization’s budget and serving as chief communications and public relations officer • Served as chief fundraiser for the organization, raising $35k during first year from just over 100 individual donors • Planned and executed all major events for the organization, including an annual holiday event, #GivingTuesday event and annual Spring Recitals • Successfully established working relationships with two major universities (Texas Christian University & Texas Woman’s University) and recruited 15 musicians into the organization as regular staff, substitutes and clinicians • Served as the on-site administrator (principal) and the organization’s piano instructor June 2015--December 2016 National Network Director, National Institute for Civil Discourse, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ • Communicated and collaborated regularly with a network of state legislators throughout the country who are involved with the Institute’s Next Generation program Sydney L. Jones 2 • Developed outreach strategies to increase participation and membership in the Network, using social media, direct contact, networking at the annual NCSL conference and other mechanisms to achieve goals • Provided ongoing maintenance and moderation of the Network’s online discussion board and performed other technical and social communications related tasks including maintaining the Network’s Facebook page and Twitter handle; produced bi-weekly podcasts featuring Network co-chairs, and edited monthly Network Member Spotlight publication • Successfully planned two national conferences for the Network, held in conjunction with the annual NCSL conference • Researched and developed strategies for creating ‘Civil Candidate Election’ guidelines; conducted research on topics related to political dysfunction, state legislatures, trust and civility • Developed finance plan for Network to fund conferences and other Network needs January 2014—June 2014 Political Director, Wendy Davis for Governor of Texas, Fort Worth, TX • Oversaw the management of the campaign’s relationships between elected officials (members of Congress, state senators, state representatives & county commissioners), prominent community and state leaders and state level organizations (Urban League, Labor Unions, NAACP); interacted regularly with these leaders and organizations • Supervised a staff of four regional political directors, a deputy political director and assistant and two political consultants • Developed departmental structure and political strategies working with regional directors; developed affinity group plans and strategy, and served as lead manager of political programs affiliated with these groups • Gathered political intelligence and provided strategic assessments and advice to campaign; helped secure endorsements • Assisted in the recruitment of campaign surrogates and identified other ways to involve high level supporters in the campaign May 2011 – July 2011 Research Fellow, Office of Rosie Cooper, Member of Parliament, United Kingdom House of Commons , London, England • Conducted qualitative research to gain a comprehensive understanding of the UK’s National