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Sacramento Politics Scholar Uses Education For Social Justice

To say Maya Wallace is in politics would be an understatement. Wallace uses her public policy education from Sacramento State and Northwestern University to further social justice in her community. A winner of the Fordham Fellowship, Wallace thinks globally and acts locally, everyday.

SAC-Psy
(Photo Courtesy of Maya Wallace)

What does your current job entail?

"I am the external affairs director for Sacramento Steps Forward, which is the lead agency addressing homelessness in the Sacramento region. I spend my days working to educate the general public, donors, elected officials, businesses, hospitals, faith-based organizations and other stakeholders about our work and how they can help us do it better. I fundraise for various programs and work with sponsors and grant-makers, too. I also work with the media to answer questions about homelessness in our region and to share with them how our efforts are unfolding and helping to solve homelessness."

What is your favorite part of your daily duties?

"My favorite part of my job is advance work. My executive director has to be prepared to speak on message about a range of topics, and my job is to make sure I anticipate all of those topics and have prepared him so that he answers well, delivers our message, and ensures that people walk away with the understanding I need them to have."

Do you feel your education prepared you for your current role?

"In some ways, yes. I studied cognitive science (bachelor's) and public policy and administration (master's). Strategic communication requires a good understanding of how people receive and process information, and what framing will help reinforce our messages or perhaps change their minds. Understanding public policy, social services delivery frameworks and funding, and the central role that data and analysis play in good policy implementation is a critical part of making sure I'm communicating with our stakeholders."

Do you have any advice for people wanting to pursue a similar career?

"I've done many things in my career - web/software, science curriculum, auditing, and now communications and fundraising - it may seem like I lack purpose, but one thread has always been central to my choices: advancing opportunity for everyone, regardless of ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality, etc. Having a clear through-line on my values really helps me frame how a diverse set of experiences can hang together when it's not always obvious to outsiders and it also helps me see how my skills can be used in very different environments. As jobs and society begin to change more rapidly, it seems likely that people can expect to have to bring a range of skills - established and newly acquired - to jobs that aren't necessarily what they went to school for."

Christopher Millard is a freelance writer and cultural critic whose music reviews can be found on Examiner.com. He also works as a publicist for Valence Communications Group and is a contributor to the health and wellness magazine, Hybrid. Chris currently resides in Sacramento, California.

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