POLICY & COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIST

Brandalyn, The strategist & Advocate

I am a social-first digital strategist, public speaker, and educator. My work sits at the intersection of policy, communications, and lived experience, where I support institutions, nonprofits, and civic leaders in developing strategies that are both effective and grounded in the realities of the communities they serve. I am particularly skilled at translating complex policy environments into clear, actionable narratives that foster alignment and engagement.

I am a proud graduate of the University of Michigan, where I earned a Bachelor of General Studies with an emphasis in Sociology and Theatre Design & Production. I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Strategic Communications and Public Relations at Sacred Heart University, further strengthening my expertise in strategic messaging, public relations, and reputation management.

Based in Norwalk, Connecticut, my professional work is informed by lived experience as a parent navigating the world of special education. I bring this perspective into advisory spaces at both the local and state levels. I currently serve as the Vice Chair and Parent Representative on the Connecticut State Advisory Council for Special Education, a Parent Representative on the Norwalk Early Childhood Collaborative, participate in the Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center’s Parent Roundtable as a Parent Leader, and serve as a Board Member of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, where I contribute to communication strategy and policy advocacy around environmental sustainability and civic engagement.

My advocacy roots began as a child supporting my mother in her political aspirations, but it was also instilled in me at a young age to take action and be a part of civic life. In Connecticut, I started at the grassroots level during my tenure as President of the PTO at Norwalk Early Childhood Center in 2021. In that role, I focused on engagement, strengthening collaboration between families, educators, and administrators, and building relationships with district leadership. I remain deeply committed to empowering parents, especially those new to the special education system. It is my passion to build knowledge, confidence, and capacity to participate effectively in the PPT process. 

I also bring more than 20 years of experience in the hair and makeup entertainment production industry, where I worked in fast-paced, high-pressure environments that demanded creativity, adaptability, and deep collaboration with talent, producers, and creative agents. This work sharpened my ability to lead across disciplines, manage conflicting interests, and build trust with diverse teams. These are skills that now inform my consulting, communications, and policy strategy work. The entertainment industry trained me to think creatively under constraints, communicate clearly across roles, and deliver results while balancing vision while executing.

With a professional background spanning entertainment production, news media, and strategic communications, I bring a rare blend of rigor, creative insight, and relational leadership to my consulting, speaking, and teaching work. As a public speaker, I engage audiences through storytelling grounded in policy, helping various groups of stakeholders connect systemic challenges to human impact. As an educator, I design learning experiences that promote confidence, elevate lived experience, and equip participants with practical tools for self-sufficiency.

At the core of my work is a belief that sustainable systems change requires more than policy alone. Engaging diverse groups of stakeholders requires intentional communication, inclusive leadership, and authentic community partnership. I believe collaboration is essential to connecting policy to people. In order to transform intention into action it requires a strategy to meet people where they are to build clarity, alignment, and trust.