Ariel is a unique and creative professional with 10 years of project management and grassroots organizing experience. Ariel currently serves as the Associate Director, Local Gov Affairs at Everytown for Gun Safety. She engages with Mayors across the country on reducing gun violence in their cities at local and federal level. She previously served as the Director of Special Projects for Mayor Stephen K. Benjamin, which has afforded her the opportunity to lead and execute projects, programming, and policy. She served as a liaison for external groups such as the African-American Mayors Association and AARP—both policy-driven organizations with coordinated efforts for specific constituencies represented in the city. Outside of the mayor’s office, she had the unique privilege to be one of three Team Leads for The Obama Foundation’s inaugural cohort of the Community Leadership Corps in Columbia, South Carolina. This role allowed her to oversee and empower a group of brilliant rising leaders in her state as they identified and addressed community issues. Ariel earned a B.A. in political science at the University of South Carolina and is originally from Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Over 2 decades of designing, developing and implementing local, state and federal initiatives that result in increase and expansion of available services. Experience in engaging nontraditional providers; in funding sources by building organizational capacity. Direct service provider to vulnerable populations(Criminal Justice Involved-inside/out, Chemically Dependent, HIV/AIDS, Mental Illness, LGBT ). Utilizing strengths based perspective to stimulate motivation that results in participation and engagement in their recovery process. * Expert in providing technical assistance to grantees and aligning grant program contracts to meet the goals and objectives of federal funding requirements * Successful in building strategic partnerships that leverage resources and collaborate with high levels of retention and loyalty. * Exceptional track record that demonstrates a high level of self-motivation, creativity and initiative to achieve both personal and organizational priority and strategic goals. Specialties include: contract management and development, governmental partnerships, grant funding, supportive housing, fiscal management, program design and development, proposal writing, morale development of program staff, relationship building, technical support, case management services

Dedicated law enforcement professional with 25 years of experience in public safety and service, administration, management, community and media relations, multi-agency collaboration and training and instruction. Qualified public speaker with experience in organizing special events, police correspondence and presentations. Strong relationship-building skills, work ethic and integrity. Committed to organizational efforts to foster and encourage respect, dignity and fairness.

A dedicated nonprofit organization leader empowering communities, fostering workforce success, and driving positive social impact.