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LAUREN MILITELLO
About Lauren
I'm a multi-skilled professional passionate about supporting meaningful work with organizations that value uplifting lives in underserved communities. As a neurodivergent person with combined ADHD, I thrive on continual learning and exploration, evidenced by my extensive list of certifications and volunteer work.
Navigating life as a queer goth at a suburban high school in the late '90s wasn't the greatest. So, in my early 20s, I transformed a 13-room Victorian hotel in East Oakland into an affordable and inclusive shared home for artists and educators. Running a communal safe space in our struggling neighborhood was an eye-opener and sparked my work with nonprofits.
In my 30s, I moved to Concord (homeland of the Chupcan tribe, a Bay Miwok group) and cherish Mt. Diablo's hiking trails. As a California Bay Area resident for 25 years, I feel fortunate to call this beautiful place home.
I care deeply about mental health, our environment, and our food systems. I've volunteered at several NGOs across the Bay Area, working with youth and adults at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Bay Area Wilderness Training, The Crucible, Build, Cycles of Change, The Permaculture Skills Center, and at organic farms in Hawai'i.
Recent Employment
For two years, I devoted my creative skillset to promoting sustainable & equitable food systems at the nonprofit White Pony Express from 2020 - 2022.
In 2019 I was competitively selected to become a Research Assistant at CSU East Bay. I worked with Dr. Valerie Smith on a grant-funded qualitative study researching California's wildfires and community crisis communication needs.
Education
As a first-generation college student, I graduated from CSU East Bay in the top three percent with magna
cum laude honors in May 2020. I hold a BA degree in Strategic Communication - a mix of advertising, social marketing, public relations, and communication research.
Capstone Projects: Social Impact Campaign for Beyond Meat, Public Relations Campaign for East Bay Regional Parks, and a qualitative study, Farmers’ Markets Food Recovery Communication and Practices.
In 2023, I was accepted into a 34-student cohort counseling graduate program at CSU East Bay. My goal is to earn my license in Marriage and Family Therapy by 2027.
Past Employment
In 2014 I founded Take Root Productions with the goal of producing videos that deliver an emotional impact and plant a seed of connection. These 1-3 minute videos helped fundraise and build awareness for nonprofits.
Before starting Take Root Productions I worked as an Office Manager at the Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC). Prior to BAVC, I worked as a Customer Relations Supervisor, International Coordinator, and Salesperson for Numi Organic Tea. In four years I was awarded 'Employee of the Quarter' three times.
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