Digital Media Griot
In 2018, Amara developed and presented a webinar for the Preconception Health and Healthcare Initiative ‘Preconception in Progress Series’ on strategies for engaging marginalized demographics in sexual health research and practice.
Amara is passionate about using user-centered design methods to:
Ideate
Strategize
Implement and
Market digital products and social media campaigns.
Computer Skills
Software: Constant Contact, Dedoose, Microsoft Office Teams, MURAL, Trello
Survey Administration: ACASI, REDCap, Survey Monkey
Multimedia Design: Adobe InDesign, Animoto, Canva, Illustrator, Photoshop, Spark
Social Media: Buffer, Facebook, Hootsuite, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok
Digital Analytics: Google Ad Manager, Google Analytics, Google Data Studio, Google Tag Manager
Amara is a trained and experienced focus group facilitator and individual in-depth interviewer for research participants representing diverse and underrepresented demographics, including:
Gender and sexual minorities,
Survival sex workers,
Adolescents/young adults
Substance users, and
Medical practitioners and academic scholars
The $350 million HEALing Communities Study (HCS), funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is a multisite experimental trial evaluating the effect of the “Communities That HEAL” (CTH) opioid harm- reduction intervention as compared with typical opioid care in 38 communities across four states.
As a principal content strategist, Amara managed more than 20 multimedia professionals in the development and distribution of outreach materials—such as op-eds, public service announcements, social media content and digital newsletters to external stakeholders. In addition to managing the development of media content, Amara also developed and reported web analytic reports for the HCS web activities using Google Analytics and Google Data Studio.
We Think Twice (WTT) is a social media initiative, funded by The Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH). This initiative promotes healthy decisions and behaviors that help teens achieve optimal health and successfully transition to adulthood.
As the Principal Social Media Strategist, Amara brainstormed and coordinated the topical themes and timelines for the Instagram account content calendar. She also provided design feedback regarding brand alignment and resonance with the adolescent audience.
Amara conceptualized, developed, strategized and managed the implementation of WTT’s inaugural Instagram contest, #WTTChangemakers Playlist Contest. This contest aimed to engage existing followers and recruit new followers during the Coronavirus pandemic. Account followers were encouraged to suggest motivational songs via Instagram story prompts, for the chance to win one of 10 Spotify gift cards. 20 of the songs suggested were compiled into a Spotify playlist.
The South Carolina Coalition for Healthy Families is a network of organizations that advocates, educates and collaborates to expand access to sexual and reproductive health information, services and rights for all South Carolinians.
Upon completing her internship with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) analyzing the integration of gender minorities in HIV-treatment programs in Sub-Saharan Africa, Amara translated her topical knowledge into this 4-month graduate school internship.
Amara created and presented a webinar about health disparities faced by gender and sexual minorities in accessing medical care in South Carolina. She researched and scheduled webinar presenters from local and state community based organizations and academic institutions. Amara aimed to amplify overlooked statistics and narratives experienced by gender and sexual minorities in the Southeast United States; South Carolina.