
Kelsey Hamlin
Communicator, organizer, writer (she/her)
ABOUT ME — I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism with Interdisciplinary Honors (and a minor in Law, Societies, & Justice) from the University of Washington. I’m passionate about how larger systems build (literally and metaphorically) around us all in ways that either benefit or harm different people.
I’m currently working as a communications and political consultant.
In 2021, I managed Andrew Grant Houston’s mayoral campaign and staff. Before then, I oversaw and organized for statewide legislative efforts, significantly grew a nonprofit’s engagement, and spent years as a freelance journalist.
While I’m originally from rural Washington, when I came to work and study in Seattle, I fell in love with the place (and remain).
Skills & Knowledge
- Research
- Policy
- Politics
- VAN/NGP
- Salesforce
- Moderating
- Organizing
- Writing & editing
- Graphic Design
- Social media
- Photography
- Videography
- Strategic messaging
- Collaboration
- Creating websites
- Organization and attention to detail
DTC Principal Consultant
(Jan. 2022 – Present)
- Communications
- Managing press outreach and coordination
- Designing graphics and content/website design
- Writing and managing newsletters
- Strategy
- Assisting with messaging and frameworks
- Drafting LTEs and op-eds
- Operations Management
- Updating meeting decks
- Representing DTC in client and coalition meetings
- Tracking and updating legislative efforts
Professional Development
- Accessibility on Social Media (2022)
- Power with Not Power over (2020)
- Sierra Club white caucuses’ White Supremacy & Me (2019-2020)
- The Language of Racism, Passive-Aggressive Communication Norms (2018)
- Undoing Racism (2018)
Volunteer Work
Elected 43rd District Democrats’ Communications Chair
(Jan. 2021 – Present)
Writing press releases, contacting and answering media, updating and managing the website, creating graphics, coordinating newsletters & emails & social media
Washington for Black Lives
(Sept. 2020 – Present)
Working together in an advisory group [the decision-making group are, rightfully, only Black] to coordinate responses across the state around Legislative proposals concerning W4BL’s goals and priorities for the protection of Black lives
Progressive Workers Union member
(Dec. 2019 – Feb. 2021 lay-off)
During my time at Sierra Club, I spoke up to top level, national management about workplace inequities and the issue of retaining de facto temporary work [“limited duration positions (LDE)”] that could be renewed at any time, even for years on end, leaving employees in precarious situations [of which was my position] without specific protections or equal pay. We also fought for more equally-distributed pay between national and state chapters, more time off, a reassessment of “levels” and pay mismatching the employer’s own existing parameters (including inflation), and more. This was my first true experience within a union and it could not have been better. I was thoroughly impressed, motivated, and inspired by and with PWU.
Workshops/trainings
- DNC Best Practices Institute T3 Training (2021)
- Coalition of Anti-Racist Whites (2016-2018)
- Diversity in Communications trainings (2018)
- Bystander Intervention and De-escalation trainings (2017)
Past Labor
Andrew Grant Houston for Seattle Mayor Campaign Manager
(April 2021 – Aug. 2021)
- Writing, tracking, and submitting endorsement questionnaire responses
- Providing research for policy plans
- Writing policy
- Coordinating the candidate’s calendar
- Managing and coordinating the campaign and staff
- Union with IUPAT 116
- Editting
Sierra Club WA Volunteer Outreach & Development Coordinator
(Dec. 2019 – Feb. 2021, laid off)
- Organized volunteer lobby teams in key legislative districts
- Provided research and messaging on transportation, housing, building electrification, COVID-19, and economic recovery
- Collaborated with allied organizations on the Climate Alliance’s Clean & Just table, and on transportation
- Tracked, advised, and testified on relevant legislative and campaign efforts around Washington State
- Helped with digital (newsletters, webinars, engagement, press releases, Salesforce, VAN, and outreach), fundraising emails, donor retention, and mobilized volunteers and activists
Shaun Scott for Seattle City Council District 4’s Policy Director
(Jan. 2019 – Nov. 2019)
- Presented strategic messaging, research, and data for childcare, municipal broadband, the climate crisis as it intersects with global gender inequality, freelancer rights, housing and transportation policies for the candidate, literature, video, website, and VAN scripts
- Prepped talking points specific to events and debates
- Moderated on video stream and debate
Sightline Institute Communications Associate
(May 2018 – Oct. 2019, laid off)
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee member, providing research and proposals to Program Directors, trainings, readings, preparing for topical lunch learnings, and hours-long, all-staff”deep dives”
- Coordinated emails through Mailchimp, social media, engagement, media outreach, performance, speaker requests, and public testimony
- In charge of revamping Seattle Neighbors’ website, making new photography, interviews, and stories
- Created graphics, branded logos, multimedia, reports, press releases, and best practices
- Collaborated with researchers, the housing team, legislators, organizers, and allied organizations
- Stayed up-to-date on PNW fossil fuel proposals, climate, housing, transportation, voting, and democracy
Freelance journalist
(Dec. 2014 – July 2018; and rarely still)
- Mentored, edited, wrote, and/or photographed for South Seattle Emerald, International Examiner, The Daily (UW), Seattle Weekly, Real Change News, The Seattle Times, and Capitol Hill Seattle Blog
- Covered underreported and niche communities, injustice, homelessness, immigration, police, protests, policies, Seattle City Hall, and the Legislature
- Maintained accountability to, and relationships with, readers and communities