"Sharing your truth as a survivor is the ultimateform of activism, because we live ina world that tells us to be silent"

Andrea L. Pino-Silva is a public scholar on issues of global gender based violence, media framing of violence, portrayals of gender and sexuality and Latinx identity, and narratives of survivorhood. She is a policy and media strategist committed to bringing together grassroots organizing and radical storytelling to build intersectional and accessible social movements. Andrea believes in the power of stories behind movements, and their unique power to mobilize “everyday activism,” and has worked across progressive movements, with a focus on interpersonal violence.

The daughter of Cuban refugees, Andrea attended The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a first generation college student. She is co-author of “We Believe You: Survivors of Campus Sexual Assault Speak Out,” and Co-Founder of the national survivor advocacy organization End Rape on Campus, where she worked for over five years to support students in learning their rights under Title IX, and in changing their campus sexual assault and harassment policies. Andrea was the Communications Director at the gun violence prevention organization Community Justice Action Fund, and previously led digital communications and engagement at the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Her advocacy has been featured in the New York Times, Vogue, CNN, Good Morning America, as well as many other media outlets. Her work and personal journey is prominently featured in the film The Hunting Ground, which premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, and she appeared alongside Lady Gaga and 50 other survivors at the 2016 Academy Awards.

Starting August 2021, Andrea will be starting her doctoral studies in American Studies at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, pursuing research on the framing of gender based violence survivor movements and global community led solutions to violence.

CURRICULUM VITAE

EDUCATION

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Doctor of Philosophy in American Studies (Present)
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, English (2017)

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Teaching Assistant

The University of North Carolina

Chapel Hill , NC Aug. 2021– Present

Serve as a graduate teaching assistant for the department of American Studies. Courses: Intersectionality: Race, Gender, Sexuality, and Social Justice: multi-disciplinary taught by Prof. Frank Baumgartner, Prof. Tanya Shields, and Prof. Heidi Kim

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Policy and Multimedia Communications Consultant, Expert Speaker on Gender and Inequality

Durham, NC Jan. 2016 – Present

  • Educate policy and organizational leaders, and legal and educational professionals, and media and film industry professionals on a variety of topics including sexual violence and harassment response and prevention, and combating LGBTQ and gender inequality, and writing policies and legislation.
  • Develop innovative educational programs and campaigns around gender inequality and violence, media framing, LGBTQ and racial equality, civil rights literacy, and political engagement.
  • Delivered presentations and participate on panels and Q&As at over 50 different colleges, non-profits, and community organizations.
  • Serve as a creative digital media consultant to non-profit organizations and educators, managing social media platforms, company websites, and working closely with clients to visualize and produce original creative design work for political or educational campaigns or policy projects.

Gender Policy Advisor

Community Justice Action Fund

Durham, NC Jan. 2016 – Present

Lead in the creation of a new policy portfolio on the issues of gender-based violence (GBV), intimate partner violence(IPV), and identity based violence (IBV) as it intersects with gun violence.

Communications Director

 

Community Justice Action Fund

Durham, NC Jan. 2016 – Present

  • Designed the overall strategy manage the daily internal and external communications of the Community Justice Action Fund.
  • Managed national and local media relationships, prepare talking points for external interviews, speeches, and presentations.
  • Directed the development, distribution, and maintenance of all print and digital collateral including, press releases, original creative graphic designs, social media content, newsletters, brochures, website.
  • Managed communications team and external contractors to support the development and execution of the communications strategy. Direct digital educational programming on the root causes and intersections of gun violence.
  • Supported and directed communications projects with national and local organization partners.
  • Led communications strategy and digital engagement for the Elect Justice Campaign, which impacted over 1.6 million voters in communities most impacted by gun violence.
  • Led the national Speakers Bureau, developing a curriculum and training members in how to share their expertise to policymakers and media, as well as develop their professional speaking skills.
 

Impact and Community Engagement Producer

Frankly Speaking Films, LLC., AHEAD OF THE CURVE

Jan. 2020 – Present

  • Direct the production and dissemination of the film’s post distribution impact strategy, design the educational curriculum, and direct educational programs with university and community partners.
  • Lead the Beyond the Rainbow: Queer Womanhood and the Power of our Diverse Voices, a six part online community discussion series on gender and queer womanhood, race, ability, and activism of yesterday and today.
  • Collaborate with the communications and development team to conceptualize and execute social media strategy and identify digital fundraising opportunities.
  • Research and manage contacts and databases, and develop and strengthen existing partner relationships.

Production Coordinator

Frankly Speaking Films, LLC., AHEAD OF THE CURVE

Nov. 2018 – Dec. 2019

  • Work alongside Director Jenn Rainin and Producer Rivkah Medow on the documentary AHEAD OF THE CURVE, serving as an expert on LGBTQ identity and movement organizing and interviewed for the film.
  • Collaborate with the director to identify and recruit potential film subjects and advised the team on effective social media strategies to generate financial support for production.
  • Identified and pitched speaking and community engagement opportunities for the film team, and co-facilitated panel discussions and on camera community interviews.

Digital Strategy and Communications Manager

National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) Washington, DC, May 2018 – Sep. 2019

  • Direct all digital content for organizational social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, increasing social media following by over 50% in less than one year
  • Lead the #BornPerfect campaign storytelling project, working directly with survivors of conversion therapy, interviewing them, and pitching their pieces to national publications
  • Direct all digital grassroots campaigns through Phone2Action, and edit, format, and distribute organizational policy fact sheets and model policy publications
  • Direct all organizational op-ed writing and pitching, distribute all organizational press releases, and create and distribute all organizational social media tool-kits
  • Manage and maintain organization website, and design all creative content, including original graphic design projects, and educational videos
  • Educate NCLR staff in all digital communications projects, including public education campaigns and digital crisis response, and curate staff blogs and original articles for social media and website distribution

Co-Founder and Director of Policy & Support

End Rape on Campus (EROC) Washington, DC., Jun. 2013 – Jun. 2016

  • Organized meetings with bipartisan political leaders and attended congressional meetings, coalition meetings, press conferences, and policy briefings
  • Advised White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault and worked with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to write and introduce the Campus Accountability and Safety Act (CASAct)
  • Pitched stories and worked with media professionals to generate effective coverage of campus sexual violence
  • Managed organization’s brand, designing the official logo, website, strategic communications plan, and all creative content for social media outlets

Production Consultant

Chain Camera Pictures,THE HUNTING GROUND Los Angeles, CA, Jul. 2013 – May 2015

  • Advised Director Kirby Dick and production team on trauma-aware approaches for interviewing sexual assault survivors for Emmy Award-Winning documentary film THE HUNTING GROUND, premiering at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival
  • Interviewed as primary subject, and compiled research on the prevalence of campus sexual assault, and connected documentary team with primary subjects for the film

PUBLICATIONS

  • Book: WE BELIEVE YOU: SURVIVORS OF CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT SPEAK OUT. Henry Holt and Co., 2016
  • Chapter: “Our Hermanitas’ Heroes.” In: COLONIZE THIS! YOUNG WOMEN OF COLOR ON TODAY’S FEMINISM. Seal Press, 2019.
  • Chapter: “Believe Me, Como Soy.” In: BELIEVE ME: HOW TRUSTING WOMEN CAN CHANGE THE WORLD. Seal Press, 2019.
  • Foreword: “A Future with No More ‘metoo’s.’” In: SEXUAL VIOLENCE ON CAMPUS: POWER-CONSCIOUS APPROACHES TO AWARENESS, PREVENTION, AND RESPONSE. Emerald Publishing Ltd., 2018.

AWARDS

  • “40 Under 40” Queer Women of Washington D.C., Mayor’s Office of Women’s Policies and Initiatives (2019)
  • Dr. Natalie A. Stephens Visionary Award, Rape Victim Advocates (2017)
  • ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award, ATHENA International (2016)
  • “Care. No Matter What.” Award, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (2015)
  • The Common Good American Spirit Award, The Common Good (2015)
  • Mary P. Koss Profile in Courage Award, 1in4.org (2014)
  • “People Who Changed Higher Education in 2013,” Chronicle of Higher Education (2013)
  • “The Most Influential Forces in Higher Ed In 2013,” The Huffington Post (2013)

EXPERTISE

  • Software: Adobe Creative Suite; Final Cut Pro; Microsoft Office; Canva; WordPress; Phone2Action; Meltwater; Hootsuite
  • Languages: Native Spanish; Proficient Italian; Elementary Portuguese; HTML; CSS