Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Languages
Timeline
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Deirdre Van Walters

Bethlehem

Summary

Experienced with community outreach, fostering relationships, and engaging diverse groups. Utilizes strategic communication and targeted initiatives to connect with communities. Track record of building partnerships and driving collaborative efforts for meaningful community involvement.

Overview

18
18
years of professional experience

Work History

Community Engagement Specialist

Wider Circle
01.2024 - Current
  • Connected members to community resources, their health care plans, and other members.
  • Provided personalized feedback and direction to members with diverse needs, including diagnoses of autism, developmental delay, epilepsy, etc.
  • Led the Connect For Life program, by leading events, virtual and in person to create a community of connected members.
  • Strategically planned and hosted events, virtual and in person, to contribute to positive outcomes for members.
  • Achieved active member engagement as documented by attendance, feedback, and other relevant data, through building personal connection with each potential and current member.




Lead Teaching Artist

Touchstone Theatre
06.2022 - Current
  • Worked with elementary and middles school students to develop their ability to write plays.
  • Stimulated and ignited student creativity.
  • Fostered a positive learning environment with strong rapport-building and communication skills.
  • Differentiated instruction and feedback for students with varying diagnoses included but not limited to: autism, cerebral palsy, attention deficit disorder, epilepsy, etc.



Mentor

Basement Poetry
02.2019 - Current
  • Facilitated the creation of spoken word art by youth and adults.
  • Led and organized community events including performances by youth and adults.
  • Connect organization with the community to provide avenues of artistic expression for marginalized populations.
  • Provided targeted feedback and direction to youth and adults of varying abilities to facilitate the creation of spoken word art.

Community Programs Manager

Bradbury Sullivan LGBT Community Center
03.2023 - 11.2023
  • Served as a liaison between the organization and key stakeholders, fostering strong relationships within the broader community network.
  • Enhanced community engagement by developing and implementing diverse programs and initiatives.
  • Organized successful fundraising events to generate additional revenue for community programs.
  • Managed program budgets effectively, ensuring maximum impact with available resources.


Health Care Enrollment Coordinator

Bradbury Sullivan LGBT Community Center
08.2022 - 03.2023
  • Developed and maintained business and community partnerships.
  • Educated and successfully enrolled 90% of community members seeking health insurance.
  • Conducted in person and virtual appointments with prospective enrollees.

Senior Health Concierge

Aetna Health Insurance Co
05.2007 - 01.2019


  • Implemented innovative solutions to address unique challenges faced by individual patients, resulting in tailored care plans that met their specific needs.
  • Maintained strict confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA regulations.
  • First call resolutions rate of 97% of member calls.
  • Facilitated in house trainings as a company writer and trainer.
  • Managed 96 plan sponsored HMO, POS, and Medicare plans.

Youth Play Director

Basement Poetry
02.2014 - 02.2018
  • Wrote, produced, and directed a play about Martin Luther King, Jr. in connection with the Bethlehem NAACP.
  • Recruited and directed students or varying ages and abilities to practice and perform the play at Bethlehem's Annual Southside Children's Festival.
  • Received 2018 Bethlehem NAACP Celebrating the Arts Award.

Veterans to Veterans Care Provider

Heartland Hospice
09.2013 - 11.2017
  • Reduced patient anxiety and stress through effective communication and active listening skills.
  • Provided emotional support for patients and their families during difficult times, offering companionship and a listening ear.
  • Created a relationship of trust by maintaining empathy and confidentiality.

Teaching Artist

Allentown Public Theatre
02.2014 - 08.2017
  • Delivered instruction to 2nd and 3rd grade students individually, in small groups, as a whole class.
  • Provided teacher in service to educate them about opiates
  • Implemented summer remediation program to prevent learning loss.
  • Differentiated instruction for students with varying needs and abilities.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Sociology

Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ

Certificate - Personnel And Administration Specialist

United States Army
Indianapolis, IN

Certificate - Grant Proposal Writing

University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN
01-2019

Skills

  • Nonprofit experience
  • Relationship building skills
  • Recordkeeping skills
  • Public speaking
  • Meeting scheduling
  • Volunteer management
  • Marketing communications
  • Partnership building
  • Community relations expertise
  • Problem-solving abilities
  • Fundraising strategies

Languages

Spanish
Limited Working

Timeline

Community Engagement Specialist

Wider Circle
01.2024 - Current

Community Programs Manager

Bradbury Sullivan LGBT Community Center
03.2023 - 11.2023

Health Care Enrollment Coordinator

Bradbury Sullivan LGBT Community Center
08.2022 - 03.2023

Lead Teaching Artist

Touchstone Theatre
06.2022 - Current

Mentor

Basement Poetry
02.2019 - Current

Youth Play Director

Basement Poetry
02.2014 - 02.2018

Teaching Artist

Allentown Public Theatre
02.2014 - 08.2017

Veterans to Veterans Care Provider

Heartland Hospice
09.2013 - 11.2017

Senior Health Concierge

Aetna Health Insurance Co
05.2007 - 01.2019

Bachelor of Arts - Sociology

Rutgers University

Certificate - Personnel And Administration Specialist

United States Army

Certificate - Grant Proposal Writing

University of Notre Dame

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Deirdre Van Walters