who is tarah WALKER?
WRITER
Above all else, I’m a writer. Charles Bukowski, in his poem on being a writer, cautioned the novice, “If it doesn’t come bursting out of you / in spite of everything, / don’t do it. / unless it comes unasked out of your / heart and your mind and your mouth / and your gut / don’t do it. /”
It’s certainly no cakewalk, but I can think of nothing more thrilling than putting pen to paper, or fingertips to keys as I race to unscramble a creative idea into cohesive thought. My world has always revolved around words.
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PROFESSIONAL
Upon graduating from the University of Iowa with a BA in Journalism in 2015, I went to work for ACT, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people achieve education and workplace success. During my five years at ACT, I learned the art of strategic communications, from internal communications, to media and public relations, to content development and social media management. I was always at my best when writing. During Covid-19, my professional mandate became clear. It was time to lean into copywriting and content development to enter the next phase of my career. Fistula Foundation—the global leader in fistula treatment for arguably the most vulnerable women in the world—found me at the perfect moment. I'm now the director of communications, leading the content creation and development process for shaping the remarkable stories of fistula survivors into six direct mail pieces, four print newsletters, and more than 100 fundraising and stewardship emails each year.
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LEARNER
I’ve always loved learning and pushing myself to excel in new fields of study. In 2019, I earned an MA in Strategic Communications from American University, with a concentration in Advocacy & Social Impact. Messages hold immense power, and I hope to use my gift for communications to inform, persuade, and empower people to be their best selves.
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Human
When I’m not working, learning, or writing, you can find me powerlifting in the gym, practicing mindfulness on the yoga mat, tinkering with a jigsaw puzzle, or reading a good book (historical fiction has my heart).
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