Stuart Eskenazi
E stuart@semessaging.com
P 206.617.1298
Who I Am
What I Do
Experience
Stuart Eskenazi Strategic Messaging
Seattle, Washington
Sole proprietor, January 2012 to present
—Current and past clients (partial list):
• Building Changes:
- Produced an array of external and internal communications for a statewide nonprofit with a mission to advance equitable responses to family and youth homelessness.
- Developed a series of communications to promote the Family Homelessness Initiative, a 10-year intensive project of Building Changes and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
- Developed communications to promote Schoolhouse Washington, a wide-ranging student homelessness initiative of Building Changes, Gates and Raikes Foundation.
- Worked directly with grantee organizations to tell their stories and elevate their work.
- Wrote grant proposals, grant reports and other development communications to appeal to philanthropic funders and individual donors of Building Changes.
• Casey Family Programs:
- Serves as an organizational writing coach for a national foundation with a mission to improve child and family well-being through a transformation of foster care.
- Works with various writing teams within the organization to help improve and align external messaging.
- Writes stories and edits technical briefs.
• Davis Wright Tremaine LLC:
- Tapped by a national law firm to shape and write an external report highlighting the social impact work of a high-visibility corporate client.
- Wrote stories for the firm's annual Diversity & Inclusion report.
• Washington State Jewish Historical Society:
- Commissioned to write a 50-year update to a book chronicling the comprehensive history of Jewish communities and people in Washington state.
- Assisted in developing an online tour of Seattle's historic Jewish neighborhood.
• King County Housing Authority: Edits twice-annual technical reports for a regional housing authority.
• Forterra: Wrote stories and edited external communications for a regional nonprofit with a mission to support the health of ecosystems and the resiliency of communities.
• Seattle Foundation: Wrote two annual reports for a community foundation that featured stories about donors and their impacts.
• University of Washington School of Dentistry: Wrote a recruiting piece targeted at prospective students.
• Tableau Foundation
• Women's Funding Alliance
Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI)
Seattle, Washington
Guest curator, November 2013 to January 2015
—On behalf of the Washington State Jewish Historical Society, wrote and curated "Shalom! Open for Business: Tales of Jewish Merchants in Washington State," a multi-platform exhibit on display at MOHAI from July 2014 through January 2015. Repurposed the exhibit as "Shalom! Sefarad" for display throughout Spain from 2017 through 2019.
Casey Family Programs
Seattle, Washington
Communications writer, December 2008 to January 2012
—Served as the lead writer and editor for a national foundation with a mission to improve the child welfare system. Contributed as a senior-level strategist for the communications team.
The Seattle Times
Seattle, Washington
Senior writer, January 2000 to December 2008
—Wrote hundreds of news and feature stories covering a variety of subjects, from urban affairs to human interest. Enterprise projects included the Pike Place Market centennial, Seattle sesquicentennial, Seattle Center redevelopment and the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl.
Education
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington
Bachelor of Arts, Communications
Volunteer Recognition
Washington State Historical Society
—Recipient of David Douglas Award, which recognizes significant contributions of an individual or organization through exhibits or programs that inform and expand the appreciation of Washington state history.
Washington State Jewish Historical Society
—Recipient of Meta Buttnick Award, which recognizes exemplary volunteer service of an individual to the society.
E stuart@semessaging.com
P 206.617.1298
Who I Am
- Strategic communications consultant
- Writer
- Editor
- Author
- Writing coach
- Grantwriter
- Speechwriter
- Content curator
What I Do
- Craft messaging and stories to achieve strategic goals
- Conceive, write and manage a wide variety of communications products
- Serve as an organizational or individual writing coach
- Write grant proposals, grant reports and other development communications
- Write speeches, op-eds, scripts and talking points
- Write online-specific content, including blog posts and websites
- Edit content ranging from technical reports to non-fiction books
- Develop strategic communications plans
- Create content for infographics
- Offer insider knowledge of government systems and politics
Experience
Stuart Eskenazi Strategic Messaging
Seattle, Washington
Sole proprietor, January 2012 to present
—Current and past clients (partial list):
• Building Changes:
- Produced an array of external and internal communications for a statewide nonprofit with a mission to advance equitable responses to family and youth homelessness.
- Developed a series of communications to promote the Family Homelessness Initiative, a 10-year intensive project of Building Changes and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
- Developed communications to promote Schoolhouse Washington, a wide-ranging student homelessness initiative of Building Changes, Gates and Raikes Foundation.
- Worked directly with grantee organizations to tell their stories and elevate their work.
- Wrote grant proposals, grant reports and other development communications to appeal to philanthropic funders and individual donors of Building Changes.
• Casey Family Programs:
- Serves as an organizational writing coach for a national foundation with a mission to improve child and family well-being through a transformation of foster care.
- Works with various writing teams within the organization to help improve and align external messaging.
- Writes stories and edits technical briefs.
• Davis Wright Tremaine LLC:
- Tapped by a national law firm to shape and write an external report highlighting the social impact work of a high-visibility corporate client.
- Wrote stories for the firm's annual Diversity & Inclusion report.
• Washington State Jewish Historical Society:
- Commissioned to write a 50-year update to a book chronicling the comprehensive history of Jewish communities and people in Washington state.
- Assisted in developing an online tour of Seattle's historic Jewish neighborhood.
• King County Housing Authority: Edits twice-annual technical reports for a regional housing authority.
• Forterra: Wrote stories and edited external communications for a regional nonprofit with a mission to support the health of ecosystems and the resiliency of communities.
• Seattle Foundation: Wrote two annual reports for a community foundation that featured stories about donors and their impacts.
• University of Washington School of Dentistry: Wrote a recruiting piece targeted at prospective students.
• Tableau Foundation
• Women's Funding Alliance
Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI)
Seattle, Washington
Guest curator, November 2013 to January 2015
—On behalf of the Washington State Jewish Historical Society, wrote and curated "Shalom! Open for Business: Tales of Jewish Merchants in Washington State," a multi-platform exhibit on display at MOHAI from July 2014 through January 2015. Repurposed the exhibit as "Shalom! Sefarad" for display throughout Spain from 2017 through 2019.
Casey Family Programs
Seattle, Washington
Communications writer, December 2008 to January 2012
—Served as the lead writer and editor for a national foundation with a mission to improve the child welfare system. Contributed as a senior-level strategist for the communications team.
The Seattle Times
Seattle, Washington
Senior writer, January 2000 to December 2008
—Wrote hundreds of news and feature stories covering a variety of subjects, from urban affairs to human interest. Enterprise projects included the Pike Place Market centennial, Seattle sesquicentennial, Seattle Center redevelopment and the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl.
Education
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington
Bachelor of Arts, Communications
Volunteer Recognition
Washington State Historical Society
—Recipient of David Douglas Award, which recognizes significant contributions of an individual or organization through exhibits or programs that inform and expand the appreciation of Washington state history.
Washington State Jewish Historical Society
—Recipient of Meta Buttnick Award, which recognizes exemplary volunteer service of an individual to the society.
