Teresa Tomassoni

EDUCATION
The City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism
December 2010
M.A. Journalism
LIU Global (formerly known as Global College of Long Island University)
May 2007
B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies with focus in international health and social work
(LIU Global is a 4-year study abroad program that allows students to earn degrees while being immersed in foreign countries.
Countries studied in include: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Peru, China, Thailand, India, and Turkey.)

PROFESSIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE

FAIR Girls
Washington, D.C.
Director of Programs
August 2012 August 2015

Supervised and managed a team of 5 staff members, 10 interns, and up to 20 volunteers responsible for providing 24/7
crisis response and emergency housing services, therapy and legal counsel for human trafficking survivors

Advised and supported Executive Director in defining strategic direction of FAIR Girls programs

Reviewed and analyzed grant opportunities and assisted in writing grant applications and quarterly grant reports

Developed multimedia trainings on human trafficking, relevant international and local legislation, victim identification, the
impact of trauma on survivors and best practices in providing therapeutic and legal services to victims

Facilitated trainings for journalists, law enforcement, judicial officials, and mental health professionals

Developed and managed Dare to Thrive, a youth leadership development, mentoring, economic empowerment and
financial literacy program for youth survivors of human trafficking

Developed and managed the Vida House, the only housing program for adult survivors of human trafficking in D.C.

Facilitated human trafficking prevention education workshops in D.C. youth detention centers and homeless youth shelters

Developed partnerships with social service organizations and educational and artistic institutions including Arena Stage and
the John F. Kennedy Center

Collaborated with D.C. city council members to assist in drafting and advocating for the Sex Trafficking of Minors
Prevention Amendment Act of 2014, a recently passed D.C. law that prohibits the arrest of minors for prostitution

Helped found the Prince Georges County Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force

Served as co-chair of the D.C. Human Trafficking Task Force Victim Services Committee

Served as spokesperson for FAIR Girls on panels, in media interviews and other public speaking events

Recruited, hired and trained fulltime fellows and interns every fall, winter, spring and summer

The Experiment in International Living, World Learning
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Photojournalism for Social Change Trip Leader
July 2015

Led month long experiential learning trip for U.S high school students studying Photojournalism for Social Change

Supervised student participant welfare and provided individualized educational and career focused mentoring

Facilitated daily photojournalism, social justice and youth leadership development and cultural competency workshops
for student participants

Initiated and coordinated briefings with journalists, filmmakers and photographers reporting on human rights issues

Collaborated with Argentinian program partners to coordinate itinerary logistics and community service projects

GBC Health
New York, New York
Social Media Corps Fellow
May 2012

Provided live social media reporting on the 2012 GBC Health Conference and Awards featuring global
business executives, policy makers and international health experts
NPR
Washington, D.C.
Reporter (Stone & Holt Weeks Fellow), Elections Desk
January 2012-March 2012

Reported 9 on air stories for All Things Considered, Morning Edition and Weekend Edition

Reported spot news stories for air on the 2012 Republican primary election and the U.S. Supreme Court hearings on
President Obamas health care plan

Wrote NPR blogs Shots and Its All Politics

The Washington Post

Washington, D.C.
Staff Writer (Stone & Holt Weeks Fellow), Social Issues Desk
September 2011 December 2011

Won 1st place for Environmental Reporting in the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association 2011 Editorial
Contest for story on the dying oyster beds in the Chesapeake Bay

Pitched and reported more than 18 stories on homelessness, hunger, foster care, Occupy D.C. protests, and
discrimination against the transgender community
Crains New York Business
New York, New York
Video Intern
January 2011 April 2011

Produced and edited a three-part video series on New York Citys top business leaders under 40 featuring David Chang,
Andrew Ross Sorkin and Dennis Crowley
The New York Times
LENS Intern

Produced daily "Pictures of the Day," photo slideshows and blog posts

Wrote profiles of photographers and photojournalists

New York, New York

October 2010 December 2010

NY1
Production and Assignment Desk Intern

Assisted in producing Bars to Education, a series on education in NYC Detention Centers

Assisted reporters in covering daily news stories in English and Spanish

New York, New York

June 2010-August 2010

GEMS: Girls Educational & Mentoring Services

New York, New York
Court Advocacy Coordinator
January 2008 May 2009

Interviewed and advocated for more than 200 youth victims of human trafficking in New York City criminal courts

Provided case management and supportive counseling in English and Spanish to more than 200 victims

Collaborated with New York City criminal court judicial officials to improve advocacy strategies for human trafficking
victims and create culturally sensitive alternative to incarceration programs for survivors arrested for prostitution
Centro de Informacin y Educacin para la Prevencin del Abuso de Drogas
Lima, Peru
Volunteer
January 2005 April 2005

Facilitated health and therapeutic arts workshops in Spanish for sexually exploited and homeless youth

Developed educational and vocational training plans for homeless youth aging out of care

Interviewed NGOs working with child laborers and homeless youth in Peruvian Amazon region

AWARDS

Investigative Reporters & Editors Student Finalist Award for story on the controversial Judge Rotenberg Center in
Massachusetts (2011)
Stone and Holt Weeks Social Justice Reporting Fellowship (2011)
Boren Scholar/National Security Education Program Award (2006)
Global College of Long Island University Global Citizen Award (2004)

TRAININGS

Theatre of the Oppressed Facilitation: Forum Theatre, Theater of the Oppressed NYC (January 2014)
Train the Trainer: Working with Commercially Sexually Exploited Children. Girls Educational and Mentoring
Services, GEMS (May 2008)
Community Organizing and Leadership Training, Center for Community Change (June 2007)

SKILLS
Languages: Advanced conversational Spanish