
Desiree is the Senior Communications Manager at the Haywood Burns Institute. With nearly a decade of experience in community organizing and strategic communications, Desiree uses her passion for storytelling to spotlight and uplift the lived experiences of the “everyday people” who make movement building and systems change possible, including her own story as a San Leandro/Oakland native who experienced anti-Blackness, criminalization, and school push-out from elementary age. These experiences enabled Desiree to contribute meaningfully to various organizing efforts, notably Oakland’s George Floyd Resolution of 2020, which eliminated the OUSD police.
Desiree is an all-around creative lover of strategy who dreams of helping create a racially just and equitable world for all by utilizing narrative, storytelling, and a cultural approach. As Senior Communications Manager, she will craft compelling narratives that amplify the work of BI and the sectors we support to achieve our vision of Structural Well-Being for all.
Desiree can be reached at dmcswain@burnsinstitute.org