Advancing communications strategy, capacity, and creative output for leading immigration rights organization 

Center for Immigration Law and Policy at the UCLA Law School (CILP)-FALL 2023-FALL 2024

Objective: Support big picture communications department planning thought leadership and hands-on communications support to boost overall department growth and output.

Components:

Provided big picture planning and thought partnership through:

  • Working closely with CILP's brilliant senior communications strategist, Hayley Burgess, planned and lead communications sessions at the organization-wide retreat.

  • Researched and presented a complete landscape analysis of the communications field among CILP's peers to help assess and prioritize next steps for department program growth. 

  • Presented on ‘theory of change for communications campaigns to support communications department planning going forward.

  • Working closely with internal communications staff, co-created a robust one-year communications strategy document with next-step plans for departmental growth on various communications platforms.

Added Capacity and Hands-On Support: 

Collaborated with in-house communications teams to support several major campaigns throughout the year, including:

  • Co-creating materials for a Mother’s Day coalition campaign urging CBP to reduce the detention of pregnant, nursing, and postpartum parents.

  • Supporting the launch of two CILP white papers by developing outreach materials for traditional and social media to expand awareness of CILP's research and analysis.

  • Drafting newsletter updates for supporters on the latest developments at CILP.

  • And more.

Boosting Creative Output:

  • Collaborated closely with CILP’s senior communications strategist, Hayley Burgess, to support and co-create the pilot episode of Talking Immigration in Cars with Coffee, a new web series featuring CILP Co-Director Ahilan T. Arulanantham. In each episode, Arulanantham drives through L.A. traffic while interviewing members of the immigrant rights community on complex legal theories and immigration issues—all while sipping on to-go cups of coffee and matcha.

Check out the 2-minute Instagram reel for the pilot episode, the full 12-minutes pilot episode on YouTube below, and the ongoing web series here.

"I first worked with Ginny several years ago, and I jumped at the chance to partner with her again this past year. In just a few short months, Ginny's contributions have become absolutely indispensable to us at the UCLA School of Law Center for Immigration Law and Policy (CILP). We're a small team with an even smaller communications staff, and Ginny quickly stepped in to become a trusted and valued colleague. She does it all—strategic planning, graphic design, drafting, message development—and all in a way that advances our goals and elevates our brand. I value her thought partnership immensely and hope to work with her for years to come."

– Hayley Burgess, Senior Communications Strategist at Center for Immigration Law & Policy, UCLA School of Law

Ginny Simmonscasestudy