Abigail Garner

Current

• Appointed Officer, Ethical Practices Board at City of Minneapolis

Past

• Graduate Student, Organizational Leadership at The College of St. Catherine
• Graduate Intern at Nonviolent Peaceforce
• President at Condominium Association [HOA] Board of Directors

• Research Assistantship, MAOL Program at St. Catherine University
• Owner / Author / Social Entrepreneur at Families Like Mine LLC
• Radio Host/Producer at KFAI
• Author at HarperCollins
• Principal / Independent Consultant at Garner Grants
• Chapter Coordinator at COLAGE
• Program Officer at James Ford Bell Foundation
• Summer of Service Team Member at Americorps
• Project Volunteer (León, Nicaragua) at Project Minnesota-León
• Kazakhstan Delegate/Performer at Peace Child International

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Education

• St. Catherine University
• Hamline University School of Law
• Wellesley College

• Minneapolis South High

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Recommended

6 people have recommended Abigail

Connections

228 connections

Industry

Non-Profit Organization Management

Websites

• My book, "Families Like Mine"
• My Blog
• My book on Amazon.com

Abigail Garner’s Summary

Highlights:

* Certificate in Dispute Resolution
* Published author (HarperCollins, 2004)
* International project experience
* Proficient in Spanish; beginning Russian and Arabic
* A natural convener and networker
* Exceptional communication skills
* Solid experience with technology, including websites, blogging and social media.

Following a decade of consulting, lecturing, writing projects, and media relations, I have spent the last two years (2007-2009) focused on earning my master's degree in Organizational Leadership and Dispute Resolution.

My career reflects my deep commitment to diversity and inclusion, and I am seeking an organization that shares those values. As a communications professional who shapes and delivers mission-driven messages, I have successfully secured media coverage ranging from community newspapers to the New York Times; local cable shows to ABC News.

I welcome job leads, introductions, and brainstorms. I am open to relocating out of state or to another country for the right opportunity.

Abigail Garner’s Specialties:

Strategic planning; public relations and media strategy; online reputation management; speech writing; interview preparation; negotiation; mediation; dispute resolution; radio production; proposal writing (for organizational grants, personal grants, and book proposals); narrative, journalistic, and persuasive writing; nonprofit board training/expectations; cultural competency.

Abigail Garner’s Experience

• Appointed Officer, Ethical Practices Board

  City of Minneapolis

  (Government Agency; Government Administration industry)

  April 2009 — Present (9 months)

  Appointed by a committee consisting of the Chief Judge of Hennepin County District Court, the Dean of the University of Minnesota Law School, and the Dean of the University of St. Thomas School of Law.
  
  This non-compensated three-member board was created to promote high ethical standards and conduct, and foster a healthy ethical culture throughout Minneapolis city government.
  
  We investigate allegations of improper conduct of a department head, an elected official, or officials appointed by the Mayor or City Council to boards, commissions and similar agencies. We recommend changes to the provisions or administration of the Ethics Code and give opinions on interpretation of the Code.

• Graduate Student, Organizational Leadership

  The College of St. Catherine

  (Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)

  September 2007 — December 2009 (2 years 4 months)

  The M.A.O.L. degree focuses on developing leadership skills within a framework of ethics. My concentration in dispute resolution meant that 40% of my credits earned at Hamline University's Dispute Resolution Institute. Courses included negotiation; mediation; technology & dispute resolution; cross-cultural dispute resolution; theories in conflict.
  
  Capstone project: "Cultivating Self-Determination at In-Take for Effective Mediation at Community Mediation Centers"

• Graduate Intern

  Nonviolent Peaceforce

  (Non-Profit; International Affairs industry)

  June 2009 — August 2009 (3 months)

  Researching and identifying new funding sources to invest in Nonviolent Peaceforce's worldwide training and support in nonviolent intervention for local activists in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America.

• President

  Condominium Association [HOA] Board of Directors

  (Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

  November 2005 — November 2008 (3 years 1 month)

  Led board of directors through multiple challenges resulting in a 90-unit new construction condominium, built at the height of the condo craze in Minneapolis. During my tenure we successfully settled lawsuits against the developer and the subcontractors to correct construction defects through alternative dispute resolution. I also managed the process of interviewing and assessing potential property management companies which required extensive research about the industry. At the end of my tenure, New Concepts Management named me "President of the Year" as part of their annual Executive Leadership Awards.
  
  I am available for consulting with HOA's in the areas of developing community norms (rules & regulations), resolving disputes, communication strategies, board roles and responsibilities, and assessing management companies to find the best fit for your HOA.

• Research Assistantship, MAOL Program

  St. Catherine University

  (Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)

  June 2008 — October 2008 (5 months)

  Hired by the Organizational Leadership Program at the College, I conducted research to present to the Leadership Task Force to provide an overview of current trends in leadership development and leadership education nationwide. I was hired again to work on a second report, this one specific to leadership development in Twin Cities corporations.
  
  Project required strong writing and research skills, as well as the ability to present abstract concepts in a meaningful way to the committee so that the information is useful in their work.

• Owner / Author / Social Entrepreneur

  Families Like Mine LLC

  (Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

  June 1999 — June 2007 (8 years 1 month)

  Founded company to meet unmet needs of people from families with LGBT parents. Lectured / presented in 27 states and published book, "Families Like Mine" (HarperCollins, 2004).
  
  Launched website, http://FamiliesLikeMine.com in 1999.
  
  Self-syndicated column, published from June 1999-November 2001.
  
  Published/quoted in Newsweek, NYT, USA Today and on "Talk of the Nation," "All Things Considered," and "Morning Edition."
  
  During my tenure, I launched a website with a consistent following, developed a book proposal and marketing plan that I sold to a major publisher, created my own media kit and marketing materials, lectured in over half of the United States, spoke on countless radio and TV programs, coached other families before being interviewed in the media, helped editors and producers avoid biased coverage of our families, participated in strategic meetings with leaders of national organizations, and had tons of fun meeting a true rainbow of diverse families.

• Radio Host/Producer

  KFAI

  (Non-Profit; Media Production industry)

  October 2000 — April 2006 (5 years 7 months)

  Host of monthly broadcast of "Fresh Fruit," a long-running public affairs program serving the LGBT community. Developed show themes; worked with PR contacts to secure national guests (politicians, authors, activists and artists); prepped guests; conducted interviews. Earned certification to engineer sound board and often engineered my own live show.

• Author

  HarperCollins

  (Publishing industry)

  April 2004 — April 2005 (1 year 1 month)

  "Families Like Mine: Children of Gay Parents Tell It Like It Is" was published by HarperCollins in April 2004.
  
  A year later, the paperback edition was released. Below is the text from the back cover:
  ------
  
  What is it really like to grow up with gay parents?
  
  Abigail Garner was five years old when her parents divorced and her dad came out as gay. Like the millions of children growing up in these families today, she often found herself in the middle of the political and moral debates surrounding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parenting.
  
  Drawing on a decade of community organizing an interviews with more than fifty grown sons and daughters of LGBT parents, Garner addresses such topics as coming out to children, facing homophobia at school, co-parenting with ex-partners, and the impact of AIDS, and the children’s own sexuality.
  
  Both practical and deeply personal, Families Like Mine provides an invaluable insider’s perspective for LGBT parents, their families, and their allies.
  
  -----

• Principal / Independent Consultant

  Garner Grants

  (Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

  July 1997 — June 2002 (5 years )

  Hired by foundations for assignments on contract: proposal screening, proposal reviews, development/re-visioning of funding guidelines, site visits, event planning.
  
  Hired by non-profit organizations to create funding proposals for new projects and to improve existing proposals to increase foundation responses. Clients included Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, Storefront Group, Working Opportunities for Women, Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota, and Family and Children’s Service, Community Solutions Fund, CLUES, and Volunteer Resource Center.

  
  Developed communication pieces for various non-profits, such as executive ghostwriting, promotional pieces, donor profiles for newsletters, and direct mailing.


• Chapter Coordinator

  COLAGE

  (Non-Profit; 1-10 employees; Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

  January 1995 — June 2001 (6 years 6 months)

• Program Officer

  James Ford Bell Foundation

  (Philanthropy industry)

  January 1996 — July 1997 (1 year 7 months)

  * Proposal review and site visits with nonprofits in the Twin Cities.
  * Coordinated the Belford Series.
  * Managed the internship program; recruited and matched graduate students with area nonprofits; stipends funded by the Foundation.

• Summer of Service Team Member

  Americorps

  (Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

  June 1993 — August 1993 (3 months)

  Outreach and education programming in Newark, New Jersey. "Summer of Service" was President Clinton's pilot program for the year-long Americorps program.

• Project Volunteer (León, Nicaragua)

  Project Minnesota-León

  (International Affairs industry)

  March 1990 — June 1991 (1 year 4 months)

• Kazakhstan Delegate/Performer

  Peace Child International

  (Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

  July 1988 — August 1989 (1 year 2 months)

  Summer 1988: Collaborated with Kazakh youth (then "Soviet" youth) to create our own version of "Peace Child," a musical promoting a message of peace at the height of the USSR/USA nuclear arms race. Performed in Russian.
  
  Summer 1989: Castmember, Northern California. Performed the same play, this time with youth from Moscow, and re-worked to include an eco-friendly message. Performed in English.

Abigail Garner’s Education

• St. Catherine University

  MA , Organizational Leadership , 2007 — 2009

  Featured Courses: Leading Organizational Change; Accounting for Effective Decision Making; Strategic Management; International Trade and the Global Economy; Power and Leadership.

  Activities and Societies:

  Dispute Resolution concentration in partnership with Hamline University.

• Hamline University School of Law

  Certificate , Dispute Resolution , 2008 — 2008

  Courses included: Mediation with Nancy Welsh; Negotiation with Giuseppe De Palo; Theories of Conflict with Kenneth Fox; Online Dispute Resolution with David Larsen; Cross-Cultural Dispute Resolution with Sukhsimranjit Singh; "Challenging Conversations" and "Advanced Negotitions" with Michael Tsur.

• Wellesley College

  B.A. , Anthropology , 1990 — 1994

  Served as Business Manager for the Widows for two years, marketing the group, booking engagements, coordinating travel plans, negotiating performance fees and many other things that now, in hindsight, make me wonder how I ever found time to study.

  Activities and Societies:

  Wellesley Widows (14-voice a cappella group); Anthropology Club; Traveled to Armenia for an archeological dig in partnership with Wellesley and UC Berkeley.

• Minneapolis South High

  1986 — 1990

  Activities and Societies:

  Member of the Pilot Program for GATE -- Guthrie Active Teen Ensemble (1989)

Additional Information

Abigail Garner’s Websites:

• My book, "Families Like Mine"
• My Blog
• My book on Amazon.com

Abigail Garner’s Groups:

The Authors Guild, COLAGE, NLGJA.

•    NetSquared
•    Multicultural Forum on Workplace Diversity
•    Minnesota Networking Group
•    Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership (MAOL) at St. Catherine University
•    Wellesley College Alumnae Association
•    COLAGE
•    Twin Cities Communicator Network
•    Minneapolis South High Alumni
•    Midwest International NGO Network (MINN)
•    Dispute Resolution Career Opportunities & Resources
•    NetSquared Twin Cities
•    Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
•    Wellesley Club of Minnesota

Abigail Garner’s Honors:

Twin Cities International Citizen Award, 1992.
NLGJA, Excellence in Journalism Award, 2002.
Minnesota Magazine and Publication Association, Best Column, 1999 and 2000.
Rainbow Families Community Hero, 2004.
"President of the Year" Executive Leadership Award, New Concepts Management, 2008.

Abigail Garner’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• career opportunities
• consulting offers
• new ventures
• job inquiries
• expertise requests
• business deals
• reference requests
• getting back in touch