Stephanie Schweitzer Garza

About Stephanie Schweitzer Garza

My love of storytelling started very young - 2 1/2 years old-violin, music, singing, acting, dancing and history. I majored in Musical Theater at Syracuse University and worked as a professional actor in New York for 4 years, appearing on Law & Order: SVU, off Broadway & at professional regional theatres. But I yearned for more. I wanted to be a part of media that mattered, media that reached into the reality of our lives. So I co-wrote/co-produced \"Swept\" and then \"36:24:36.\" Both address the rapidly growing and grossly misunderstood problem of eating disorders. I subsequently became involved in lobbying for mental health care reform thru the Eating Disorder\'s Coalition and the National Eating Disorder\'s Organization. In June of 2012 I walked into the office of Obama for America in New York City and I was bitten by the bug. I went on to become the Deputy Director of New York Women for Obama, recruiting and maintaining a core of volunteers and went on to work as a Field Organizer for Cory Booker for Senate. While I loved the community engagement found in the field, I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of how campaigns worked and how they develop from the ground up. Fundraising seemed a great place to start and when the opportunity to join the finance team for Wendy R Davis for Governor arose,\"I wasn\'t born in Texas but I got here as soon as I could!\" as they say. I am proud to have landed in Texas using my varied skills, experience and knowledge working first as a fundraiser for progressive political campaigns and committees and eventually spearheading the creation and professionalization of fundraising efforts at the Texas Civil Rights Project. I\'m deeply passionate about building power within marginalized communities; challenging systems of inequity, injustice, and oppression; and creating a future where all among us are able to thrive. Specialties: team management, fundraising, communications, community organizing, event management, public speaking, community relations, public policy, voting rights, criminal legal reform, immigrants rights, video, theatre, film, film editing, video editing, post production

Experience

1. Senior Director of Donor Advising

   Way to Win

   Nov 2023 — Present · Denver, CO, US

Education

• New York University

  Digital Video Production

  2009 — 2010

• NYU Stern School of Business

  Certificate, Business Essentials for Non-Business Majors

  2001

• Syracuse University

  BFA, Musical Theatre

  1998 — 2002

• Emily's List

  Political Opportunity Program

  2012