The Connecticut Oral Health Initiative, Inc. 

Newly recruited to lead our fundraising efforts to support the mission of advancing oral health equity in Connecticut. I take a relational approach to development, building genuine connections with donors, partners, and community members.

Development Manager

Journaling for Growth

Chief Journaling Officer

CT Library Consortium

Community builder for librarians. First to fill the role of Events & Special Projects Manager for statewide membership collaborative serving ~1,000 Connecticut libraries. 

Known for my personal brand of magic - creating spaces where members felt safe to learn and grow, turning nebulous ideas into concrete programs and services, and planning and executing events so fun they didn't feel like work - I helped members of our community feel seen, heard, and valued, and provided opportunities for them to build skills to better serve their communities. 

Known for being an innovative thinker who imagines creative solutions to problems, often anticipating needs before they arose, I instigated moving our Roundtable program virtual in early 2020, teaching members to use Zoom and modeled how to run an effective meeting. (Librarians went on to use what they learned here to put on programs for their own communities.)

I partnered with the Connecticut Storytelling Center to launch a storytelling training workshop series for librarians. I conceptualized and executed three different vendor expo models, all of which were wildly successful. And I established a new Program Directory to connect libraries with performers and workshop providers. 

I led the national Take Your Child to the Library Day initiative, serving as project manager, growing the program in visibility through projects such as the creation of both community-centric and librarian-centric websites, speaking at the Public Library Association Conference in April 2024, and publishing an article in Public Libraries Magazine in Summer 2024. I partnered with EveryLibrary to create Advocacy Training webinar series to build capacity among children's librarians, and established State Ambassador program to build support and visibility nationwide. I partnered with Demco to create a line of promotional products for TYCLD 2025.

Events and Special Projects Manager

Northwest Village School

I was selected as the first certified library media specialist at this therapeutic day school for special education students ages 4-21.  

Tasked with creating our library media program, I transformed a humble bookroom into a vibrant library ecosystem welcoming and accessible to students of all ages and our teachers and support staff. 

I implemented a new library automation software system, replacing the traditional card catalog, revamped our entire collection of materials, assessing gaps for each section and curating age-appropriate resources, and established new collections of both print and digital resources. 

As the designer of library, information and research, and technology skills curricula that I delivered to students, I was part of our teaching team, delivering instruction to students, facilitating professional development for teachers and support staff, and collaborated with teachers on technology integration and co-teaching classes. 

I created safe and welcoming spaces for all of our students, differentiating instruction, employing de-escalation strategies as needed, and building strong relationships with our learners and instructors. 

I had the joy of surprising and delighting students and staff by instituting school literacy events including annual Read Across America celebrations, coordinated external speakers, and introduced graphic novel collection (our most popular and widely circulated school collection).

Library Media Specialist

Avon Free Public Library

As part of our children's services team, I had the amazing privilege of supporting children and families who came to the library.

While on desk, I assisted children and families with navigation of library materials, equipment and resources; provided readers’ advisory services, connecting readers with engaging materials.

I executed original programming for children including reader’s theater workshops, family thank you letter writing, and thematic creative programs connected to the Amazing Castle™ installation. 

I partnered with Teen Librarian on Book Buddies program pairing elementary school students with middle and high school students to foster reading skills.

And I brought my skills from my experience at Northwest Village School to tactfully manage challenging patrons (i.e. high energy and or poor in-library behavior) resulting in reduction of risk behaviors in the library.

Children's Library Specialist

Self-Employed

Family Sabbatical

Ketchum

At Ketchum (formerly Capital Strategies), I worked with associations such as the North Carolina Economic Developers' Association and NC Go! on events (meetings, conferences, legislative days), editing newsletters, and providing member support. I helped develop communications plans for organizations such as Junior League of Raleigh.

Project Coordinator

Journaling is one of the simplest, most beneficial habits you can use to create the life you want to live. 

And yet something is keeping you from it. 

Whether you’re completely new to journaling and don’t know where to start, you’ve journaled some but not found what works for you yet, or you’re a seasoned journaler looking for new ways to infuse your journaling with energy to get the results you want, I can help. 

✍️Why work with me?
If you were going to do it on your own, you would have by now. The information is out there. But you haven’t figured out how to make it work for you yet. And that’s okay. I love getting to help folks just like you create journaling practices that help you reach your goals. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach here. We start with you, what you want to achieve, and find simple, sustainable ways to make it happen. 

✍️How to work together
If you need:
🌱A LITTLE BIT OF SUPPORT, check out my curated journal prompt collections through my Substack newsletter. At just $8/month, you’ll receive a daily journal prompt designed to help you get to know and love yourself a little bit better AND solve the problem of not knowing what to write about. (journalingforgrowth.substack.com)

🍀MORE SUPPORT, we'll work together to create your bespoke journaling practice that aligns with your personal growth journey. It’s all about you and what you need to grow. And it starts with a conversation. (tidycal.com/amandastern/strategy-call)

✨ Beyond Journaling—Event Planning & Community Building
Along with my passion for journaling, I bring years of experience as a community builder, event planner, and facilitator. I thrive on creating spaces where people can show up as their true, authentic selves and have real conversations that spark connection, growth, and impact. Whether it’s a small gathering or a large-scale event, I specialize in curating experiences that foster meaningful connections and create positive change. If your organization or mission-driven nonprofit needs someone to plan and facilitate events or build a thriving community, let's talk about how we can make it happen.

✍️ About Me
I’ve been journaling since I was an angsty teenager, and it's my go-to tool for learning and growth. I've used it to uncover what I truly want, make plans to go after it, hold myself accountable, and celebrate success, all while creating a life I don’t want a vacation from. When I’m not journaling, you can find me with my nose in a book, puttering in my garden, laughing with my family, and trying to decide what to make for dinner again tonight.

Amanda Stern ✍️

Self

Writing, especially poetry, has and always will be my passion. I have found that my gift is to write how people feel! I've written everything from short and long poems to children's books to a novel. I even was requested to have a piece of my writing in the Research Scholar Room of The United States Holocaust Museum. One of the proudest moments of my life was receiving an acknowledgment from Elie Wiesel and Steven Spielberg in regards to that piece. I am the proud author of 9 books of poetry published and available on Amazon.

Writer-Poet

LiveOps

Helping customers place orders for products and services that are advertised on television.

Customer Service Rep

LifeEventDiary

Communicated with customers and guests.
Coordinated marketing opportunities.
Acted as liaison for external service providers for human resources and expenditure needs.
Researched and presented diabetes advancements for strategic decision making.
Developed and maintained an existing and prospective customer database.
Organized company meetings, management presentations and board meetings.

Office Manager

Progressive Insurance

Met or exceeded dollar objectives monthly over 90% of the time.
Recognized as a top dialer agent in both inbound and outbound calls.
Trained new hires on successful collection process and procedures.

Subrogation Collector

R.O.I.

Collected money from debtors totaling over 8K per month.
Arranged billing claims to medical insurance for debtors.
Made more outbound calls than the daily allowance, while still receiving incoming calls.
Recruited from N.C.O, after its headquarters were relocated, based on my performance statistics.

Medical Collections

N.C.O.

Exceeded monthly target goals.
Awarded weekly bonuses on a regular basis for achieving target goals and consistently collected the weekly individual bonus for highest immediate collection volume.  
Ranked in the top 2 for dollars collected at the company.
Generated the highest number of payments week after week.

Area Temps

Surpassed goals set for me.
Achieved sales goals set for all selling engagements.
Received positive feedback from all engagements and asked to come back as their needs arose.
Acted as a front person at some engagements answering a multi-line phone switchboard and greeting customers upon arrival.

Customer Service/Data Entry/Receptionist

Ottakars

Created and formatted a company-wide newsletter.
Wrote book reviews on a weekly basis.
Determined which books would be ordered for the store. 
Assisted customers with their book needs both on the phone and in person.

Bookseller

Feelings to Words Translator

Do you have a major life event for which you need to write something amazing? The Best Man Speech, Wedding Vow, perhaps a Eulogy, or even something special for your parent's 50th wedding anniversary?

You know what you need or want to do, but perhaps putting sentiment into words is not your forte.

Well, look no further. For I am here to help.

Think of me as your Feelings to Words Translator.

I can take the headache, aggravation, and frustration away that comes with putting thoughts and feelings onto paper.

I have had lots of experience writing how people feel and connecting people with the human experience is where my talent comes to the forefront.

When it is important to get it done right and to open up the inner workings of your heart, contact me.

taplio

The Battle

Amanda Stern ✍️

Alison Hope Barron

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