Speechwriting:
THE HEART
A mayoral address written for The Guardians Memorial dedication event in Annapolis. The memorial honors the five fallen journalists and staff of the Capital Gazette mass shooting. The speech speaks to the survivors and reaffirms the importance of the First Amendment.
The soul
This mayoral address was written to be delivered at a ceremony marking the transfer of property (to the City) of Historic Carr's Beach. It celebrates the vibrant legacy of the ‘Chitlin’ Circuit,’ where legendary artists from Stevie Wonder and Etta James to James Brown and the Temptations performed. The speech recognizes how beauty and music were forged from the ugliness of Jim Crow-era segregation.
the pulse
In 2020, the Mayor and Annapolis Police Chief were invited to attend and speak at a rally for George Floyd, decrying police brutality. It was one of hundreds of such events in scores of cities across America.
This George Floyd Rally speech needed to be short due to a long list of speakers. I decided to punctuate each sentence by using the names of other victims as a heartbeat throughout the piece. The cadence was: One sentence. Two names. Once sentence. Two names.
the brain
This Mayoral Address framed a $28 million municipal infrastructure project, the rebuild of the downtown Hillman Garage, as a moral necessity due to its funding connection to resiliency work at historic City Dock. It argues that government must act to protect residents from climate change, rejecting austerity in favor of investments in long-term quality of life for residents, businesses, and visitors.
the funny bone
A pun-heavy, community-focused address for the opening of the Annapolis Pickleball and Tennis Courts. This speech demonstrates the ‘big tent’ humor that sets the mood for a celebratory ribbon cutting.
The vision
A Mayoral Address honoring 50 years of women at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis.