Communications

Eric is a creative communicator, experienced writer, and critical editor.

His background includes managing external communications for the Chicago Jobs Council. He also led coalition social media and communications for the Transit Table, a coalition that has helped clear driver’s license suspensions from hundreds of thousands of Illinois driving records.

Eric has over 15 years of experience in public speaking (starting as a speech and theater kid in the West Fargo public school district in North Dakota). He has written everything from serious talking points for legislators and non-profit grant applications, to silly ice breaker questions for his coalition meetings and an informative speech about Wikipedia.

Writing and Editing

As an independent journalist in 2014 and 2015, Eric wrote 4 long form pieces for Contributoria, an online publication of the Guardian:

• Hacking for the planet
• Living community
• Forfeit justice
• The weight of a dollar: The value in human experience

Eric has written numerous reports and blogs to advocate and inform, including:

• Living in Suspension: Consequences of Driver’s License Suspension Policies
• The Hidden Cost of Ventra: The Impact of the Ventra Fare System on Chicago Social Service Providers
• Black Lives Matter.
• This Labor Day, Working People Still Need the Same Things: Power, Support, Higher Wages
• We Cannot Ticket our Way to Safe Biking and Smooth Busing

Media Relations

Eric has managed inquiries from media and the public on a number of topics.

Note, Eric’s previous name was Eric Halvorson.

His media placements include:

• “Chicago Temporarily Halts Some Debt Collections and Ticketing Amid Coronavirus Pandemic” 2020, WBEZ Chicago and ProPublica Illinois.
• “Chicago Is The Only Major U.S. City To Ban Ride-Share Drivers For Parking Ticket Debt” 2019, WBEZ Chicago.
• “Some States No Longer Suspend Driver’s Licenses for Unpaid Fines. Will Illinois Join Them?” 2018, ProPublica Illinois.
• “Chicago’s predatory tickets and fines exploit low-income drivers for revenue” 2018, Chicago Reporter.
• “Social service agencies, homeless feel pinch of Ventra single-ride pass surcharge” 2016, Chicago Tribune.
• Hear Eric’s comments at a 2019 press conference on ticketing and license suspension reform with Chicago’s mayor. (Starts around 33 minutes.)

Digital Media

Eric has years of experience managing organizational, coalition, and church social media on multiple platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Eric has managed ad buys on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

His experience in website management includes numerous WordPress websites, Squarespace, Google Sites (but don’t do it), and MailChimp sites.

Eric has prepared and sent newsletters, action alerts, and fundraising appeals through MailChimp as well as Constant Contact.

Email Marketing

Having sent several hundred email campaigns, using A/B tests and advanced segmentation, Eric is an email pro. He’s most comfortable with MailChimp, and has experience with Constant Contact.

Surveys

With an eye for detail and an inclination for technology, Eric has managed and assisted on numerous surveys through SurveyMonkey, paper surveys, and Google Forms.

This includes leading the design and distribution of the statewide driver’s license suspension experience survey, who’s results are shared in the report Living in Suspension.

Most recently, Eric has consulted with a PhD candidate in Art Therapy, providing survey support on a delphi study to understand the aspects that create life-affirming space in an art therapy context.