bring washington into the room
Two decades covering Washington’s biggest stories taught me a thing or two about power, people, and how to hold a room. I’ve produced coverage of the White House, Congress, and presidential campaigns, built a university program from scratch, and turned community conversations into real civic action.
Need a keynote that sets the tone for your event, a moderated conversation that goes deeper than talking points, or a workshop that leaves your team with tools they’ll actually use? That’s where I come in. Let’s give your audience something worth talking about.
signature talk
get in the room. own the room. make room.
A Framework for Access, Voice, and Lasting Influence
Access opens doors, but it’s what you do once you’re inside that shapes a career. Drawing on two decades at C-SPAN and her work building UF’s DC Journalism Immersion Program, Jonelle shares a practical framework for earning a seat at the table, using your voice with intention, and turning your success into opportunity for others.
Audiences will learn how to:
- Get in the room: identify the right opportunities and position yourself to access them
- Own the room: show up prepared, speak with confidence, and build something that’s yours
- Make room: use your influence to open doors for others and keep the cycle going
IDEAL FOR: Universities, women’s leadership events, professional associations, and career conferences
KEYNOTE | FIRESIDE CHAT | WORKSHOP
media & Power
The Trust Gap
Lessons from Two Decades Inside Washington Media
Public trust in the news is at a historic low, and the stakes for democracy have never been higher. Drawing on 20 years as a senior producer at C-SPAN, Jonelle takes audiences inside how news gets made, who shapes it, and what it will take to rebuild trust between the press and the public.
IDEAL FOR: Journalism and communications programs, media organizations, civic and policy audiences
KEYNOTE | PANEL
civic dialogue
common ground
Leading Conversations That Bridge Divides
Hard conversations don’t have to end in gridlock. As the founder of Districtly Speaking, Jonelle has spent more than a decade bringing people together across differences. She equips audiences with practical tools for leading honest, productive dialogue, and she brings that same skill to moderating panels, town halls, and community forums.
IDEAL FOR: Community organizations, universities, civic groups, and corporate DEI and leadership teams
KEYNOTE | WORKSHOP | MODERATOR
advocacy in action
lived experience, real change
The Power of Story in Advocacy
The most effective advocacy starts with a story. From women’s health advocacy with The White Dress Project to voter education and Hill advocacy with Delta Sigma Theta, Jonelle shows audiences how to turn personal experience into public action and policy wins.
IDEAL FOR: Nonprofits, advocacy organizations, health equity groups, and women’s leadership events
KEYNOTE | PANEL | WORKSHOP
