Heather Appel

Heather Appel is a seasoned communications professional currently serving as the Senior Communications Manager at the Oakland Literacy Coalition, where responsibilities include capturing and conveying the organization's impact and crafting content to engage diverse audiences. Previous roles encompass Communications Manager for various organizations, Strategic Communications Consultant for PowerSwitch Action, and Communications Director for both the Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU Healthcare and PowerSwitch Action, focusing on campaigns that promote racial, economic, climate, and gender justice. Heather began their career in journalism, serving as a reporter at Herald News and interning at the New York Daily News, along with freelance reporting for multiple publications. Heather holds an M.A. in Journalism from the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism and a B.A. in Sociology, Women's Studies, and Spanish from Vassar College.