BRAND PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN EXPERTISE

2020-PRESENT CEO

The Vanessa Simmons Company, LLC

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2024 Documentary Branding Photo & Video

4Kira4Moms ​

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2018 Commercial Branding Photography

Philadelphia Department of Public Health - Division of Maternal, Child & Family Health

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2018 Commercial Branding Production & Event Photography

MIT Media Lab Hackathon Event

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2018 Commercial Branding Photography UNC at Chapel Hill Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute Childcare Posters

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2017 Commercial Branding Strategy & Production

Philadelphia Department of Public Health - Division of Maternal, Child & Family Health

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2016 Commercial Brand Strategy & Photography

Novant Health Foundation

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2016 Conference Branding Strategy & Design

National WIC Association

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2015 Commercial Event Photography

California Breastfeeding Coalition Summit

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2015-2017 Brand Strategist, Normalize Breastfeeding Tour Normalize Breastfeeding

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2014-2024 Social Media Manager

Normalize Breastfeeding

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2013 Web Designer

California Families for Access To Midwives

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2011 Board of Directors California Association of Midwives

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2011 Commercial Event Photography

California Associations of Licensed Midwives

 

KEYNOTE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

2024 Latch the Gap: How to Build Bridge for Black Birth & Breastfeeding Justice

San Ysidro Health WIC 50th Anniversary  | San Ysidro, CA

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2020 Liberate Millennials from the Pressure to Breastfeed With the Power of Social  Media

MAINE WIC Conference | Virtual Speaker

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2020 Liberate Millennials from the Pressure to Breastfeed With the Power of Social  Media 

INDIANA WIC Conference | Virtual Speaker

 

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

2024 Latch the Gap: Author Meet & Greet, Book Reading, Q&A

Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere Breastfeeding & Equity Summit | Virtual Speaker

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2024 Pay to Play: How to Amplify Your Brand with Social Media Advertising

California Breastfeeding Coalition Summit | Virtual Speaker​

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2022 Latch the Gap: How to Build Bridge for Black Birth & Breastfeeding Justice

Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere Breastfeeding & Equity Summit | New Orleans, LA

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2020 Liberate Millennials from the Pressure to Breastfeed With the Power of Social  Media

GOLD Lactation Conference | Virtual Speaker

 

2019 Capturing WIC Stories and Supporting Families with Social Media

Texas State WIC Conference | Austin, TX

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2019 The Purpose of Capturing WIC Stories and Supporting Families with Social Media

National WIC Association Educational Conference | Baltimore, MD

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SPEAKING PRESENTATIONS

2024 Powerhouse Advocate Strategies to Normalize Breastfeeding

- Conference Presentation

CityMatCH Epidemiology & Maternal Health Conference

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2023 Latch the Gap: How to Build Bridge for Black Birth & Breastfeeding Justice - Poster Presentation
California Breastfeeding Coalition Summit | Virtual Presentation

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2019 Building your Breastfeeding Support Group with Social Media -  Stage Presentation
California Breastfeeding Coalition Summit | Anaheim, CA

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2016 Lunch & Learn - "Normalize Breastfeeding" A Talk for Clinicians - Conference Presentation 

Novant Health Hospital | Charlotte, NC

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2015 Uprooting Misrepresentations of Black Breastfeeding Mothers in Today’s Modern Literature  - Conference Presentation, Black Mother’s Breastfeeding Association | Detroit, MI

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2015 Spoken Word Poetry - “At the Breast” - Stage Presentation

California Breastfeeding Coalition Summit | Anaheim, CA

 

AWARDS/ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS/EXHIBITIONS

2021 Power Voice Summit Speaker & Summit/Program Closer
Les Brown Power Voice Academy

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2018 10 Billboards & City-Wide Media Saturation

Philadelphia Department of Public Health

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2018 Portrait Gallery: Make the Breast Pump Not Suck Hackathon

MIT Media Lab

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2015 Top 10 World Breastfeeding Week Photo Contest

World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action

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2013 Best of Show/Class Monochrome, Best of Monochrome 

San Diego Museum of Photographic Arts

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EDUCATION

2021 The B.L.A.C.K. Course

Certified Blactation Educator

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2021 Bob Proctor’s Thinking Into Results
Certified Professional Coach

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2020 Les Brown Power Voice Academy

Certified Professional Speaker

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2018 UCSD Extension Lactation Education

Certificated Lactation Educator and Counselor

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2011-2013 Southwestern College

Professional Photographer

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2004-2005 San Diego Bible College & Seminary

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2003-2004 San Diego Christian College

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2001-2002 Middle of Tennessee State University

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2000-2001 Southwestern College

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PUBLISHED BOOKS

Latch The Gap: The Powerhouse Advocate's Guide to Help Black Parents Know Better & Do Better

Amazon Bestseller