Risa Evelyn Dickens
Montreal, QC, CA.
References
Education:
MA, Media Studies. Concordia University 2006.
BA, English. McGill University 2003.
DEC, Liberal Arts. Dawson College 1999.
Summary:
Experienced writer, creative director, and project manager. Passionate public speaker, weirdly calm event producer, excitable artist, storyteller. Proven track record of building community in the real world and online from the ground up.
Consultant, Animalz.co, 2021 – Present.
Senior Community and Marketing Director: Yelp.com, 2016-2021.
Community Director: Yelp.com, 2014-2016.
Senior Community Manager: Yelp.com, 2013-2014.
Community Manager: Yelp.com, 2011-2012.
Content Executive: Frequency.com, 2009-11.
Co-founder, Executive Producer: Indyish.com, 2006-11.
Research Assistant: William Buxton, Concordia University 2004-2006.
Teaching Assistant: Rae Staeseson, Advanced Television and Video, Concordia 2004-2005.
Select Events:
Missing Witches Live at the AJC Conclave, co-producer, Montreal 2019.
The End of Poverty: Getting Basic Income Right in Canada, Montreal 2017.
A Creative Conversation About Basic Income, Montreal 2016.
Passovah Festival Launch at Theatre Fairmount, producer, Montreal 2015.
Museapalooza, stage manager for six stages, Nashville 2015.
Jue Art Market, stage manager two stages, Beijing 2015.
Yackathon, Yelp’s Community Hackathon, producer, Montreal 2015-2016.
Yelp Helps Volunteer fair at the Fringe Festival, producer, Montreal 2012-2015.
Sun Ra Arkestra Free Workshop and Jam with Tribal Belly Dancers, producer, Montreal 2008.
The Monthly Mess monthly showcases, producer and creative director, 2006-2011.
Showcases for McGill University, Fringe Festival, POP Montreal, producer, 2006-2011.
24hr Music Video Making Contests with bands and video makers, producer 2006-2007.
24hr Consistent Variable Design Projects, producer, 2006.
Open Source for Artists workshops, producer, 2006-2010.
Community clothing swaps, producer, 2006-2010.
Art Relays with Celtx.com, producer, 2008-2009.
Graffiti Jams on cars and canvas, producer, 2007-2008.
Exhibition:
“Pass On” Data: Salon XX at Eastern Bloc, April 2013. Curator James Finnerty. Interdisciplinary digital art and performance.
Publications:
Podcast:
Missing Witches, co-creator, 2018-Present.
Print – Non-Fiction:
“Put Me On” for Worn Fashion Journal Spring 2008.
“Close Like Light” for Worn Fashion Journal Fall 2008.
“What Not to Wear to the Revolution” for Worn Fashion Journal Spring 2007.
“Live and Let Dry” for Worn Fashion Journal Spring 2007.
“Fashioning Fiction: Vivian Westwood’s Autobiography by Someone Else” for Worn Fashion Journal Fall 2006.
“The Crisis in Public Opinion.” Dr. Buxton co-author. Canadian Journal of Communication Fall 2006.
“Infiltrate and Electrify: What are your clothes hiding?” for Worn Fashion Journal Spring 2006.
“Flock of Chic” for Worn Fashion Journal Spring 2006.
“Consistent Variable Project” for Worn Fashion Journal Fall 2005.
“Couture Culture” for Worn Fashion Journal Fall 2005.
“Hip Hop and Street Consciousness” for Canadian Journal of Communication. Vol.29 no.1 2004.
“Evolve or Die” for Hotel: A Critical Review Vol.2 2003.
Print – Fiction and Poetry:
“To the Polar Bear at the Toronto Zoo 1986 you were my first love” WalrusMagazine.com 2009.
“Language Lessons” 1-4 Duck and Herring Co. Pocket Field Guides. 2005-2006.
“Consistent Variable Project Workbook” Chapbook, 2005.
“Workings” Chapbook, with Robyn Fadden, 2005.
Blogs:
Select Yelp Blogs:
Meet The Owner: Karene Isabelle Photographer
The Best Vegetarian Restaurant In Every Province Across Canada
How to Throw a Virtual Event AND Make it Impactful
Behind The Dream: Peace By Chocolate
1000+ blog posts on this site, Indyish, Midnight Poutine, Huffington Post Canada, Medium.
1300+ Yelp reviews.
Conference Papers:
“Harold Adams Innis and The Crisis in Public Opinion” Dr. William Buxton co-author. Canadian Communications Association, Communication History panel June 2005.
“Russell Simmons and the making of Hip Hop” Canadian Communications Association, Music Panel June 2004.
Select Technical:
Office: Google Docs, Word, Open Office.
Social: Instagram, YouTube, FB, Twitter, LinkedIn, Reddit, TikTok.
Web Publishing and Virtual Events: Simplecast, WordPress, Zoom, Google Meet, Gather.Town.