Communications Specialist

Alisa Blackwood serves as the International Institute of Minnesota’s press contact and oversees communications. She strives to share stories about what happens after refugees and immigrants have the chance to start anew, bringing their courage, experiences, skills and determination to Minnesota. Ultimately, she hopes readers finish these stories with a more full and human picture of the families served by the Institute and the contributions New Americans make to the community.

Alisa’s favorite part of her job is sitting down one-to-one with clients, learning about what they’ve overcome, and celebrating their successes. She approaches each interview from a trauma-informed lens, following the lead of the storyteller and writing stories that reflect how the Institute has impacted clients’ lives.

Alisa’s work at the Institute comes after years of journalism work for organizations such as The Associated Press, O, The Oprah Magazine and more. Her nonprofit experience began at mothers2mothers in Cape Town, South Africa, where she worked as a communications volunteer in 2006. She hopes her writing about the Institute’s clients, students and staff brings to life the stories behind the news headlines.