Patrick Coonan, Associate

Patrick Coonan supports the firm's Organizational Effectiveness team in strengthening organizations in developing efficiencies and strategic communications internally and externally. Patrick has worked across the firm in developing community engagement and education advocacy tools and knowledge products for clients. He has worked extensively with the National Academy Foundation to help them plan their annual conference, with the Center for Teaching Quality in the development of an online advocacy toolkit for teachers, and with United Way on the development of issue briefs pertaining to education, on a mobilization guide on early grade reading, and on initiatives to strengthen community engagement in the field.

Patrick formerly served as the Co-Director of the D.C. Language Access Coalition (DCLAC), an alliance of over 40 community-based and civil rights organizations that advocate for language access in DC. While at DCLAC, Patrick led the organization in the transition to 501(c)(3) status, designed and led a health research and advocacy initiative, led a summer youth leadership program, and chaired the coalition's health committee. Patrick has a BA in Spanish and Philosophy from the University of Dayton and an MA in International Development Studies from Ohio University.  In addition to his experience at DCLAC, he has worked with Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School in DC as an ESL instructor and as a workforce development consultant for their leadership team. Beginning in 2001, Patrick spent two years as a community development mobilizer in the Republic of Cape Verde in western Africa while serving in the Peace Corps.