Merrill Black has over 30 years of experience in education, writing, nonprofit management, and community organizing. She has held various adjunct faculty and curriculum development roles teaching courses on narrative, disabilities studies, and academic success strategies. Black founded her own consulting firm providing services such as grant writing, board development, and curriculum design for numerous nonprofit clients. She has authored and co-authored several publications on topics including affordable housing and preparing minority youth for health careers.

1. Merrill Black~316 Colonial Drive, Portsmouth, NH 03801~
860-866-6884~active_voice@yahoo.com
EMPLOYMENT
2013-Present Adjunct Faculty, Southern New Hampshire University, Creative Nonfiction
1999-Present Adjunct Faculty, CUNY School for Professional Studies, New York, NY
• Adapted and taught semester-long course, Narrative & Disability, Disabilities Studies
Program
• Developed and taught multi-session workshops on preparing a thesis, Applied Theatre
Program
• Designed and taught three 12-week College Bridge Courses providing orientation to
college work and remediation in writing, reading and critical thinking for youth
development workers, direct care staff (working with people with disabilities), and nursing
students
• Wrote Writing for Work curriculum, conducted primarily online, for administrative
workers at Montefiore and Veterans Hospitals.
2008-2013 Manager of Curriculum Development, Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health,
Brooklyn, NY
• Developed manual and curriculum for replication of three year afterschool science
enrichment program to prepare minority youth for health science careers
• Developed and taught mini modules on Strategies for Academic Success, Writing and
Resume Development
• Co-designed (with clinical content providers) a three-year curriculum for high school
students on Anatomy & Physiology, trained, supported and evaluated faculty of medical
students
• Wrote Middle School Health Career Exploration Curriculum based on reflective practice
and exploration of self, family, neighborhood and school
• Documented health promotion curricula offered in personal care salons
• Designed curriculum to prepare high school students to perform community-based
research projects on health disparities in local nonprofits
• Adapted summer internship program for replication in Trinidad and Tobago
2002-2008 President, Active Voice Consulting, New York, NY
• Wrote funded proposals
• Identified and cultivated sources of funding including foundation and government grants,
individual donors and community foundation funds
• Developed logic models and evaluation strategies
• Facilitated board development initiatives
• Developed curriculum and delivered workshops, classes and retreats
• Conducted research on prospective donors, sectoral environment, standards, best
practices and policy
Clients included Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail, Portsmouth, NH; Homes for All, Albany,
NY; Support Center for Nonprofit Management, New York, NY; Photography Center of
Harlem, New York, NY; Arthur Ashe Institute, Brooklyn, NY; Children’s Rights, New York,

2. NY; Trickle Up, New York, NY Open Society Foundation, New York, NY; Ford
Foundation, New York, NY; ASPCA, New York, NY and SAH Consultancy, New York,
NY, Greenwich Village Youth Council, New York, NY.
1999-2002 Development Director, Support Center for Nonprofit Management, New York,
NY
• Supported Executive Director in prospect research, donor cultivation and proposal
development; served as liaison to board fundraising committee
• Developed a new corporate identity campaign including print materials and redesigned
website
• Maintained website and developed content
• Organized four public forums per year
Director of Public Training, Support Center for Nonprofit Management, New York, NY
• Designed and administered a program of over 140 management training workshops
• Recruited and supported a pool of 45 volunteer instructors
• Redesigned and edited catalog
1995-1999 Development Associate, Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute, South Bronx, NY
• Raised $800,000 annual budget for employment training program for low-income women
• Tracked and sustained funder relationships
• Wrote proposals and reports
• Coordinated First Worker Assembly, a forum to prepare direct care workers to engage in
national policy work.
1993-1995 Project Coordinator, National Home of Your Own Alliance, Institute on Disability,
University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
• Established statewide coalitions resulting in public and private sector partnerships linking
the home mortgage and social service industries
• Designed technical assistance package, wrote RFP and conducted competitive rounds of
funding
• Administered strategic planning and technical assistance agreements in five states
• Developed publications for a national information clearinghouse
• Monitored and reported on grant and collaborated on subcontractor activities.
1982-1993 Computer Specialist III, Computing Information Services, University of New
Hampshire, Durham, NH
Publications Consultant
• Proposed, staffed and implemented the establishment of a campus desktop publishing
center for faculty, students and staff
• Provided script-writing, graphic consultation, acting and voice-overs for Media
Department’s video projects.
• Wrote, edited and designed award-winning publication and coordinated production and
distribution
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3. VOLUNTEER SERVICE
1986-1995 Board Member, New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, Concord, NH
• Developed strategies to promote long-term affordable housing and economic development in
New Hampshire
• Reviewed loan applications from limited equity housing cooperatives, transitional housing,
day-care centers and other enterprises
• Chaired Board of Directors for one year, chaired Communications committee; member
Fundraising and Executive committees.
1990-1992 Trustee, New Durham Library and Resource Center, New Durham, NH
*0 Established policy on acquisition and usage to best serve the community.
*1 Consulted on acquisition of computer and other technology
*2 Designed and produced fundraising brochure.
1986-1988 Founder & Community Organizer, Save Our Homes Organization/Seacoast Mutual
Housing Association
*3 Organized tenants facing displacement
*4 Negotiated with city council and developer
*5 Developed media and public information campaign
*6 Collaborated on feasibility study for a Community Land Trust
*7 Secured funding for technical assistance and feasibility study
ARTWORK IN EXHIBITIONS
July 2014 Juried Open Show, Barn Gallery, Ogunquit, ME (1 pieces)
June 2013, Exhibition, Doo Salon, Kittery, ME with Russell Aharonian
July 2013, Juried Open Show, Barn Gallery, Ogunquit, ME (1 piece)
October 2013, Juried Open Show, 100 Market Street (8 pieces)
PUBLICATIONS
Designing high school research curricula to promote public health careers among minority
students.Valmont, M.E., Raphael, C, Black, M., & Browne, R.C.
“Prevention and Wellness Across the Life Span” # 4180.0, oral presentation # 264183. APHA
2012 annual meeting, October 2012, San Francisco, California.
OST Model to prepare the next generation of minority public health practioners. Browne, R.C.,
Oghenejobo, E., Valmont, M., Black, M., Shamass, S. “Prevention and Wellness Across the Life
Span” #4180.0, poster # 264183. APHA 2012 annual meeting, October 2012, San Francisco,
California.
Implementation of a health disparities curriculum for minority high school students. Fraser-
White, M., Primus, N., Brown, H., Valmont, M., Henry, K., Roberts, C., Black, M., Bowne, R.C.
“Healthy Communities Promote Healthy Minds & Bodies” # 241018 poster. APHA 2011 annual
meeting, October 2011, Washington, DC.
“Crackup at Radio City” The New York Times, January 4, 2012
“Mourning Person” Underwired Magazine, Louisville, KY, August 2011
“Picture Perfect at the DMV” 8 Million Stories, New York Press, November 18, 2009
“The Wise Plumbers” The New York Times, December 21, 2008
Homes for All: Serving People with Disabilities, with Robert Davies, Dearborn Publishing, 1999
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4. “Three Readings of the Wife of Bath” Autobiographical Writing Across the Disciplines, Duke
University Press, ed. Diane P. Freedman & Olivia Frey, 2003
Extending the American Dream: Home Ownership for People with Disabilities, National Home of
Your Own Alliance, with Jay Klein, 1995
Feature Writer, Seacoast Business Digest, Portsmouth, NH, 1985-1987
AWARDS
New York Foundation for the Arts, Fellowship in Nonfiction Writing, 2003
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5. EDUCATION
University of New Hampshire, MA, English, Creative Non-Fiction Writing,
Durham, NH, 1998
Marlboro College, BA, American Studies, Marlboro, VT 1975
CETA "Non-Traditional Career Training for Women" Exeter, NH 1981
University of New Hampshire, Certificate in Printing and Graphic Design, UNH Mediation
Project Training, Documentation Specialist Diploma, Durham, NH 1984-1986
Writing samples and references available on request
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6. EDUCATION
University of New Hampshire, MA, English, Creative Non-Fiction Writing,
Durham, NH, 1998
Marlboro College, BA, American Studies, Marlboro, VT 1975
CETA "Non-Traditional Career Training for Women" Exeter, NH 1981
University of New Hampshire, Certificate in Printing and Graphic Design, UNH Mediation
Project Training, Documentation Specialist Diploma, Durham, NH 1984-1986
Writing samples and references available on request
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