A Little About Me

And why I started Sage Messaging

Hi there! 

My name is Emily Spahn and I'm the lead here at Sage Messaging. I have worked with non-profits across the world for the past seven years and I want to use that knowledge to help support your organization.

Humans are complex and I started Sage Messaging to help "nudge" people towards positive change. And, more importantly, to help bridge the gap between organizations and the people they want to connect with. When I lived in Malawi, a small country in Southeast Africa, I worked at USAID on a variety of programs spanning from HIV/Aids prevention to organization-wide communication strategy. I also spent a lot of time in the field where I heard stories from local Malawians about their day-to-day life and the struggles they faced and persevered through. However, I soon noticed a theme in these stories. An "aid" organization would come in to communities out of the blue, try and "educate" the people on different topics, then would leave the people to their own devices.

In most cases, the people these organizations were trying to help would go back to their learned behaviors and patterns and the education and materials they received from well-meaning organizations would become obsolete. This is where I discovered my passion for behavior change and strategic outreach. If organizations are going to spend so much time and effort developing programs, then they should spend just as much time developing ways to make the programs stick.

With a diverse background spanning international relations, marketing, psychology, and public health, I bring a unique blend of skills and expertise to my work. I hold a Master of Arts in Strategic Communication for Global Health and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies with minors in Marketing and Psychology from the University of Denver's Josef Korbel School of International Studies. During my undergraduate studies, I enriched her academic experience with a semester abroad at Fundación Cimas de Ecuador, focusing on economics.

As the founder of Sage Messaging LLC, I established a successful strategic messaging and consulting company for nonprofits. I leverage my knowledge of social psychology and neuromarketing to develop innovative community outreach strategies, write grants, and create branded branded creative campaigns for clients such as Illuminate Colorado, the Montezuma County Public Health Department, and the United Way of Southwest Colorado. I am also currently working with the La Plata County Public Health Department as a Public Health Specialist, guiding divisions through a strategic planning process to inform program development and capacity-building.

With a track record of success in both the nonprofit and government sectors; expertise in communication, community engagement, and program development;  and my passion for making good programs stick; I will be here every step of the way to help you reach your goals.

For more information about my experience, portfolio, or how we can collaborate on an upcoming project, reach out via email or give me a call. 

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