Lydia Laurenson - Freelancer

Specialties:

Writing and Editing; Content Strategy; Social Media Marketing; Community Management; Case Studies and other Qualitative Research; Public Speaking

Bio:

Lydia Laurenson got her start in digital media at age 15, when she was invited to intern at a game design company. She received her B.A. from Bard College at Simon's Rock in 2004, when she was 19. Lydia then spent several years managing the oldest bookstore in Chicago and freelancing as a game designer, most prominently at the award-winning White Wolf Game Studio.

Soon, she developed a deep interest in social justice and community-building, working extensively with cooperatives and artistic non-profits such as Chicago's Jane Addams Hull-House Museum. Her knack for marketing and facilitation came to the fore; she created a well-known four-year-long public program at the Hull-House, and was elected Chairman of the Board at a South Side housing cooperative.

In her mid-twenties, Lydia served with the Peace Corps in Swaziland, Africa. Upon her return, she spent several years as a journalist, editor, and speaker. Lydia has worked with outlets ranging from The Guardian, to Time Out, to Gawker Media; she has spoken at universities across the U.S., and at South By Southwest Interactive. In 2012, she began consulting on social media strategy and other digital marketing questions. In January 2013, she moved to the Bay Area.