ABOUT ME
Roxanne Johnson is a video producer and journalist with a passion for social work and community service. As a person who was granted refugee protection herself, she is familiar with many of the challenges asylum seekers and new immigrants have to go through as they navigate the refugee determination process and start over in a new and unfamiliar country. She put her knowledge and experience to work as a peer support volunteer at the Adam House Refugee Shelter. Her goal is to work directly with vulnerable groups including refugees, new immigrants, the homeless and persons with mental health/substance abuse issues and also use her skills in journalism to draw public attention to the social issues and human rights abuses suffered by Canada's most vulnerable.
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Roxanne has a masters in journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) and a diploma in community service work from Canadian Business College. She is also a graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Communication,
Upon returning to Jamaica in 2005, she spent over ten years working in broadcast as a video editor and graphic artist. But also through volunteering with various ministries and social service agencies and initiatives got to work with at-risk youth and the elderly. Her previous volunteer experience in Jamaica, as well as here in Canada and her current qualifications in community service work have honed her skills in working with at-risk or vulnerable groups here in Canada.
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Skills and Abilities
Education and Training
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Experienced in refugee immigration law, procedures and human rights issues.
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Worked with social workers from various non-profit and government organizations working with the housing stability fund.
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Experienced in leading staff training, teaching, management and mentorship
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Versed in creating, researching, writing and editing video presentations on human rights issues and human interest stories.
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Excellent language and communications skills both verbal presentation and written.
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Engaged in journalistic research for personal productions published online.
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Expertly skilled in Adobe Premier Pro, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Audition and Adobe SoundBooth
Diploma in Community Service Work
Canadian Business College
March 2021 - April 2022
Completed
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Masters in journalism program
Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)
Sept 2018 – Graduated August 2020
MFA Program in Digital Media
Graduate student
Rhode Island School Of Design
Sept 2004 – April 2005 (incomplete)
B.Sc. Graphic Communication
Cum Laude
Minnesota State University, Moorhead
Graduated May 2004
Video News and Documentary Producer
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Produced video news stories for the Ryersonian in which I was writer, researcher, reporter, videographer and video editor
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Single-handedly produced two video documentaries for course requirements in the Ryerson University masters in journalism program as writer, researcher, reporter, videographer and video editor
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Produced two news stories for both video and print as an intern at Global News Toronto with television reporters Caryn Lieberman and Catherine McDonald
Video Editing and Post-Production
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Trained and professionally experienced in video and audio editing with the video editing software Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.
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Professionally experienced in post-production video motion graphics and special effects in Adobe After Effects CS5.
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Formally trained and professionally experienced in 3D animation with the software Autodesk 3D Studio Max.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Feb 2022 - April 2022 Harm Reduction Intern,
The Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention
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Sept 2019 - Dec 2019 Reporter for Ryerson University
newsroom The Ryersonian
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April 2019 - June 2019 Intern at Global News Toronto
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April 2018 - August 2018 Administrative Assistant at
The Neighborhood Information Post
Housing Stability Fund non-profit org
(Downtown Toronto)
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November 2015 – Jan 2017 Motion Graphic Artist for Sportsmax
March 2012 – 2013 Multimedia applications developer for
online learning at e-Learning Jamaica
January 2012 Animator, Creative Producer and
Junior Manager at Skyres Studio Ltd.
February 2012 Instructor for Adobe Flash CS5 at
Real World Technology Training and
Solutions
October 2007 – July 2009 Motion Graphics Producer at the
Public Broadcasting Corporation of
Jamaica
June 2006 – January 2007 Host of youth forum talk show ‘Rap
Time’ On CTV.
June 2006 – October 2006 Video/Motion Graphic Producer at
CPTC and Co-host of youth forum
talk-show, ‘Rap Time’
October 2005 – May 2006 Video Editor and Motion Graphics
Producer, BlackSlate Media Group Ltd
June 2005 – September 2005 Graphics Assistant at Global Media
2005 Graphic Designer and Web Author
Website for Grant Stewart Phillips and
Company
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2004 - 2005 Graphic designer and Web Author of
the Institute of Education (UWI)
website
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2003 - 2004 Administrative Assistant: Office of
Student Activities – Minnesota State
University
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Summer 2002, Summer 2004 Production Intern at MediaMix Ltd.
Volunteer Experience
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(May 2022 to Present) Volunteer at Fort York Food Bank
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(June 2019 to Sept 2021) Peer-Support volunteer at the Adam House refugee shelter
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(June 2018 to June 2020) Member of the Human Rights Committee of The United Nations Association in Canada, Toronto Branch
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(2010-2011) Assistant Adventist Youth Team Leader in Andrew’s Memorial Seventh Day Adventist Church
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(2006) Formerly a member of The Kiwani’s Club of New Kingston
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(2006) Conducted tutorial workshop in Digital Audio at the Gun-Court Rehabilitation Centre
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as part of Corner Stone Ministries project
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(2006-2008) Former Kindergarten Sunday School Teacher – Swallowfield Chapel, Kingston Jamaica
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(2006) Volunteered in YWCA After School Care/Homework Programme
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(2006) Volunteered – Bustamante Children’s Hospital
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(2006) Volunteered – Golden Age Home (Vinyard Town) in occupational therapy programme
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(2006) Volunteered in Swallowfield Chapel’s Prison Ministry visiting incarcerated youth