State Policy Network is pleased to announce Corey Burres recently joined the organization as our new Senior Director of Communication Strategies. In this role, Corey will work with SPN affiliate organizations to enhance their communications strategies and bring together our communications peer groups.
We sat down with Corey to learn more about his background, his thoughts on the next opportunity for the freedom movement, and his advice for those pursuing careers in communications and public policy.
Learn more about Corey below.
I was introduced to a mutual colleague at the then Evergreen Freedom Foundation, Joel Sorrell, who was looking for someone with video and animation experience. At the time, I was not familiar with state think tanks but I dove in and learned a lot in my first year.
The moment our movement came home for me was while we were out filming stories of school choice success around the country for a documentary called “Flunked.” At the time my daughter was starting kindergarten and our local school said that she was so far ahead that “she would likely be bored in school, and we were going to have to supplement her education at home to keep her engaged.” Here I was visiting these amazing schools that were engaging and challenging students from all walks of life, and I couldn’t get my own kid into a good school because of where we lived. This is when I began to understand how policies were locking families and kids out of hope and opportunity.
Local authentic community engagement is the future of the freedom movement. As more and more people become disconnected and trust in institutions, online personas, and media continues to erode, most will turn to find tangible connection to trust in. That happens at a community level. The freedom movement is strongest when people engage and find unique solutions for themselves and those around them. This is where we will be able to connect, listen, and build trust.
While at the Freedom Foundation I worked under Lynn Harsh, and then SPN reached out to ask for my support to help other state think tanks with utilizing storytelling. This was my first opportunity to work directly with SPN and with Todd Davidson. From there I continued to work in the movement, but only recently I began to explore my next step. I was excited to have the opportunity to come over, share my experience, and to learn from others.
I have worked in for-profit and non-profit, and the reason I came back to the non-profit world is because I realized I wanted my work to have purpose. Freedom brings many things to our lives and when we help others see the value in that freedom, we see our purpose.
Exercise or a walk with no distractions are my primary outlets.
Listen to people who think and believe differently from you. It will help you better understand the motivations that drive our decisions and passions.
I gather intel from a ton of different spaces. I listen to podcasts from differing perspectives. I watch videos and presentations on marketing from inside and outside the nonprofit world. My goal is to find where ideas, perspectives, and strategies overlap.
My first Annual Meeting was the one hosted in Seattle and I live in Washington, so it was in my backyard. This was also the first annual meeting where SPN introduced video stories to showcase the impact of work around the Network. I had the honor of filming and editing many of the videos with my coworker Joel Sorrell. Seeing people appreciate the way stories put meaning to their policy work was a truly humbling experience.
The servant heart by which SPN approaches its work. It is about raising up groups in the Network and supporting what they do.
The peer groups are a great way to collaborate and learn from others outside of Annual Meeting. These meetings allow affiliates to exchange ideas, collaborate on solutions, share best practices, and seek advice. Through these interactions, affiliates can gain valuable insights and better succeed in their role.
My wife and I are both very involved with foster care in our state. Child welfare touches so many and impacts communities all over each state. I’d love to see more organizations tackle this issue to build more stable and productive environments for all people.
I’m a huge video game nerd. I know it’s seen as a waste of time, but I love following the industry and playing video games.
Death to Deconstruction
Made to Stick
The Search for God & Guinness
Connecting with each communications professional in the network, whether it is through peer groups or through an individual conversation, these connections create exciting new ideas and direction that have the potential to transform lives through policy.
I typically like to stay home most of the time to be honest, but if I do go out, I like to find a local brewery or bar serving local beers. I love exploring craft beers.
