Bernadette Downey
About Bernadette Downey
Bernadette Downey serves as the Associate Director of Government Relations & Advocacy at Share Our Strength, where she has worked since 2019. She has extensive experience in advocacy and government relations, having previously held roles at various organizations, including Food & Friends and the United States Census Bureau.
Current Role at Share Our Strength
Bernadette Downey serves as the Associate Director of Government Relations & Advocacy at Share Our Strength, a position she has held since 2019. In this role, she oversees state and local government relations strategies, ensuring that the organization's objectives align with legislative developments. Downey manages relationships with national membership organizations, including the National Governors Association (NGA), Western Governors Association (WGA), and National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). She directs lobbyists across eight states and is responsible for managing requests for proposals (RFPs), contracts, and performance results.
Previous Experience at Share Our Strength
Prior to her current role, Downey worked at Share Our Strength as the Senior Advocacy Manager from 2015 to 2019. During her tenure, she was instrumental in developing advocacy strategies that supported the organization's mission to end childhood hunger. Her work involved engaging with various stakeholders and ensuring effective communication of the organization's goals within the legislative framework.
Education and Expertise
Bernadette Downey holds a Master of Arts degree from The Johns Hopkins University, where she studied from 2007 to 2010. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from The Catholic University of America, completing her studies from 2002 to 2006. Downey's educational background provides her with a solid foundation in public policy and advocacy, which she applies in her current role and throughout her career.
Key Initiatives and Achievements
In January 2022, Downey conceptualized and advised the development and launch of the Mayors Alliance to End Childhood Hunger. This initiative has successfully secured the participation of over 130 mayors to date, demonstrating her commitment to addressing childhood hunger at the local level. Additionally, she develops detailed state legislative strategies that impact child nutrition and education policies, achieving a track record of approximately seven bills and appropriations items passed annually.
Career Background
Downey's career includes various roles in government relations and advocacy. She worked as a Legislative Assistant at Russ Reid Company from 2007 to 2010 and served as the Government Relations Manager at Food & Friends from 2010 to 2015. Earlier in her career, she gained experience as a Survey Statistician at the United States Census Bureau and interned in the offices of Speaker Newt Gingrich and Senator Arlen Specter. This diverse background has equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of the legislative process and advocacy strategies.