Guest Profile

Joanna Baanana

My employment at O’Brien Communications Group (OCG) is focused on marketing, brand management, account management and external resource management. I’m responsible for managing the social media accounts of several businesses, backend website management for several businesses, as well as writing and planning different marketing campaigns. I’m grateful to work at OCG because I’ve learned the self-soothing and restorative craft of writing. I used to resist calling myself a writer because I have a finance degree. I naively thought I needed an English degree to effectively express myself in writing. But now, writer is a title I proudly wear, and writing is something I’ll practice for the rest of my life.

In March of 2019, after an incident involving police and the removal of guns from my marital home, I began a journey that no one expects to be on. I became a client at the local domestic violence shelter - Safe Futures in Southeastern Connecticut. I filed for the dissolution of my marriage and obtained a restraining order. I also became a survivor, advocate, and thriver.

While my civil family court exposure is ongoing, I have decided to be a part of the solution as opposed to simply complaining about the injustices I see. Because of this, I am a founding member of the VOICES Committee for The Center for Safe Futures. I am on the Advisory Board of the Connecticut Protective Moms Non-Profit. I have been certified as a DV Crisis Counselor. I am a Girl Scout leader. And I’ve written my first book, a memoir, which I hope to be published by 2025.

In my spare time, I love reading, writing, yoga, meditation, gardening, and enjoying my town’s beaches. I have a weekly blog on the OCG website. I’m a columnist at BizCatalyst360°. And I’ve recently completed my first book, which is in the editing phase.