Amelia Taurel Folkes, APR

Amelia Taurel Folkes, APR serves as the director of public relations at Raise Your Hand Texas. She joined Raise Your Hand Texas in April of 2022, bringing more than 18 years of experience in public relations and corporate communications. As a member of the communications team, she oversees communication campaigns that support Raise Your Hand Texas’ statewide regional advocacy director team and advance the reputation of its strategic priorities across policy, advocacy, and legislative engagement.

Before joining Raise Your Hand, she worked in technology PR, supporting large multinational firms in their thought leadership communications. She also worked at State Farm for 11 years in community relations and brand strategy, where she managed Texas-based grant programs that positively impacted students, schools, and education-based nonprofits across the state. Her work includes winning several awards, including a Silver Anvil for a financial literacy program geared to underserved Hispanic families struck by the housing crisis. She also spent time at the internationally recognized PR firm Fleishman-Hillard, working with clients including the Department of Homeland Security, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, AT&T, and others.

Folkes is fluent in Spanish and has extensive experience researching issues dealing with access to education for underserved communities and working with multicultural audiences. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies from Texas A&M University and a Master of Professional Studies in Strategic Public Relations from George Washington University. She received her professional Accreditation in Public Relations in 2016 and is active in the Austin PRSA Chapter and the Hispanic Public Relations Association.