Saida Harrigan (she/her) serves as the Writer and Editor for Communications & Engagement at the Surdna Foundation. She joined the Foundation in November 2023.  

Supporting the team’s goals and the organization’s social justice mission by crafting narratives and conducting media outreach, Saida works closely with Surdna staff and partners to collect, uplift, and share thoughtful, targeted storytelling opportunities that engage audiences and illuminate lessons learned. 

Saida brings over a decade of experience in media, government, and academia. Before joining Surdna, she was Assistant District Manager for Community Board 8 Manhattan. There, she served over 200,000 constituents and facilitated board committee meetings on topics ranging from landmark preservation to abortion rights. Previously, Saida conducted interviews, crafted impact pieces, and helped streamline a data-sharing platform as a Data Sharing Fellow and Researcher at Yale University. Prior, she worked as a Media Specialist for the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, where she was born and raised, making legislation more accessible for Virgin Islanders.

Saida holds a bachelor’s in journalism from St. John’s University, where she was a writing consultant at the Institute of Writing Studies. Not quite a serial hobbyist, she enjoys learning how to throw pottery and develop film when she’s not working on telling her own stories.  

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