Hi! I’m Lokyee Au.

A little about me:

I’m a multidisciplinary communications professional here to support justice-centered organizations, public agencies, and movements in our collective quest towards a more just world. I have experience in communications strategy, messaging, copywriting and editing, advocacy campaigns, crisis communications, and more. I work on a range of intersecting issues, including racial, gender, environmental, and economic justice, with processes and outputs that tactically marry strategy, narrative, equity, and accessibility.

A first generation Chinese American who grew up in Southern California navigating the Asian diaspora, I graduated with two Master’s degrees from University of Oregon: M.S. Environmental Studies, and Community & Regional Planning. I fell into communications after obtaining my public policy degree when I saw how frequently policymakers struggled to consider communications strategy as a crucial pillar of policymaking for social change. 

Currently, I live on the West Coast, jumping between Southern California and the Pacific Northwest with my partner, toddler, and aging 3-legged dog.

Why Open Channel?

An ode to my love of science fiction (especially Star Trek), Open Channel carries the belief that a just future is within our grasp. As captains would say, “open a channel” to open lines of communication with new worlds and people, I believe in the power of authentic communications to create paths towards shared values and purpose.

More often the phrase is associated with an open channel of water. My strategies emulate the principles of open channels of water: we recognize their fluidity, honor their paths vary, and adapt to the flow. Communications opportunities are often fluid and organic — and that’s how I like to approach every project.