Linda Loranger
Principal
Linda has more than 25 years of experience in public interest communications and journalism, combining strategy, advocacy and storytelling to generate social change. She specializes in reframing narratives, message development, writing and advocacy campaigns. Linda has worked with some of the country’s most prominent health foundations, nonprofits, and think tanks. She leads Burness’ work with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Community Catalyst to change how dental care is delivered in rural and tribal communities throughout the U.S. She is working on initiatives to end homelessness and to re-establish the pipeline for gun violence research. Linda worked alongside the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Commission to Build a Healthier America to reframe how the country approaches health. She helped create the “where you live, learn, work and play” and “there’s more to health than health care” messages to help people understand the social determinants of health.
Linda has media-trained researchers, foundation presidents, policy leaders and influencers. She has also led messaging, and diversity and inclusion trainings for Native American leaders, the National Indian Health Board, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officers and advocacy groups.
Linda is adept at translating research, policy and complicated information into language that is easily accessible to a variety of audiences. Her writing ranges from in-depth reports and environmental scans to journal articles to stories and opinion pieces.
Linda began her career as a newspaper reporter, and worked at The Hartford Courant. Prior to joining Burness, Linda headed communications for a Washington, D.C.-based health think tank, and a national program focused on long-term care financing. She earned her B.A. from the University of New Hampshire. Linda serves on the Women’s Advisory Board for the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital, is a facilitator with the Opening Hearts Mindfulness Community, and spent five years on the Children’s Dental Health Project board.