At its best & truest, storytelling is an act of service.
Fabric sculptor Daniel Lismore designs & wears narrative that captivates & connects.
photo by Colin Douglas Gray.
OUR STORY
mission.
accelerate social change by developing and amplifying the voices and stories the world needs to hear.
method.
we aim to replace traditional messenger-centered communication with a more impactful audience-centered approach. we use innovative, evidence-based learning design principles to build collective empathy and motivate audience engagement.
team.
we are experts in the art and science of communication & learning. our team combines creative chops from media and design roles with wonky content knowledge as public policy practitioners. throw in deep understanding of how individuals and groups learn from our decades coaching and facilitating in the public, private and nonprofit sectors, and you’ve got one hell of a trivia team who can help keep the conversation flowing at any cocktail party.
OUR HUMANS
Ashley Kolaya (she/her)
Ashley is obsessed with audiences, both being in them and in front of them. She first learned how to capture, hold & motivate a crowd’s attention during her early career as a civic engagement educator, which regularly forced her on stage to inspire tens of thousands of restless teens and tweens toward leadership, democracy and activism. She’s spent the last decade researching how to meaningfully connect with audiences of all shapes and sizes, and is an expert in learning design & facilitation. Most recently, she directed the curation & coaching disciplines for two of TED’s newest initiatives, TED Masterclass & TED-Ed programs.
Find her places: @ashleykolaya
Jordan Calhoun (he/him)
In addition to his role as Deputy Editor at Lifehacker and host of the award-winning podcast, The Upgrade, Jordan is our Black-Nerd-in-Residence. He earned this title both by literally being a writer for the website Black Nerd Problems and by collecting degrees in Sociology, Psychology, Criminal Justice, and Public Policy. He is our pop culture and representation expert, and his writing on these topics has been published in The Atlantic, Huffington Post, Vulture, Electric Literature, and more. His debut book, Piccolo Is Black, comes out in 2021.
Find him on Twitter: @jordanmcalhoun
José G González (he/him)
As the founder and former Executive Director of Latino Outdoors, José keeps us grounded in the fields of education, conservation and culture. He is a storyteller who plays at the intersections: of art and science, of word and illustration, of modern conservation efforts and deep roots in ancient indigenous tradition. He is an internationally recognized environmental educator and has collaborated with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, U.S. Department of Interior, and the National Park Service on diversity and environmental outreach.
Find him places: @josebilingue
Vera Papisova (she/her)
Vera brings journalistic integrity and a depth of knowledge about human bodies, feelings and relationships to our team. As the first ever digital wellness features editor at Teen Vogue, she understands how to tell stories about the scariest parts of the human experience in a responsible, trauma-informed way. She’s covered drug education, gender, identity, mental health, sexual health, sexuality, trauma, and wellness. She pioneered coverage of masturbation, vaginal health, and dating violence for Teen Vogue and has ASME, Webby, Shorty, GLAAD and Planned Parenthood awards for her (baller) work.
Find her on IG: @verapapisova