I am honored to return to the StoryGrowing WNY community as this year’s keynote speaker and workshop facilitator for the 2027 Kickoff.

StoryGrowing has been part of my journey from the beginning. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to capture the stories unfolding in the room, support participating organizations as they shape and share their own stories, and contribute through coaching, presentations, and creative collaboration. It has been meaningful to witness what happens when nonprofit leaders and staff are given time, tools, and encouragement to speak clearly about the work they do and the people they serve.

On Wednesday, October 28, I will open the kickoff with Human-First Fokus’d Storytelling: Voice, Values & Narrative Change, a keynote and interactive workshop experience developed with support from the Get Fokus’d Productions team. Together, we will make space to reconnect with the truth of your work, find language that reflects your values, and strengthen the way you communicate with community, funders, partners, and one another.

This session is rooted in a simple belief: the stories already living inside your organization matter. Your voice matters. You do not have to sound like anyone else to make an impact. You can communicate with clarity, care, and confidence while staying grounded in the people, purpose, and values that guide your work.

My hope is that organizational leaders and staff leave feeling more connected to their own story and more prepared to own it, share it, and use it to move important conversations forward.

The StoryGrowing WNY 2027 Kickoff takes place Wednesday, October 28, at Buffalo Toronto Public Media, 140 Lower Terrace Street in Buffalo. Doors open at 8:30 a.m., and the program runs from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event is free and open to nonprofit organizations interested in applying for StoryGrowing WNY 2027. Attendance is required to apply, and applications open that day.

Learn more and register by clicking the link below.