Menu
Close
What happens when you shed conventional communications models and decide to tell the deeper narratives of a globally diverse workforce? In our 90-minute workshops and 50-minute lunch & learns, we show DEI practitioners, communications professionals, and organizational leaders how to tap into modern storytelling to create onramps to empathy and authentic human connections.
We view these stories as empathy technologies — a means to operationalize the effects of human empathy across an organization to create meaningful workplace transformation. Since 2016, we’ve curated stories across the corners of our communities to shape our model and understanding of human experiences.
The proof is in our reach: more than 275,000 people around the world have read our curated archive of stories in order to learn deeper aspects of identity, culture, and the global human experience.
Through our stories and in-person talks, we have collected testimonials and archival data from a global pool of underserved, underrepresented, and historically marginalized communities that played an integral role in shaping our model.
Our qualitative data studies on the social determinants of identity, and narrative change are the evidence of the curation model’s effectiveness.
The counternarrative is where deep, authentic, connections are made — connections that build stronger relationships rather than foster opposition.
Our work is focused on including and amplifying the voices and experiences of those from underserved, underrepresented, and historically marginalized and excluded backgrounds.
We don’t subscribe to the outdated form of DEI storytelling that forces already marginalized team members to act as spokespersons for entire communities based on their identities.
Instead, we view every person as an individual with experiences of identity that inform their individuality. When we do ask them to tell their stories, we see what it means to sit in the counternarrative — the vast collection of human stories in-between the conventional and the outdated is greater than those tropes and stereotypes we are used to seeing.
Employee storytelling is the most important way that companies can connect their culture to job seekers. Candidates are savvy, and will quickly see through shallow attempts to reach their communities. When an inclusive company culture is built well, and with authenticity, you will attract the best candidates from a more globally diverse pool of talent.
Storytelling is a form of qualitative research. The truth is, there is no quantitative employee survey that can match the insight, depth, and generative capacity of employee stories. Curating narrative collections can help you align your policies to the needs of your workforce at scale, instead of making arbitrary decisions that cause employee relation problems down the road.
Purpose. Authenticity. Empathy. These are words tossed around freely in business settings. However, if you look closely at the ways companies talk about their people, you will find deep gaps between the company voice and its intended audience. Good storytelling models build and enhance trust, connection, and joy — the key ingredients to purpose, authenticity, and empathy.
Effective storytelling programs are crucial means of supporting executive and leadership teams. Stories are lessons, and they allow executives greater insight and understanding of their global workforce. No one wants a leader who is detached from their people. Storytelling helps executives manage diverse organizations with clarity, responsiveness, and empathy.
ERGs are a critical component of DEI. Yet without proper support and guidance, their members experience cycles of frustration and burnout. Authentic storytelling serves multiple purposes for ERGs: frameworks for guiding conversation, tools for needs assessment, outlets for human expression, and built-in programming for heritage & history dates on the calendar.
Far too many storytelling approaches are ad hoc, reactive, and fail modern expectations. This can create disconnection and distrust within your customer base and your workforce; as it appears inauthentic and disingenuous. Intentional, proactive story curation from a human perspective builds trust, while providing a constant stream of content across channels.
Chief Esparza is a DEI storyteller, having created DEI communications strategies for global companies in software, construction, and financial services. With audiences across every region around the world, he taps into empathy, human experiences, and joy to nurture connections between people of every background. Through his 7 years as co-founder and executive director with Color Bloq, his expertise in the social determinants of identity and narratives across different communities carries depth and understanding. This is the energy he shares with every workshop attendee.
Qualitative Research Fellow, Mexico City Conference for HIV Policy • MPact Global • 2022
Visionary Award, Oakland Pridefest Kickoff Event • Oakland LGBTQ Center & Good VBZ Events Group • 2022
Who is Making LGBTQ+ History Right Now, Inspiration List 2021 • Good Morning America • 2021
Bay Area Class of 2019, Activist of the Year • Bob Cut Magazine • 2019
What happens when you shed conventional communications models and decide to tell the deeper narratives of a globally diverse workforce? In our 90-minute workshops and 50-minute lunch & learns, we show DEI practitioners, communications professionals, and organizational leaders how to tap into modern storytelling to create onramps to empathy and authentic human connections.
We view these stories as empathy technologies — a means to operationalize the effects of human empathy across an organization to create meaningful workplace transformation. Since 2016, we’ve curated stories across the corners of our communities to shape our model and understanding of human experiences.
The proof is in our reach: more than 275,000 people around the world have read our curated archive of stories in order to learn deeper aspects of identity, culture, and the global human experience.
Through our stories and in-person talks, we have collected testimonials and archival data from a global pool of underserved, underrepresented, and historically marginalized communities that played an integral role in shaping our model.
Our qualitative data studies on the social determinants of identity, and narrative change are the evidence of the curation model’s effectiveness.
The counternarrative is where deep, authentic, connections are made — connections that build stronger relationships rather than foster opposition.
Our work is focused on including and amplifying the voices and experiences of those from underserved, underrepresented, and historically marginalized and excluded backgrounds.
We don’t subscribe to the outdated form of DEI storytelling that forces already marginalized team members to act as spokespersons for entire communities based on their identities.
Instead, we view every person as an individual with experiences of identity that inform their individuality. When we do ask them to tell their stories, we see what it means to sit in the counternarrative — the vast collection of human stories in-between the conventional and the outdated is greater than those tropes and stereotypes we are used to seeing.
Employee storytelling is the most important way that companies can connect their culture to job seekers. Candidates are savvy, and will quickly see through shallow attempts to reach their communities. When an inclusive company culture is built well, and with authenticity, you will attract the best candidates from a more globally diverse pool of talent.
Storytelling is a form of qualitative research. The truth is, there is no quantitative employee survey that can match the insight, depth, and generative capacity of employee stories. Curating narrative collections can help you align your policies to the needs of your workforce at scale, instead of making arbitrary decisions that cause employee relation problems down the road.
Purpose. Authenticity. Empathy. These are words tossed around freely in business settings. However, if you look closely at the ways companies talk about their people, you will find deep gaps between the company voice and its intended audience. Good storytelling models build and enhance trust, connection, and joy — the key ingredients to purpose, authenticity, and empathy.
Effective storytelling programs are crucial means of supporting executive and leadership teams. Stories are lessons, and they allow executives greater insight and understanding of their global workforce. No one wants a leader who is detached from their people. Storytelling helps executives manage diverse organizations with clarity, responsiveness, and empathy.
ERGs are a critical component of DEI. Yet without proper support and guidance, their members experience cycles of frustration and burnout. Authentic storytelling serves multiple purposes for ERGs: frameworks for guiding conversation, tools for needs assessment, outlets for human expression, and built-in programming for heritage & history dates on the calendar.
Far too many storytelling approaches are ad hoc, reactive, and fail modern expectations. This can create disconnection and distrust within your customer base and your workforce; as it appears inauthentic and disingenuous. Intentional, proactive story curation from a human perspective builds trust, while providing a constant stream of content across channels.
Chief Esparza is a DEI storyteller, having created DEI communications strategies for global companies in software, construction, and financial services. With audiences across every region around the world, he taps into empathy, human experiences, and joy to nurture connections between people of every background. Through his 7 years as co-founder and executive director with Color Bloq, his expertise in the social determinants of identity and narratives across different communities carries depth and understanding. This is the energy he shares with every workshop attendee.
Qualitative Research Fellow, Mexico City Conference for HIV Policy • MPact Global • 2022
Visionary Award, Oakland Pridefest Kickoff Event • Oakland LGBTQ Center & Good VBZ Events Group • 2022
Who is Making LGBTQ+ History Right Now, Inspiration List 2021 • Good Morning America • 2021
Bay Area Class of 2019, Activist of the Year • Bob Cut Magazine • 2019
