Story Development & Interview Production

I conduct trust-based interviews with individuals and communities to develop compelling narrative content across video, audio, and written formats.

What makes my interviewing different:

People share difficult truths with me because I create space where they feel safe. I've interviewed people navigating family estrangement over race and politics, breast cancer diagnosis, childhood trauma, coming out, divorce, and grief. My approach centers dignity, consent, and authentic representation—not extraction.

What this includes:

- Pre-interview outreach and relationship building
- Conducting on-location or remote interviews
- Story vetting and ethical representation guidance
- Content development for video, audio, written, or multimedia formats
- Collaboration with photographers/videographers
- Trauma-informed interviewing protocols

Best for:

Patient/client testimonials, impact storytelling campaigns, documentary content, case studies, fundraising narratives

Examples:

- Family UnTied - 6-part series on family estrangement
- Breast Cancer Diaries - Ongoing health storytelling series
- When Home Hurts/Heals - Childhood trauma and healing

Editorial Strategy & Narrative Development

I help organizations figure out what their story IS and how to tell it—the big-picture thinking that reframes how people understand your work. This is the work where clients say: "I hadn't seen it that way before" or "You said that so succinctly—say it again!"

What this includes:

- Stakeholder interviews and organizational discovery
- Audience analysis and narrative framing
- Messaging architecture and story angle development
- Editorial guidelines and voice/tone standards
- Content recommendations across formats and channels
- "Theory of change" storytelling frameworks

Best for:

Annual report strategy, campaign development, rebrand messaging, impact communication planning, crisis response storytelling

Deliverables:

Editorial strategy documents, narrative frameworks, messaging guides, content roadmaps, story angle recommendations

Editorial Series & Content Direction

I conceive and direct multi-part storytelling projects—from concept through publication—that build narrative momentum and deepen audience engagement over time.

What this includes:

- Series concept development and story arc planning
- Interview subject sourcing and coordination
- Editorial oversight and quality control across multiple pieces
- Collaboration with designers, photographers, and other creatives
- Publication planning and rollout strategy
- Ongoing editorial direction and feedback

Best for:

Ongoing content platforms, thematic storytelling campaigns, anniversary/milestone projects, editorial publications, documentary series

Examples:

- Jennifer Magazine (4-year publication, dozens of long-form pieces)
- PBS Adventures in Learning (13-episode video series)

Documentary Storytelling & Ethical Journalism for Mission-Driven Organizations

I help organizations tell stories that matter through trust-based interviewing and documentary-style journalism—especially when those stories involve vulnerable communities, sensitive topics, or high-stakes moments.

For 20+ years, I've worked with nonprofits, foundations, and advocacy organizations to translate complex work into compelling narratives that serve both the people whose stories are told and the organizations working to support them.

Right now, organizations need storytelling more than ever:

- To prove impact when funding is threatened
- To document what's happening to communities under attack
- To make the case for continued donor support
- To show—not just tell—why their work matters

I create the conditions where people feel comfortable sharing their stories authentically, then shape that material into narratives that honor their dignity while advancing organizational goals.

Services:

Story Development & Interview Production
Editorial Strategy & Narrative Development
Editorial Series & Content Direction

Who I Work With

Advocacy & Legal Organizations:
Immigration rights, reproductive justice, civil liberties, voting rights, criminal justice reform

Health & Healthcare Organizations: Patient advocacy groups, public health departments, hospitals, medical research organizations, mental health services

Women's Organizations: Reproductive health, economic empowerment, domestic violence services, aging and elder care

Social Justice Organizations: Racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, family services, community organizing, trauma healing

Foundations & Grantmakers: Impact reporting, annual reports, grantee storytelling, portfolio communications