Serving over 5 million athletes in more than 200 countries and territories, the Special Olympics movement has an abundance of stories. As Senior Director of the Storytelling team that makes my job exhilarating… and sometimes overwhelming.
How do you encapsulate a movement of so many people for a truly global audience in an impactful way? You certainly can’t do it alone.
My team has evolved storytelling narratives at the organization to partner with our regions across the world to tell impactful stories that resonate with local audiences and connect at a universal level.
This is achieved through storytelling workshops, digital collabs, community centered video series, and building media narratives authentic to a region.
A foundational element of Special Olympics is its commitment to societal change. Serving as an advocate and supporter of individuals with disabilities in the media we create and even in direct lobbying on Capitol Hill for funding and legislation is engrained in my work with the organization.
The main function of my role isn’t to tell the stories of Special Olympics athletes. It’s to empower athletes and individuals with disabilities to build and convey their own narratives in an impactful way. That’s where the real change takes place, and I’m grateful to be able to play a small part in it.
Here’s a recent example of that impactful change: https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/athletes/the-light-bulb-moment