The Future Way Forward Conference, hosted by Everybody Vs Racism at NMAAM

Thanks to an invite from Anna-Vija (McClain) McCloud, last Saturday, I had the privilege of joining a powerhouse panel (Tiffany Hardin and LaVonda Brown) at The Future Way Forward Conference, hosted by Everybody Vs Racism at The National Museum of African American Music.

This session dived deep into one of the most essential (and often overlooked) questions in marketing, media, and movement-building:

How do we fund the future of storytelling?

Our session, “Stories Worth Funding, ”was a powerful exploration of what it takes to make storytelling sustainable. Because here’s the truth: stories shape culture, policy, and perception, but without real investment, even the most transformational narratives can remain unheard. This panel reminded me just how vital that work is, for visibility and equity.

Key takeaways:

- Stories aren’t fluff. They are infrastructure.

- Funders aren’t just investing in content, they are backing cultural blueprints.

- Storytellers need more than grants, they need ecosystems.

I’m leaving this experience even more committed to helping creators, organizations, and brands craft compelling, scalable, sustainable narratives that are aligned with the communities they serve.

I am grateful to have been in a room with funders, media makers, and movement leaders who understand and are building a future where every voice has the resources to be heard!