An unseasonably warm February day. Sun shining throughout the Harambee neighborhood, making dappled shadows on the ground. And the unmistakable sound of shovels being pushed through dirt. On February 9, 2024, the Martin Luther King Economic Development Corporation (MLKEDC) held a groundbreaking for Five Points Lofts, which will provide quality, affordable housing for the neighborhood.
The vacant lot was purchased in early 2020 by MLKEDC and KG Development with the help of a $737,000 grant from the city. However, due to the pandemic, this project was on hold until then. Out of the 55 units, 46 are considered “affordable,” ranging from $474 to $1,191 per month to improve Milwaukee’s ongoing housing crisis. The groundbreaking event was well gathered by local community members, partners and key leaders, where everyone celebrated and showed their support, taking pictures to commemorate the highly anticipated housing project and day.
This is just one of the many stories that Athena gets to tell for our client partners. At Athena, our vision is to create masterful storytellers who are changing the world. We are motivated and energized by the multitude of stories we come across in our communities and everywhere we go.
Storytelling is not a new concept. It is universal to all human beings and evidence of visual storytelling can be cited back to cave drawings from 30,000 years ago, though it’s likely verbal storytelling dates back to the creation of human language itself, more than 150,00 years ago. The definition of “storytelling” is a simple one: the activity of writing or telling stories. But the importance of storytelling is anything but simple. Stories are supremely powerful and influential for all of us.
Storytelling is an easy concept to grasp, but mastering the art of storytelling will ensure that your story can reach as many people as possible in a way to help you achieve your goals. That’s where Athena Communications comes in. There are many ways to tell a story, but we have found this process provided by Indeed to be a good overview of the storytelling process.
- Identify your audience.
When it comes to presenting to others, company messaging or product creation, one of the most important parts is knowing your audience. Doing research on your audience will allow you to understand their motivations, mood, and needs. By creating personas that represent a diverse group of people, your story can appeal to everyone.
- Decide the purpose of your story, or a goal you’re trying to achieve.
Storytelling should come with purpose and intentions, to enable your audience to understand and engage. There are many reasons for storytelling, like inspiration, education, or just pure information, but determining what is yours will lead to success.
- Focus on your core message.
Another important part of storytelling is being able to let your audience take home your message. It ties the purpose and the underlying message to the whole story.
- Choose how you’ll tell your story.
There are many ways to tell a story, like audio, written, oral, or digital, and choosing the right element may help with enhancing your story.
Let Athena know how you use storytelling as your superpower.
Athena Communications is a proud woman-owned company, and we are pleased to celebrate Women’s History Month! Throughout this month, take some time to think about empowering women in your life and in your community that you look up to. This celebration started in the 1980s, but all women throughout the world in all colors and backgrounds have been making history way before this time.
Here are some inspirational women Athena is recognizing. Learn more about each woman and more incredible leaders by listening to Athena’s podcast, On The Edge of Equity.
Ellen Gilligan
Ellen has been the president and CEO of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation since 2010 and has propelled the Foundation to the forefront of civic and community leadership in the region over the last 13 years while influencing the community foundation field nationally to recognize the imperative of addressing racial equity and inclusion and to assume broader roles in advancing community change.
Laura Gutierrez
Laura is the CEO of the United Community Center. She has served in this role since 2020 and under her leadership UCC’s programs now serve more than 18,000 people a year while elevating its mission as a one-stop support system for Latino families. Laura uses her journey as a woman of color to tell stories of what it is like to lead an organization during challenging times and finds joy in seeing young people succeed every day.
Tamara Johnson
Tamara is the executive director of Malaika Early Learning Center, a state-of-the-art facility focusing on children from birth through age eight in its early childhood and elementary school programs. Tamara has been a champion for quality early childhood education for low-income children and advocated for families for several years. Her commitment to Malaika has brought the school from a best-kept secret in Milwaukee to an educational facility with a second location opening in 2024 in ThriveOn King.
These are only a few of the many women that are paving the way for other women and Milwaukee’s community. But celebrate Women’s History Month by learning more about women who have impacted history, support women businesses, or read memoirs of women’s experiences.
Mark Your Calendar for a Nina Simone Event
Join us for the Black Professionals & Divine 9 Night for Nina Simone: Four Women! Athena Communications is excited to host this event. Join us for the inspiring and exhilarating show at the Milwaukee Rep’s Quadracci Powerhouse on Wednesday, April 17. The social hour starts at 6:00 pm with a networking reception, complimentary appetizers, and drinks, and the must-see performance begins at 7:30 pm.
Get your tickets here for $30 using the code NINE. We look forward to celebrating Nina Simone and her legacy with you on April 17!
