Our work with organizations.

We work with all kinds of organizations to catalyze transformative change through intersectional, inclusive, and anti-racist communications and creative works.

Words and images create meaning. Meaning creates narratives. Narratives become knowledge. Knowledge influences behaviour. And behaviour determines outcomes. Our work with organizations rests on the belief that words and images have the power to create more equitable outcomes.

We approach this work by:

  1. encouraging organization-wide commitment to anti-racist practice and the decolonization of knowledge,

  2. eliminating harmful biases from communications and communication practices,

  3. working with talented Queer, Trans Black, Indigenous, and creators of colour to develop content and commissioned works for organizations, and

  4. creating meaningful opportunities for respectful dialogue and counterstorytelling in the workplace.

If your organization would like to partner with Counterstory on an activity not featured below, please email us at contact@counterstory.ca .

  • Speaker Services

    We are available to speak on the following topics:

    • Meet the Author: Background on the journey behind Trailblazers, live reading, and a 15 min Q & A (45 min)

    • Meet the Illustrator: A discussion on the creative process behind illustrating Trailblazers and the importance of representation (45 min)

    • Anti-Racist Approaches: Discussion on racial bias and recommendations for anti-racist work and workplaces (45 min)

    • Custom: We offer custom talks/workshops built around client needs.

    We also offer the following interactive workshops:

    • How to be a Trailblazer (ages 9+): Interactive advocacy workshop informed by Trailblazers to equip young change-makers with a guide on how to blaze their own trails. (45 min)

    • Collective Storytelling: The collective storytelling workshop is a participatory process that creates space for multiple voices and experiences to co-create a story. (60-90 min)

    Each workshop comes with a digital worksheet that attendees can keep for future use.

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  • Creative Services

    We develop inclusive communications that meet our clients’ needs.

    In addition to providing sensitivity reading, we partner with skilled content creators to offer the following creative services:

    • Copywriting: Developing copy for ads, direct responses, marketing collateral, essays, and online content from an inclusive and anti-racist lens.

    • Research and report/case study writing: Conducting qualitative and/or quantitative research and producing reports and/or case studies on topics related to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

    • Photography: Offering portrait, headshot, brand, and live event photography and photo editing.

    • Social Media: Developing ad-hoc, campaign-specific, and/or ongoing support with social media content and strategy.

    All creative services are developed by talented creators with lived experience of marginalization and training in antiracism and counterstorytelling.

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  • Communication Audits

    Communication audits offer invaluable information. They enable organizations to evaluate the current state of their communications and build an informed strategy for improvement.

    We work with clients to audit recent communications and provide recommendations from an inclusive, intersectional and antiracist lens.

    Our standard communications audit includes five steps:

    1. Establish (or clarify) the organization’s EDI position and objectives

    2. Determine the research scope

    3. Develop an appropriate coding scheme

    4. Analyze Data

    5. Prepare audit report and recommendations

    We suggest that organizations establish an annual or biennial audit cycle.

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  • Sensitivity Reading

    Our sensitivity readers work directly with the writer, publisher, or communications team to review content from an inclusive and anti-racist lens. Feedback from such readers can help avoid harmful biases and language, point out cultural insensitivity, ensure more equitable representation, and improve the overall quality of the work.

    Our sensitivity reading services include the following:

    • Reviewing substantive content,

    • Providing line editing feedback, and

    • Offering overall recommendations and reflection questions.

    *Please note that we do not accept all projects. Sensitivity reading can only be meaningful if the writer is genuinely committed to anti-racism principles and is open to learning.

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