The Obama Foundation on Twitter: "Only two days until civic leaders like @aimeewoodall gather at the inaugural #ObamaSummit. Be a part of it: https://t.co/WdBQALg9je… https://t.co/AYdRSHVyq1"

Sometimes, we take our inspiration from in-house. Today we look no further than our very own fearless leader, Aimee Woodall.

Thanks, Obama [Foundation Summit].

Condensed

Ferrari 512 BBi Is A Piece of Art - Petrolicious

Putting Purpose in the Driver’s Seat with Ferrari

The 1981 Ferrari 512i BB has a horizontally mounted direct-injected V12 engine that produces 335hp, 333lb/ft of torque and has a claimed top speed of 179mph.

Rapping, deconstructed: The best rhymers of all time

Breaks on a bus, brakes on a car
Breaks to make you a superstar

Rap Battle: Storytelling on the Beat

But these here breaks will rock your shoes

As writers, communicators and marketers working in a cause-driven field, we are no stranger to the importance of untold stories.

War Stories: A Voice For The Voiceless

As writers, communicators and marketers working in a cause-driven field, we are no stranger to the importance of untold stories. We use our words and creativity to create urgency and inspire action. Sometimes these stories are lost in a noisy world. Unheard.

Find Your Values, Let Them Lead You To Action

Values have become a checklist item. Behind “Mission” and “Vision,” they’re the next thing to tackle before you startup, rebrand or launch a new culture handbook. But they really shouldn’t be. Real values are baked-in to your DNA. They’re like eye color—natural, striking and permanent. You can throw on contacts, but the truth remains behind the lens.

I grew up in a Southern family that loved its sayings.

Don’t Just Scratch the Surface

My inspiration is based on The Millennial Podcast by Megan Tan, creator and host. I strongly feel that we’re all lucky that our jobs are an everyday exercise in empathy, and podcasts like these provide such a valuable way to take in an experience you may have never thought about.

The Millennial Podcast

My inspiration is based on The Millennial Podcast by Megan Tan, creator and host. I strongly feel that we’re all lucky that our jobs are an everyday exercise in empathy, and podcasts like these provide such a valuable way to take in an experience you may have never thought about.

“Do blue butterflies eat pieces of the sky?” 

“Can girls be robots?” 

“Why don’t worms have faces?”

How Does Life Live?

“Do blue butterflies eat pieces of the sky?” 

We all know the David and Goliath Bible school story: Little guy wins out big over presumed-to-win giant.

The Advantages of Disadvantages

We all know the David and Goliath Bible school story: Little guy wins out big over presumed-to-win giant. Yada yada yada—upset and unforeseen victories ensue. In Malcom Gladwell’s book, David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits and the Art of Battling Giants, Gladwell turns the idea that sometimes the smaller guy wins or the underdog comes out on top by flipping what we presume to be disadvantages to actual ADVANTAGES.

Who doesn’t want to start their week off with some philosophizing?

To Shock and To Awe

Who doesn’t want to start their week off with some philosophizing? Currently, I’m in the middle of slowly powering throughSeneca’s “On The Happy Life,” and a specific piece stuck out to me as relevant for our work—and a testament to the challenge of shocking and awing.

A COLLABORATIVE FILM BY GNARLY BAY + FOREST WOODWARD + FRIENDS

Special thanks to Doug Woodward, Brendan Leonard, Skip Armstrong, David Marx, Jeff Scholl, Elliot Ross, Jess Lowe, Howl Collective, Story & Heart

Edit:  Jordan Ingram + Gnarly Bay
Additional Audio Mixing:  Joshua Svare

Save the Important Places.  Protect the Grand Canyon and other wild rivers.  Please visit www.americanrivers.org/grandcanyon to learn more.

Supported by American Rivers / Chaco Footwear / NRS / Goal Zero / Marmoset Music / Story & Heart

MUSIC
01. Blind and Unwise (Instrumental) by Gregory and the Hawk
02. Honey Jars by Bryan John Appleby
03. Snowy Crescendo (Instrumental) by Bell Plaines
04. For a Film (Instrumental) by Bell Plaines
05. Awareness (Instrumental) by Lee Brooks

THE IMPORTANT PLACES.

Storytelling: The Important Places

My heart is on fire. I am surrounded by and continually following behind these incredible preservers and creators who have a knack for threading the important scenes through storytelling—a skill I want to keep growing forever.

Go ahead. Take a minute to panic because you already feel behind and overwhelmed.

Planning for Now Isn’t Good Enough

Go ahead. Take a minute to panic because you already feel behind and overwhelmed. Now take a deep breath because Benjamin P. Hardy is here to help.

On Saturday, we woke up in a world where the President of the United States put a curb on immigration by signing an order calling for a ban barring travel to the United States from seven Muslim-majority countries.

Take Action

Meet Sheepspo.

1. the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative by a member of the Flock

Regular

Turn and Face the Strange

I remember my first day at Black Sheep pretty vividly. I think we all know that feeling on a new job—the moment when you walk into a room of apparent strangers, with the sinking feeling that you (for some reason) simultaneously want/need the approval of every single person in the room AND a chocolate milkshake?

Write a Letter to a Stranger

I remember my first day at Black Sheep pretty vividly. I think we all know that feeling on a new job—the moment when you walk into a room of apparent strangers, with the sinking feeling that you (for some reason) simultaneously want/need the approval of every single person in the room AND a chocolate milkshake? No whipped cream, obviously. I’m watching my figure.

Today is Cyber Monday, a day when thousands upon thousands of us will shop for holiday gifts for family and friends with the click of a mouse.

A Cyber Monday Mission.

Things You Didn’t Know You Needed

We’re all about inspiration because we know how important it is with the work we do.

That PTO life: Gimme a break

We’re all about inspiration because we know how important it is with the work we do. We’re constantly looking for ways to spur on creativity and get ourselves thinking beyond the predictable for our clients. But what happens when we get tired? When we slow down? When brainstorming seems like a chore instead of a chance to rally around great ideas? When life throws a curve ball?

Bake the Cake and Eat It, Too

We’re busy. We’re overbooked. We go home stressed (presently about this election), shoulders heavy with frustration about the things that we didn’t finish, or tasks that were left undone. It happens to the best of us. But we are strivers and thrivers, and oftentimes find other ways to wind down.

At Black Sheep, we know storytelling isn’t just about awareness. It’s about disruption, transformation and cultural change. That’s why we loved our Account Director Shauna Garriques’ LinkedIn article, Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Performance Was More Than Music—It Was a Masterclass in Impact Storytelling where she unpacks how Lamar turned the world’s biggest stage into a powerful commentary on racial injustice. His use of symbolism, risk and raw emotion sparked conversations far beyond the 13-minute performance.

We won’t rehash her insights here—and encourage you to read the full article—but we do want to build on them. Because what Kendrick Lamar did wasn’t just an example of impact storytelling. It was a lesson in narrative power—who gets to tell stories, how those stories shape public consciousness and why discomfort is often a sign you’re doing it right.


Owning the Narrative vs. Being Part of the Narrative

For decades, the Super Bowl halftime show has been about spectacle. Big names, bright lights and choreography built for mass appeal. But Kendrick Lamar didn’t just step into that tradition; he bent it to serve a deeper message.

That’s a crucial lesson for social impact leaders. Are you shaping your own story, or are you adjusting it to fit someone else’s expectations? Too often, organizations working in justice spaces are asked to soften their message for broader appeal. 

You write in order to change the world… if you alter, even by a millimeter, the way people look at reality, then you can change it. - James Baldwin

Real impact happens when stories are told with honesty and audacity, not when they’re polished into something more digestible.


Symbolism Isn’t Just an Aesthetic Choice—It’s a Strategy

One of the most striking aspects of Lamar’s performance was his use of visual storytelling. The prison yard set. The red, white and blue draped over Black bodies. The synchronized marching. The video game references. None of it was accidental. Every detail was designed to deepen the emotional impact of his message.

We believe the same is true for social movement storytelling. Symbolism isn’t decoration—it’s a strategic tool. The picture-superiority effect suggests that a well-placed visual cue is far more likely to be remembered than words alone. When we work with social impact organizations fighting challenging battles for issues like reproductive rights, labor justice and trans visibility, we ask: What do people need to feel before they understand what you’re saying? Because facts inform, but emotion moves people to action.

Perhaps the most important takeaway from Lamar’s performance is that discomfort is not the enemy—it’s the point. Social impact work should challenge assumptions, shift perspectives and push audiences to engage with hard truths.

As Shauna said, “Bold storytelling sparks dialogue, and dialogue is where change begins.”  Kendrick’s performance didn’t just make people watch—it made them feel. And for movements that challenge power, creating that kind of discomfort is often the first step toward a cultural shift.

Emotional resonance isn’t just a storytelling tool—it’s what makes messages stick. Research shows that people are far more likely to remember a message when it triggers an emotional response—especially when it highlights injustice. This reinforces a truth that every major movement for change has understood: growth comes from friction. Progress doesn’t happen passively. It requires people to engage with discomfort, challenge the status quo and push conversations forward, even when the path isn’t easy.

If you’re interested in active, powerful storytelling that sparks real impact and are ready to challenge the status quo with your own message, let’s talk. As Kendrick showed us—culture shifts when voices refuse to be silenced.

Kendrick Lamar Didn’t Just Perform—He Provoked. Here’s What We Can Learn About Narrative Power and Cultural Change.

The Power of Disruptive Storytelling

The Black Sheep blog is turning up the volume on community engagement, social media strategy, Houston happenings and what it means to lead a purpose-driven life.

The Black Sheep Agency | Social impact and nonprofit blog

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