Crisis fundraising tips for nonprofits during Covid-19

Crisis Fundraising

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This is a rally cry. A shout into the digital universe. A signal for the restless who cannot stop.

Calling All Digital Misfits

This is a rally cry. A shout into the digital universe. A signal for the restless who cannot stop exploring, experimenting, testing and trying to break the rules. An invitation to those creative bandits who want to surprise the world with new ideas and even newer ways of delivering them.  

Playlists with Purpose: Houston Music Foundation

Because purpose is something none of us can live without.

How Picking Clients That Do Meaningful Work Helps a Company Thrive

Aimee Woodall, founder of the Black Sheep Agency, set out to create a marketing firm she could live with.

Aimee Woodall, founder of The Black Sheep Agency, set out to create a marketing firm she could live with.

April 16 - Meerkats

How Covid-19 has left us with time on our hands for those hobbies we never got to start.

Bored and Brilliant

Figuring It Out with Craig Cohen

Figuring It Out (Webinar Recap)

Bill and Jo talk through the process of building Houston and Harris County’s “YES! to the Census” campaign to prevent an undercount for Census 2020.

YES! to the Census

Transforming healthcare for children and their families: Doug Dietz at TEDxSanJoseCA 2012

A greater understanding of empathy in design.

The Power of Empathy in Design

New Horizons

#GivingTuesdayNOW: May 5th

In the Key of Ecosystems

Activating in the Unknown: Imperfection in Action

Living in Imperfection

A Picture Worth a Thousand Inspirations

If There’s A Will, There’s A Chance

Let’s take our Sundays and use them as the reset buttons they were meant to be.

Sundays and Silver Linings

Activing in the Unknown with Aimee Woodall

What We Can Do to Keep Up the Good Work (Webinar Recap)

Taking action in the time of COVID-19 with Aimee Woodall/

What We Can Do to Keep Up the Good Work

An invitation in these strange times.

There are times when you just have to get something—anything—down on paper to figure it out. When you need to have a moment to just take all of the chaos and think through it as clearly as possible, line by line.

Vote Every Day Campaign Video

B Before C: A designer's insight on purpose-driven companies

Why you want to know about the painted lorries in India.

Horn Please Okay

How women exploring holistic health treatments being dubbed as witchcraft.

Witch, Please

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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