Over three months, we partnered with three community organizations and a family to officially launch our new production cycle centered around Mission 1,477. We were piloting our new program model with partners with deep ties to YEBO, while many of us met through the Moonshot Fellowship, went to the same high school growing up, and worked with each other to support the longevity of each other’s programs. It was crucial not to let them down and to give them and their organizations an impactful storytelling experience.

The project included Zoom calls, coaching sessions, back-and-forth emails to finalize details, and, in the end, a live recorded Story Pop-Up event. We worked closely with our partners to surface a thread between their mission and our overarching theme of “Home.” Finding a suitable theme was like driving down Speer Boulevard and catching all green lights – satisfying and pure perfection.

The Venzor Sisters and Convivir shared stories about unique or interesting traditions in their families. Ednium shared stories about their Mile High City moment or what the City of Denver has taught them. CYC shared stories inspired by the power of community. We heard stories about random acts of kindness, close connections to family members, and how food is a staple tradition in many homes.

Through this season, we gained valuable insight into working effectively with our partners, which helped us refine our production cycle. A production cycle comprises several steps, some of which may be more relevant to the partner than others. Therefore, we needed to determine the appropriate amount of information to share with our partners to keep the process manageable. We also rolled out our partnership intake form to help us better capture interest and prepare for future seasons.

Our partners gave us grace and support throughout the entire season, and we thank them for leaning in with us because we were able to record 28 stories this season, a step closer to fulfilling Mission 1,477. You can catch all these beautiful stories here!