Starting my career in policy, I loved the long and winding wonky road. I believed more detail meant more credibility, and my early training taught me to love a 10-dollar word instead of a perfectly perfect 10-cent word. Our most important job, especially in 2025, is to be generous with our audience's time. That means doing the hard work of making our message simple. Here’s how to make it happen.
Read MoreThe Forthright team just got back from sunny Orlando, Florida, for the annual Krimes Against Kids conference.
It’s a powerful event that brings together everyone from law enforcement and child protective services to survivor advocates.
Honestly, being in a room with so many people dedicated to protecting children was just incredible. As a firm that only works with organizations that help kids and families, we left feeling totally inspired.
Niki and I even had the chance to present on a topic we're incredibly passionate about: Reaching Families Without Internet Access.
In a world that’s so online, it’s crucial to remember that not everyone has the same level of connectivity.
Read MoreYou’re working on that big grant proposal. I’m talking hours of research, planning and writing to craft that perfect pitch. But before you send it, wait! Did you remember to budget for actually telling people about the great work you’ll do if you win the funding?
Today, I’m sharing why you should include communications in your grant proposal.
Read MoreDeepa has supported and led social justice work for over two decades with a focus on immigrant communities. Currently, she is the Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at Building Movement Project where she develops programs and narratives on solidarity and social movements.
Figuring out where you fit as an advocate – and how you can make the most positive impact – can be tough, especially when things are changing. Every. Single. Day.
We see this challenge, and we simply say: Game on.
That’s why I recently interviewed author, lawyer and activist Deepa Iyer. Deepa is the brilliant mind behind the Social Change Ecosystem Map (pictured above).
This tool helps you (and your organization) find your place in the justice and equity-focused movements we work within every day.
During our conversation, Deepa shared how to find your footing in turbulent times.
We’re including Deepa’s thoughts (from her point of view!) below.
Read MoreSo you have new data, and you want to share that information with the world!
A report release can be a wonderful way to get eyes on your organization. But, take it from me – as someone who LOVES a good, ole’ fashioned report release – they can be a TON of work.
Before you start putting pen to paper, I want to share a few key questions to ask yourself as you prepare for your own report release.
Read MorePolitical transitions can feel like drinking from a firehose. Headlines spark fear, social feeds rile people up, and your team looks to leadership wondering: should we say something about this?
Over the next few months, the noise is only going to get louder and louder.
But here's the thing – you can’t sprint against the wind for months or years at a time.
And you definitely can't let each bill proposal or sound bite throw your communications strategy out of whack and put your team on the defensive line.
Here are three tips to prevent your team from living in reaction mode for the next year (or four).
Read MoreInformation overload. Unstable social media climate. And if that’s not enough, nonprofit leaders like you have to wade through polarization and disinformation.
Our audiences are dealing with a lot – so it’s more important than ever to clearly describe your work and your vision for the world.
You shouldn't wait until a press release or web redesign to sharpen the language you use everyday to describe your work.
In fact, every day is a great day to make your messaging strategy clearer, and this work starts internally.
Here’s how to build clear communications inside your organization so your message is clear outside your organization.
Read MoreParents and caregivers need our help.
I’ve led work that supports parents and caregivers for two decades.
I’ve also been a parent for nearly 13 years.
And over time, I’ve noticed a growing trend. Parents and caregivers are overworked, overstressed and overwhelmed – and it’s impacting their health.
As communicators and leaders, there are three easy guidelines you can follow to ensure your messages break through the noise to reach this overwhelmed (but critical!) audience.
Read More“Close your eyes, and imagine an America where we have gotten childcare right.
The Reimagine Childcare Project has spent the last two years co-creating and building a radical new Vision of childcare.
It imagines a future where childcare looks and feels abundant.
One where we make sure every child, parent, guardian, and provider is whole and happy. One where everyone has exactly what they need to become who they are meant to be.”
GAH, doesn’t it just give you goosebumps?
Read MoreA logic chain is a tool your team can use to align around:
what you want your audiences to understand about your work;
what you want your audiences to believe as a result of what they understand; and
the specific, concrete action you want your audiences to take.
Starting with a logic chain when creating a strategic communications plan or before conducting a communications audit ensures your messaging and strategies are laser focused on your end goal.
Here’s a full visual (and examples!) for how the logic chain works.
Read MoreConfession: I love podcasts. I’m currently following *34* different podcasts, and I’m always looking for more to add to the list.
To me, the best podcasts take lots of research and data, add thorough reporting and beautifully crafted storytelling, and deliver episodes that make you think long after you’ve stopped listening.
Lately, I’ve come across several episodes that showcase communications best practices “in the wild.” They have me thinking about how we can better do the work we all do to support children and families. Today, I’m highlighting those episodes and the comms best practices they feature.
Read MoreWe care for ourselves not only to reap the individual benefits (when I get eight hours of sleep, my skin looks amazing!) but also to show up maximally for the people and causes we care about. Our team can help you communicate your message to anyone – it’s true – but if you don’t listen to you when you need a break, friend, we’re all at a disadvantage.
To get us ready for a less-stress, greater-good summer, Jon Jon is sharing tips to clock out of the overwhelm, tune in to your body, and maybe even…feel good about it?
Read MoreShould I throw my cap? I don’t want to lose it, so maybe a gentle toss. Which hand do I accept my diploma with? I wonder where we’re going out to dinner after the ceremony?
These were all questions I had during my high school graduation. And with all of this running through my brain, I couldn’t, for the life of me, tell you who my graduation speaker was or what they said.
So how can you, as a superintendent (or the PIO writing this speech!), use your time at the podium to cut through the noise and make a difference as these graduates embark on the next phase of life? I’m sharing my top 3 tips to help you write a graduation speech that resonates with teens.
Read MoreLove them or hate them, we can all agree on one thing – coalitions Get. Things. Done. And all high-impact coalitions have at least one factor in common: they effectively communicate with their audiences at all stages of the coalition lifecycle.
At Forthright, we’ve worked with a number of coalition partners (some that are just starting up, and others that are well established.) We know that bringing the right communications strategy at the right time can help you have even greater impact. That’s why I’m sharing communications tips for every stage of your coalition!
Read MoreReaching families without internet access isn’t a new challenge for communicators. As of last year, one in five households in America were unable to get online at home.
But in April, millions more families across the country are poised to lose their online access as the Affordable Connectivity Program funding runs out.
This could make reaching kids and families in your district or community more challenging. So today, I want to take a moment and share what we’ve learned about reaching and supporting offline families.
Read MoreHave you ever read or updated your organization’s style guide and paused to think, “Wait, why do we do it this way?” You’re not alone.
After countless communications audits and years of helping organizations discover what they need to say to reach their people, we’re convinced — good rules require great reasons.
Here are three tips to help you create a style guide that shows your team how to communicate and helps them remember why it matters.
Read MoreAs leaders in the child and family advocacy space, the words we use matter. How we talk about families and children matter. When we use language based on assumptions – so, for example, in the case of mom and dad – we are unintentionally prescribing relationships that may not exist for all families in our community. Here’s your guide to inclusive family language.
Read MoreIf you asked me a year ago what came to mind when thinking about early care and education, I would have conjured some pretty traditional images. Toddlers adorned with finger paint. Play-Doh of various colors, sculpted into comically unrecognizable shapes. The joyful sounds of children, with their infectious laughs and with their futures brimming with promise. You can, then, imagine what it felt to learn more about a startling truth in early care and education in America: the widespread suspensions and expulsions of young children, many barely old enough to walk. The desire to upend what has become an unfortunate status quo recently led me to Charlotte, North Carolina for the National Black Child Institute’s (NBCDI) national conference.
Read MoreReaching out to the media can be a solid public relations tactic. But, a little tough love here: this approach is not for everyone. Just because you’re doing amazing, life-changing work doesn’t automatically mean that it will gain you a media hit. Before you hit “send” on your email to a journalist, we have two steps you should take in order to get ready to pitch.
Read MoreWhether you’re watching, selling, teaching or learning, video remains a critical communications tool. As a matter of fact, 92 percent of marketers say video leads to a positive ROI. And your video options are virtually limitless. That’s why today, we’re breaking down two video types – animated and live action – to help you choose which one is right for your next big campaign!
Read More
