#YeahMyGreenville

#YeahMyGreenville Hero Image

Team members: Jay Blankenship, Stefania Bondurant, Tavia Gaddy, Liliana Hernandez, Kim Keefer, Addy Matney, TJ Rumler, Brian Vest

#YeahMyGreenville is a replicable storytelling playbook designed to celebrate Greenville while demonstrating how a stronger sense of belonging is built through authentic, diverse community voices. The project amplifies lived experiences from across the community and transforms them into a practical, adaptable model that nonprofits and civic organizations can use to train teams and run inclusive storytelling initiatives.

At its core, #YeahMyGreenville is grounded in the belief that every resident’s story contributes to the identity, strength, and future of the community. By shifting the narrative from simply asking “Who are you?” to intentionally saying “I want to know who you are,” the project fosters empathy, pride, and connection among residents and stakeholders. Storytelling is used not only as a tool for visibility, but also as a mechanism for building trust, strengthening relationships, and encouraging civic participation.

The project combines a multi-channel storytelling campaign, including short-form narratives, videos, and community features, with a structured step-by-step playbook that guides organizations on how to ethically collect, curate, and share stories. Through this approach, #YeahMyGreenville models how inclusive storytelling can be integrated into organizational practices, helping teams move beyond transactional engagement toward more meaningful community connection.

Designed with scalability in mind, #YeahMyGreenville serves both as a celebration of Greenville and as a transferable model for other communities seeking to elevate underrepresented voices, strengthen belonging, and build social cohesion through storytelling.

Project Objectives

  • Amplify diverse voices by capturing and sharing authentic stories that reflect Greenville’s people, cultures, and experiences.
  • Strengthen community belonging by increasing empathy, connection, and pride among residents.
  • Provide a replicable storytelling playbook that nonprofits and community organizations can adapt for their own missions.
  • Equip teams with practical tools to ethically collect, curate, and share community stories.
  • Increase civic engagement and visibility through coordinated storytelling campaigns and partnerships.

Additional Benefits

  • Creates a ready-to-use digital toolkit for nonprofits and community groups.
  • Builds organizational storytelling capacity, reducing reliance on external agencies.
  • Encourages cross-sector collaboration among residents, nonprofits, businesses, and civic leaders.
  • Supports long-term sustainability through partnerships, volunteer ambassadors, and a digital story archive.
  • Provides measurable impact through engagement, participation, and belonging-focused metrics