Safe Stories: How to Tell Impactful Stories While Keeping Communities Safe

In politically charged environments where LGBTQ2S+ identities are increasingly under scrutiny and threat, evaluators must navigate the ethical complexities of collecting and sharing community stories. This session will explore the Inclusive Care Collaborative’s (ICC) work in South Dakota to elevate LGBTQ2S+ voices through storytelling as part of a statewide research and education initiative. “Safe Stories” is a narrative-based approach to data collection and dissemination designed to balance impact with protection. Participants will learn how ICC’s storytelling model integrates trauma-informed, community-led principles into research and evaluation efforts, while prioritizing the psychological and physical safety of participants. The session will offer practical tools for evaluators working with vulnerable communities: navigating consent, anonymization, and power dynamics, while still producing compelling, meaningful findings. As storytelling continues to gain traction in equity-focused evaluation, this presentation provides timely insight into how evaluators can hold space for truth and safety in parallel.
Click to fill survey.