It was either HEARD or me; I chose me.

A Farewell: Choosing Life When Faced With an Impossible Choice.

After eight remarkable years of storytelling, strategy, and service, I'm writing today to share that HEARD Strategy & Storytelling will be closing its doors. This wasn't an easy decision, but it was the only one I could make when faced with the stark reality that only one of us would survive – HEARD or me. With my stage 4 male breast cancer diagnosis, I chose me.

Our Journey of Impact

When I brought HEARD to life in 2017, I never imagined the revolution we would spark in nonprofit marketing, design, and communications. Our mission was clear from day one – to show the world that nonprofits deserve top-notch marketing just as much as any Fortune 500 company. Over these eight years, we had the extreme privilege of working with an incredible diversity of organizations, from arts and culture groups that make the world more beautiful, to environmental advocates fighting for our planet, healthcare nonprofits, education initiatives, and social justice warriors.

Standing Up During the Shutdown

One of our proudest moments came during the 2019 government shutdown. When federal employees were struggling without paychecks, HEARD stepped in to offer temporary work. While we were a lean-operating business focused solely on small nonprofits without huge reserves of capital, we recognized we could provide both income and dignity to those caught in a political standoff. This initiative went viral, bringing attention not just to our company but to the plight of hardworking government employees who deserved better. It exemplified our belief that marketing and communications can and should be forces for good in the world.

Rebranding for Respect and Dignity

Perhaps the work that will leave the most lasting community legacy is our pro bono efforts to help Massachusetts high schools rebrand away from racist mascots. Working with schools across the state, we helped communities navigate the sensitive transition from Native American team names and imagery to mascots that unite rather than divide. This work wasn't just about changing logos – it was about addressing institutional racism that occurs when an entire group of people is mocked, taught to be disrespected, and otherwise critically diminished in public spaces. 

Our HEARD Philosophy

Throughout our journey, we remained committed to our holistic approach to nonprofit marketing. We integrated various facets of operations to ensure comprehensive strategies – from marketing and communications to design and social media. We empowered organizations through data-driven insights, maintained agile adaptation in a dynamic landscape, executed with a relentless focus on tangible results, and fostered deep collaboration across teams. These principles guided every project we undertook.

The Most Difficult Decision

As we shut down, I'm finding it hard to articulate the mixture of pride, grief, and gratitude I feel. Pride in what we've built together. Grief for what could have been. And immense gratitude for our team, our clients, and the communities we've served.

When I received my stage 4 cancer diagnosis, the path forward became painfully clear. I needed to focus my remaining energy on treatment, healing, and time with loved ones. HEARD has always been about amplifying impact, and now I must direct that philosophy toward my own survival.

The Legacy Continues

While HEARD as an entity is ending, the impact of our work lives on in the nonprofits we've empowered, the stories we've told, and the communities we've helped transform. Our emphasis on authentic storytelling has helped countless organizations connect more deeply with their supporters. Most importantly, my most trusted Lieutenant, Leah is starting her own company and with my blessing, continuing on the work with most of our current clients. Leah will be working with Abby and Matt, delivering her own brand of amazing marketing and communications support under LioraLaneMarketing.com. 

A Final Thank You

To our incredible team – past and present – thank you for bringing your talents, passion, and dedication to HEARD. To our clients, thank you for trusting us with your stories and allowing us to be part of your important work. And to our community, thank you for embracing our vision of what nonprofit marketing could be.

The nonprofit world is ever-evolving, and so must we. Though this chapter is closing, I hope the spirit of HEARD – to make sure every important story gets heard – continues to resonate and inspire. 

I will continue working on projects and our PR clients, and am actively interviewing with several organizations with whom I vibe with greatly for a full-time gig. This shutdown isn’t about a change in my prognosis, simply a strategic and calculated change so I can focus on what I want to focus on during the remaining years of my career. 

Be bold. Be HEARD. And most importantly, Be Well.