Why did I create the StoryBank by Adwoa K. Buahene

In the summer of 2023, I realized that if we do not find ways to re-invigorate the commitment to action in diversity, equity and inclusion, corporate Canada and America are going to backslide. I’ve read articles of chief diversity officers being fired and senior leaders being dissatisfied with internal and consultant efforts. Some organizations feel like they are doing
enough because they do unconscious bias, micro-aggression and allyship training. Others don’t know what to do next.
The result: organizational and leadership ennui, confusion or even backlash.

 So I asked myself – what is missing? What needs to change at a 2.0 level? Through reflection, research and scouring the internet, I realized that we had lost sight of a major factor needed to create change – the emotional connection about the ‘right-ness’ of the change. In other words, we have forgotten about the heart that must be engaged to make lasting change happen. How do we reach people’s hearts? Not through data and PowerPoints. We reach heart through stories. Stories connect people to real people. Stories paint pictures and can evoke emotions more than any graph can. Stories inspire change.

I was moved by a story to start The StoryBank. My daughter and I quite frequently read a book called ‘I am Enough’ by
Grace Byers. In the book, the little black girl learns that black girls (you can also substitute women here) often are told that they are ‘too this’ or ‘too that’ and in the book the girl learns to be proud and to realizes ‘she is enough’. It makes me reflect on how many times I have been told I am too aggressive/assertive, have too high expectations and that I am too direct as an adult. All these “too(s)” are unlikely to be said to a white, male, colleague.

 I searched the internet and did not find a readily accessible portal that allows equity-denied individuals to tell their stories of workplace experiences. Sometimes brave individuals will post a story on their LinkedIn but that comes at great risk. We all know that the risk to telling our stories publicly: your leaders and organization will find you ‘difficult’ or ‘unapproachable’ or ‘sensitive’  or ‘not a good team player’ which can mean that you are unlikely to advance and more likely to be laid-off/packaged when cuts need to be made.

 So I created The StoryBank portal to allow all equity-denied employees and board directors to anonymously tell their stories. The process of writing the experience is cathartic. Giving voice to an experience allows you to validate the emotions surrounding the experience. Also, I want a place where you can come, read and find solace in knowing that you are not singular in your experience. 

Because the stories are anonymous, you don’t have to worry about judgement. Also, often experiences are subtle, sometimes they are overt. When they are subtle, you may question your assessment of the situation. However, I believe ‘when you know, you know’. And, more importantly, it is the subtle stories that are the most powerful in helping uncover
the systemic barriers. 

Come submit a story – it doesn’t have to be long, it doesn’t have to be perfectly written. It just has to be you giving voice validating your experience and giving confidence to another that they are not alone.