Star-Studded Storytelling

A look at my favorite event of the year

*Note: Thank you, dear readers, for following Melanie’s Musings over the past couple of years. As I ramp up My Brand Mirror, I will be sunsetting Melanie’s Musings and transitioning sharing updates through The Looking Glass, my business newsletter. I will have occasional posts on Melanie’s Musings, but the bulk of my writing will be shared there. The following is a recent post from The Looking Glass that I wanted to share with you all. Please consider subscribing to The Looking Glass to keep up with the latest. Thank you for your support! -Melanie

This past weekend has to have been one of my favorite weekends of the year. For starters, it was my birthday on Friday, and I gathered a group of friends to go to a 1970s, Italian-style Disco in Downtown Los Angeles. And, I wore a bright red dress and large hoop earrings in an effort to really drive home my new “Disco Barbie” brand aesthetic.

Then on Saturday, I had the immense privilege of being the stage manager for the 6th Annual Ballots Over Broadway fundraiser. Ballots was the brainchild of my good friend Jessica Stamen, who decided in 2019 she wanted to do something to raise money for democracy, and what better way to do that then showcasing the talents of her immensely talented friends.

Six years later, the event has grown to be standing room only and features performers whose resumes make a theater kid like myself completely flip out with just a touch of star-struckness. Getting to stage manage, or “herd cats” as one performer called it, was an incredible honor, and makes me feel like my Broadway baby dreams have come true.

As incredible as all the performances always are, the true highlight of the night is when attention turns to DemocraShe—one of the outstanding organizations that we’re raising money for. DemocraShe is an incredible organization founded by the inspirational Sarah Jakle (I have said time and time again that I will follow Sarah to the ends of the earth after hearing her passionate speech about why she founded the organization).

For a bit about the organization:

DemocraShe is a nonpartisan nonprofit offering FREE online training to female-identifying high school teens in evidence-based resiliency skills, leadership & civic engagement.

We actively recruit future leaders from historically underrepresented communities to flood our future with diverse, compassionate & confident women leaders in every sector - who know running for office is their birthright. 

-DemocraShe website

Boldly asking “what’s your victory” at the top of their website, DemocraShe makes their mission clear from the get-go: celebrating the victories and achievements of young women who are destined to change the world. Not to mention, the name of the organization itself does a terrific job at telling its story—we are strengthening our democracy by lifting up the voices of young women.

And their success in achieving that mission could not be clearer than on Saturday night. Following performances by Oscar, Golden Globe, Emmy, etc. award winners, five young women took the stage to share what DemocraShe has meant to them, why they joined, and their vision for a brighter, more inclusive America. From changing the incarceration system to fighting for reproductive healthcare to advocating for immigrants, these young women clearly articulated their vision to the completely rapt audience. I was struck by the conviction, poise, and dynamism of these young women. Having been a high school teacher and a mentor for DemocraShe, I am never surprised that passionate teenagers are some of the best, most inspiring storytellers, but I am continually amazed by the vulnerability and individuality these women showcase.

As women, we are often taught to not take up space, to fit in a box, and not rock the status quo, but these women boldly stood on stage and did just the opposite. They used their voices to share what makes them unique, what motivates them, and they are going to use that uniqueness and motivation to build a better tomorrow where everyone can have the courage to stand up on stage and be themselves.

I spend a lot of time asking clients “who are you talking to and why?”, and these young women answered the question with masterful performances. They knew exactly the message they wanted to convey to their audience (Democratic donors) and shared their stories with an authenticity that many professional storytellers cannot. After the event, I thought a lot about how this type of confidence is revolutionary, and not just in a political setting. The more we share our authentic stories, whether its on a stage at a fundraiser or through our brand messaging, the more we encourage others to do the same. This is what breeds community and connection, which is what I consider the point of putting ourselves out there to begin with.

Leaving the event, I felt even more inspired to build my vision of My Brand Mirror and help people share their stories authentically. As we are fighting for our democracy, any way that we showcase our individuality proudly is an act of resistance—whether it be speaking onstage at a political fundraiser, running a business, or simply showing up as our full selves ever day.

This week, I encourage you to think about ways you can speak up for what you believe in and share what makes you special with your community. I’ll be doing the same, and I looking forward to hearing the stories of your own victories.

Till next time,

Melanie

** Ballots Over Broadway also raises money for Field Team 6, a terrific organization registering Democrats in swing districts that are flippable. In the final stretch before the election, please consider donating to them or DemocraShe!