For some, the spark that causes social change starts with a simple vision — but then, it’s about putting in the work to bring it to life.
“We never spread out to become entrepreneurs, it was accidental — I was studying health research using storytelling as a way to change patients’ health behaviors, and my husband was a musician that picked up the camera to film his band’s video,” Dr. Tariana V. Little recalled.
She continued, “He said, ‘I love this, I want to do it as a career,’… But we were poor college students, and we gave ourselves a three-month deadline, and we told ourselves if we weren’t getting paid gigs, if we get zero money, then it would be a hobby, not a job.”
Little said she then had to retract what she said because before the three months were up, they were already making money. “For me professionally, I actually went onto to leave PHD studies and pursue EmVisions, which led me to pursue a Doctorate at Harvard, where I was able to bring all that I had learned from health research and storytelling, but the skills that I was gaining an entrepreneur to develop our framework of social impact through storytelling… and really set out to become creative professionals that are working to promote social change.”
She explained how her background influenced her mission.
“I come from Dorchester, born and raised to immigrant parents, working class… And being a METCO student, I pursued educational opportunities outside of my community. And so I learned early on that society was unfair, I just didn’t have the language to define that or really understand it,” she said. “Going through college and pursuing public health makes the social unfairness very visible, and how that affects our health and wellbeing.”
From there, she was better able to learn the complexities of dealing with working to create social change. “I try and bring my skills to clients, who want to promote education or community development or housing justice,” she said. “I understand her work through a public health lense, and if people don’t have jobs, then that affects where they can live, what they’re able to eat, and therefore their life and wellbeing.”
Being able to understand the mission from all angles is something that she feels has helped her excel in her work to promote change through media and storytelling. “I’m able to bring all the expertise that was lived and learned to support our clients.”
Little shared a moment from her experience that reiterated why the agency’s work is so important in today’s social and political atmoshpere.
“We just completed a campaign wiht the Boston Health Commission, where we profiled different communities that had been affected by HIV, or were at risk of HIV,” Little said. “It was really important to the commission, based on the research we had done, that we profile women of color, folks of LGBTQ, and those that are marginalized.”
Little continued, “We had the freedom to really tell these stories and bring the research to life, and so with these stories, we profile patients and community leaders. We went to their homes, their workspaces… Like a Commissioner at her office, or a doctor at a health center. To have people open up about their medical mismanagement, and have an opportunity to capture their story in a way that’s empowering, in a way that can benefit other doctors to learn… It makes me say, ‘This is why I do what I do.’”
She then talked about telling community-rooted stories while also navigating the different echo-chambers and media platforms that cause division.
“We focus on authentic stories that center on the beauty of the people and the actions that are happening within our community to improve our world,” Little said. “For us, we have a responsibility as a social impact media agency to make sure the topics we’re covering are grounded in truth — in order to unite people rather than divide people.”
The agency’s clients have had to rethink how they can convey the work they’re doing, Little said. “It’s critical work, and social-equity focused… How do they still convey that under new social conditions that are making this risky?” Little said. “For us, we double down on our mission, and we have to be responsible story-tellers.”
At the end of the day, Little said, they want to support the community.
