Robert Wood Johnson Foundation:
Multi-modal engagement experiences

Designed a suite of public-facing narrative and engagement systems for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation translating the complex, often academic conversation around structural racism into accessible, emotionally resonant public experiences.

The work centered on a core creative challenge: how do you help a broad American audience understand that health outcomes are shaped not by individual choices but by laws, policies, and social structures — and that those structures can be changed? The answer was the "Two Bridges" framework — a visual metaphor showing how laws and social practices create divergent paths to health based on race and class, and how, because people built those bridges, people can rebuild them.

Led creative direction across multiple interconnected deliverables: a national audience testing process evaluating both verbal messaging and visual metaphors simultaneously, an explainer video built around the Two Bridges narrative, a suite of downloadable health equity graphics now publicly available on the RWJF website, and an educational Minecraft game environment designed to bring these concepts to life for younger audiences. Also directed the development of a comprehensive Teacher Guide and resource kit empowering educators to use the Minecraft experience as a classroom discussion tool.

Throughout, the process was grounded in authentic representation: a cohort of BIPOC artists led the visual metaphor development to ensure the work reflected lived experience rather than institutional interpretation. Guided the RWJF team through an iterative creative process that incorporated leadership feedback while protecting the integrity of the artists' vision.

The resulting toolkit — including the Structural Racism and Health Messaging Guide, explainer video, Bridge to Health graphics, and Minecraft game — is publicly available on the RWJF website and continues to be used by advocates, educators, and health communicators nationally.

Health Equity · Narrative Strategy · Audience Engagement · Visual Metaphor Systems · BIPOC Artist Collaboration · Participatory Learning · Science Communication · Digital Storytelling · National Audience Testing · Educational Experience Design

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