The Story Behind the Numbers: Understanding the Art of Narrative Construction in Public Health

Overview:

This is a live webinar on October 21, 2025, from 12:00 pm-1:30 pm ET. Participants will use Zoom to join. 

Discover the power of storytelling as a tool for public health impact. In this interactive session, participants will explore the key elements of compelling stories that resonate with diverse audiences, while learning to navigate ethical and cultural considerations such as consent, dignity, and stigma when integrating local narratives. The webinar will also guide participants in building a mini logic model to connect storytelling efforts to measurable outcomes, equipping them with practical tools to assess impact and strengthen community engagement.

Lamarr Lewis is a dedicated advocate, author, and agent of change. With a focus on community-based mental and public health, he works with diverse groups including individuals living with psychiatric disabilities, people in recovery from substance abuse, and at-hope youth (He does not use the term at-risk). 

His career spans over twenty years with experience as a therapist, consultant, public speaker, facilitator, trainer, and human service professional. Lamarr integrates restorative justice principles into his work, fostering accountability, healing, and equity in the communities he serves. 

He is an alumnus of Wittenberg University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with minors in Africana Studies and Religion. He later received his master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Argosy University. 

He has been a featured expert for such organizations as Boeing, Region IV Public Health Training Center, Fulton County Probate Court, Mississippi Department of Health, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, ASTHO, NNPHI, and many more. 

His lifelong mission is to leave the world better than how he found it.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Describe 1-2 key elements of an effective story that resonate with diverse audiences in the context of public health.

• Identify ethical and cultural considerations (consent, dignity, stigma) when integrating local narratives.

• Build a mini logic model to assess the impact of storytelling on public health outcomes through measurable indicators.

CERTIFICATE: The course contains three modules: a module with pre-session questions, a module to access the webinar, and an evaluation module. After accessing these modules, learners will earn a certificate of completion.

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31680, Public Health Training Centers for $4,348,992. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.