Coloring Outside the Lines: Authentic Outreach for Startups & Storytellers
Presented by Araceli Esparza, MFA, author, Latina Influencer, and founder of Midwest Mujeres
Thursday, August 21, 2-3 PM
Support a local Latina and Black women's coop office space! Leflore Accounting offices: 306 E Wilson St #2e, Madison, WI 53703 *second floor*
Bottled water, light snacks, and Journals will be available
Location: Downtown Madison, near Mendota Lake, Street Parking, and on Busline
Workshop TrailerHow do you grow your audience without losing your values? How do you connect with communities that have historically been left out of the conversation?
In this energizing and thought-provoking session, storytelling strategist and rural outreach expert Araceli Esparza invites tech founders, digital creatives, and entrepreneurs to reimagine how they build brand trust in emerging and overlooked markets. Drawing from her lived experience and years of work with nonprofit and business leaders, Araceli shares tested outreach frameworks that prioritize human connection, cultural awareness, and narrative integrity.
This workshop will equip participants to:
Identify and avoid tokenistic marketing practices
Create mission-aligned outreach strategies that resonate with immigrant, rural, and BIPOC communities
Translate inclusive values into product launches, brand campaigns, and community events
Get team and investor buy-in through values-driven messaging and measurable impact
Through hands-on activities and collaborative reflection, participants will leave with a draft outreach event mission statement, new language to describe their purpose, and a deeper understanding of how trust and equity are powerful tools for growth.
Who should attend:
Startups, founders, digital marketers, product designers, creative directors, and social impact entrepreneurs looking to scale their reach while staying rooted in authenticity.
This session is ideal for those who are ready to challenge the status quo and build inclusive strategies that actually work.
