From Numbers to Narratives: Why Black Women Leaders Need Data That Speaks
I’m revisiting the topic of proper data storytelling because it’s too important to ignore. I originally planned to close out the year continuing the focus on rest and resilience. But after sitting through several meetings last month where data was presented without context, I felt compelled to speak up. In one meeting, the speaker even shared an AI-generated summary of the data, but without any real analysis or meaningful connection to the audience. Moments like that remind me why this conversation matters so much, especially for those of us doing equity-driven work.
For so many Black women leading mission-driven organizations, data often feels like a burden instead of a bridge. We’re asked to “prove impact” using frameworks that were never designed with us in mind. Sure, the numbers are there. We have logged the number of families served, how many workshops were held, and hoy many lives touched. However, these metrics alone they rarely capture the full story of our brilliance, resilience, and legacy.
At Black Health Black Wealth, we believe data shouldn’t be something you survive. It should amplify your truth.
This isn’t about lacking intelligence, strategy, or capacity. It’s about reshaping how we use data so it reflects who we are, not just what we do.
Why So Many Black Women-Led Organizations Feel Stuck With Data
The issue isn’t that Black women leaders don’t understand data. It’s that the systems around data collection, reporting, and evaluation weren’t built with us in mind.
Many of us are visionaries, deeply rooted in healing, justice, and community. We know how to move people and create transformation. But traditional data systems? They’re cold. Clinical. Disconnected. And honestly, often hostile.
Here’s why so many Black women-led organizations feel stuck:
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For generations, data has been a tool of surveillance, justification for harm, or a means of erasure. It’s no wonder so many of us mistrust the process. We’ve seen our stories flattened into numbers that strip away context and dignity.
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Most data tools and evaluation frameworks reflect institutional priorities, not community truths. Trying to fit our work into those boxes often feels like squeezing brilliance into something too small to hold it.
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Many Black women leaders are juggling all the hats: fundraising, strategy, operations, healing work. With limited funding and staff, data often gets pushed to the bottom of the list, not because it doesn’t matter, but because survival takes priority.
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Our work is about transformation, not just transactions. It’s about healing, joy, safety, and legacy. Traditional data methods rarely capture those intangibles.
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Many leaders want to use data more powerfully but feel overwhelmed or judged for not “knowing enough.” What’s missing is culturally aligned, healing-informed support that meets us where we are.
When Data Tells Our Truth, It Transforms
Think about the difference between saying:
“75% of participants reported improved mental wellness.”
And telling the story:
“After six weeks in our healing circles, nearly three out of four Black women reported feeling more emotionally grounded, spiritually connected, and hopeful about their future. One participant shared, ‘This space reminded me that I’m not broken, I’m becoming.’”
One is information. The other is transformation.
That’s the power of data storytelling.
When we pair numbers with narratives, we reclaim our voice. We move from being evaluated to being truly seen.
Here are a few more examples:
Raw: “Only 15% of Black girls in STEM programs report having a mentor who shares their cultural background.”
Story: “In a room of 100 Black girls dreaming of careers in science, only 15 have ever seen someone who looks like them guiding the way. That’s why our Legacy Leaders program exists to change that ratio and rewrite the story.”
Raw: “Our program served 250 families impacted by police violence.”
Story: “Behind every number is a name. 250 families found support, advocacy, and healing through our work. One mother told us, ‘You didn’t just help me navigate the system, you helped me breathe again.’”
Raw: “Our initiative increased access to culturally aligned mental health services by 40%.”
Story: “Forty percent more Black and Brown community members now have access to therapists who understand their lived experience. That’s not just progress, it’s liberation.”
How Data Storytelling Opens Doors
Funders don’t just invest in programs. They invest in possibility. And data storytelling is how we make that possibility visible.
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A well-told data story can turn a grant proposal from a checklist into a compelling vision.
Instead of saying: “We served 500 youth.”
We say: “500 young people walked through our doors this year. One of them, a 16-year-old Black girl, told us, ‘This program helped me believe I could be more than my trauma.’”
That’s not just a stat. That’s a reason to invest.
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When we share stories that blend evidence with emotion, we rise above the noise. We attract aligned partners, media, and funders who believe in our mission because they can feel its impact.
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Stories build trust. Trust builds relationships. Relationships build movements. When your data reflects your truth, it becomes a tool not just for reporting, but for strategy, advocacy, and legacy-building.
Data Storytelling as a Bridge
When data is rooted in truth, it doesn’t just inform. It connects. It becomes a bridge between:
Our lived experience and institutional understanding: Numbers alone can’t capture our work’s depth. But pairing data with context and culture helps others finally see what we’ve always known: our impact is real.
Our communities and systems of power: Storytelling allows us to translate impact in ways that resonate with decision-makers without compromising authenticity.
Our past and our future: Every story we tell honors our ancestors and builds a foundation for future generations.
When a Black woman-led organization says, “85% of participants felt more confident advocating for their health,” that’s data. But when she adds, “One participant said, ‘I finally spoke up at my doctor’s appointment, and they listened,’” that’s a bridge. A bridge between a simple number and an entire movement.
FAQs: Data Storytelling for Black Women Leaders
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Not at all. It’s about adding context and humanity to data. Funders want both proof and purpose. Data storytelling gives them both.
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You start with what you have. Even small numbers paired with powerful stories can make a big impact.
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Not necessarily. What you need is a framework that honors your voice and your community’s truth. That can be learned, supported, and scaled.
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Weave quotes, narratives, or short vignettes alongside your metrics. Bring your numbers to life.
It’s Time for Our Data to Speak
For too long, Black women-led organizations have had to fit their brilliance into someone else’s boxes. Data doesn’t have to be a burden. It can be a mirror that reflects our impact, our legacy, and our power.
When we turn numbers into narratives, we stop shrinking our stories to fit systems. We make the systems expand to meet our truth.
Your data isn’t just information. It’s evidence of transformation. It’s a record of your brilliance. It’s time the world sees it that way.
If you are not sure what to do next here are three suggesstions:
If you’re ready to use data to power your next season of growth, contact us to find out how we can help you shape your impact story in a way that moves hearts, minds, and money.
If your organization is ready to bring this kind of transformation to your data, booking Dr. Bryant Antoine for a speaking or training session is a powerful way to start shifting your internal narrative and strategy.
If you want to grow your impact while staying rooted in identity and healing, subscribing to our mentorship program gives you ongoing guidance, community, and culturally aligned strategy support.
