I’m proud to share that “You Have the Power to Save Lives,” a national campaign launched by Vital Strategies and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, won three Silver honors at the 2025 Anthem Awards.
The campaign was recognized in three health categories:
Campaign – Non-Profit
National Awareness Campaign
Community Engagement
I served as Lead Advisor/Consultant for the campaign, supporting strategy, messaging, community-centered narrative development, partner engagement, and implementation across a complex national effort.
Launched in March 2025, You Have the Power to Save Lives is the first-ever national media campaign focused on reducing overdose deaths in Black American communities. The campaign ran in seven U.S. cities across seven states, working with community leaders, city agencies, public health partners, and trusted local voices to raise awareness about naloxone and promote access to this life-saving medication.
The results were powerful. In just three months, the campaign generated more than 32 million impressions, nearly 1.5 million video views, and hundreds of media hits nationwide.
Even more importantly, people who saw the campaign were at least five times more likely to carry naloxone, three times more likely to know where to get it, and two times more likely to feel confident using it to reverse an overdose. Close to half reported talking about the campaign messages with friends, family, or others around them.
The campaign’s success reflects what becomes possible when strategic communications are grounded in community trust, public health evidence, and culturally resonant storytelling. Parents, pastors, DJs, local agencies, harm reduction leaders, and many others helped bring the message to life: everyone has the power to save a life.
I’m grateful to Vital Strategies, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Black Harm Reduction Network, Ghost Note Agency, AAmplify Media, Zebra Strategies, Frisby & Associates, and all the community partners and local leaders who helped shape and carry this work forward.
Read the full announcement from Vital Strategies.