1. Introduction: Mission-Driven Storytelling With Purpose

At Barking Squirrel Media, based in Cincinnati & Chicago, our work is built on one clear belief: mission-driven storytelling changes lives. We don’t just make videos; we craft powerful narratives that give voice to organizations making a measurable difference in people’s lives, communities, and the world.

That’s why our collaboration with BAWAC of Northern Kentucky was such a natural fit. Their dedication to breaking down barriers and building opportunities aligns perfectly with our storytelling directive—and through our signature Video Discovery Process, we uncovered the heart of their mission.

This wasn’t about creating a promotional piece. It was about capturing a living, breathing story that reflects hope, dignity, and transformation.

2. Who BAWAC Is and Why Their Story Matters

BAWAC is a nonprofit organization in Florence, Kentucky, dedicated to helping adults with disabilities or other challenges live, work, and thrive in the community. For over 50 years, they’ve been providing job training, supported employment, therapeutic programs, and critical transportation services—empowering people to achieve independence and purpose.

Their services include:

• Supported Employment: Offering job training, internships, job placement, and on-the-job coaching so participants can thrive in competitive employment.

• Community Rehabilitation: Structured programs to develop life skills, vocational skills, and personal growth.

• Transportation Services: Operating Northern Kentucky’s largest para-transit fleet, giving hundreds of individuals access to work, healthcare, and community activities.

• Production Services: Partnering with local businesses to provide assembly, packaging, and light manufacturing opportunities for clients.

These aren’t abstract services. They are lifelines. For one client, transportation means the ability to keep a steady job; for another, it’s the first time they’ve earned a paycheck and felt the pride of financial independence.

3. Mission-Driven Storytelling Through the Discovery Process

Every one of our productions begins with our Video Discovery Process, a proven method to uncover the most authentic and emotionally compelling aspects of a client’s story.

For BAWAC, that meant listening—really listening—to their leadership, staff, and clients. We wanted to understand not just what they do, but why they do it.

In discovery, we learned about:

• The joy on a participant’s face when they master a skill that once seemed impossible.

• A job coach’s quiet pride in seeing someone transition into independent employment.

• The camaraderie on the production floor, where teamwork replaces isolation.

This approach to mission-driven storytelling ensured we weren’t creating a generic video. We were crafting a heartfelt narrative grounded in lived experience.

4. Filming On-Location at BAWAC

Authenticity is the heartbeat of mission-driven storytelling, which is why we filmed entirely at the BAWAC facility.

We used real clients and employees—not actors—because no script can replicate the truth in someone’s eyes when they talk about what this organization means to them.

We captured:

• Job coaches patiently guiding clients through step-by-step processes.

• Team members laughing together between tasks.

• Para-transit drivers lowering wheelchair ramps and greeting riders by name.

• A client quietly counting parts with laser focus, determined to get it right.

Filming on location allowed us to immerse viewers in BAWAC’s world. They don’t just see what happens there—they feel it.

5. Crafting a Mission-Driven Narrative

Once filming wrapped, our editing process became an act of curation—finding the moments that most powerfully conveyed BAWAC’s mission.

We built the narrative around three key beats:

1. Introduction: A warm welcome to BAWAC, introducing clients, staff, and the facility.

2. Journey: Scenes of learning, skill-building, teamwork, and small triumphs.

3. Transformation: Celebrations of independence, dignity, and achievement.

The pacing, music, and cinematography were carefully chosen to match the emotional arc. Every shot supported the principles of mission-driven storytelling—balancing cinematic beauty with authentic representation.

6. The Emotional Power of Mission-Driven Storytelling

In a world overloaded with content, mission-driven organizations need more than information—they need connection.

Research supports this:

• 89% of people say a video has convinced them to support a cause (Wyzowl, 2024).

• 79% say video helped them better understand an organization’s mission.

Mission-driven storytelling taps into that emotional core. It invites people to step into another’s shoes, to see challenges and triumphs through their eyes. It doesn’t just inform—it transforms.

7. BAWAC’s Story on Screen

The final BAWAC brand video became more than a visual asset—it became a rallying cry.

It showed:

• Moments of Empowerment: A client smiling as they clock in for work.

• Community in Action: Staff offering guidance, peers lending support.

• Journeys Taken: The symbolic shot of a transport van leaving the lot—representing mobility and access.

• Shared Pride: Hands clapping, high-fives exchanged, goals achieved.

Feedback from board members, donors, and staff was overwhelming. Many said the video deepened their connection to BAWAC’s mission.

8. Why Barking Squirrel Media Excels at Mission-Driven Storytelling

Organizations choose Barking Squirrel Media because:

• We Lead With Empathy: We prioritize dignity, respect, and authenticity in every project.

• We Blend Art and Strategy: Our films are cinematic but strategically designed to move audiences toward action.

• We’re Local, Yet Reach Beyond: Our Cincinnati roots and deep understanding of Northern Kentucky communities give us cultural insight others lack.

• We Deliver Real Results: Our mission-driven storytelling has helped nonprofits raise funds, expand programs, and inspire new partnerships.

9. Beyond the Screen: Lasting Impact

A powerful video doesn’t end when the credits roll. BAWAC now uses their video in fundraising campaigns, community presentations, volunteer recruitment, and social media outreach.

The video has become a living piece of their identity—something that speaks for them even when they can’t be in the room.

10. Inspiring Action Through Mission-Driven Storytelling

At Barking Squirrel Media, we believe stories are catalysts. They have the power to inspire, to unite, and to create lasting change.

When organizations like BAWAC have their stories told with authenticity, artistry, and respect, they gain more than awareness—they gain advocates, partners, and champions.

If your organization is ready to turn your mission into a moving narrative that inspires and mobilizes, we’re ready to listen, collaborate, and create.

Because in the end, it’s not just video—it’s mission-driven storytelling that transforms lives.