About Us

We are no strangers to the power that narratives, positive and negative, can have on people’s lives. We come together, bringing a wealth of experiences, knowledge, and a deep sense of accountability to our communities.

“We know the power of a single story, and we also understand the momentum that can build as we bring our stories together.” — Jess & Vicky

Our Story

As young people, we grew up a world apart. However, we both heard similar stories about what it meant to be successful. For example, we each crafted our own versions of the American dream — Vicky’s built on the foundation of stories she heard from her grandparents about escaping war, struggle, and building a life in America for their children. Jessica’s a woven patchwork of stories about fighting for Civil Rights, desperate attempts to access education, and creating a legacy. We reckoned with these stories— the truth, pain, victory, defeat, and resilience— while also noticing that the dreams of our elders were far from being realized. The successes that our families experienced were not the result of lasting equity-based policies and practices, rather they were exceptions to the systems that seek to keep our society stagnant. The American Dream was written on a check that, as Martin Luther King said, bounced back due to “insufficient funds.”

Why it Matters

We both share a sense of responsibility to craft narratives that contribute to repairing and preventing harm in our communities. We know we will not get to a more conscious, equitable future by maintaining the same beliefs, practices, and behaviors that have gotten us here. In short, we need to intentionally work to shift culture — to combat the messages meant to disparage our communities and uplift the truth and complexity of our experiences. To focus on affirmation and joy in addition to the difficulties. Shifting narratives and cultures is not work that can be done in isolation— collective engagement and ownership are necessary. Design can offer the tools we need to build a relevant, resonant narrative shift strategy rooted in the powerful work that has happened within your organization and focus on sharing the lessons learned with a broader audience.

diagram of the 4 i's of oppression: Ideological, institutional, interpersonal, and internal

“These I's outlines four interrelated aspects of any oppression, and can help people understand how oppression is a system." — John Bell.* We believe narrative strategy can interrupt any and all of these areas of oppression, shifting internal beliefs and, therefore, changing collective actions.

_{*Bell, J. (2023, March 3).}_{The Four “I’s” of Oppression}_._{District 86 Joliet Public Schools.}

Who we are

Jessica Brown

Jess Brown is an organizer, designer, and educator dedicated to creating social systems where Black and brown folks can thrive. She is the founder of No Peace Studios, an abolitionist design consultancy focused on building robust community structures that meet folks' needs. Previously as a Designer and Lecturer at Stanford’s d.school, her work focused on the intersections of learning, neuroscience, culture, and design. In every aspect of her work, she creates research-based tools, processes, and content that invite unlearning, rethinking, and co-building.

Vicky Chung

Vicky Chung is a communications strategist and designer with experience in communications and branding strategy, digital design, and immersive program development. As a group facilitator and conflict resolution mediator, she’s seen firsthand the power of story & reframe—its ability to dismantle barriers and unite people toward change. Most recently, Vicky was leading communications at Stanford d.school. Acting as the cultural translator, she intersected with all corners to activate and elevate bold ideas & discourse.