Our Strategic Plan

LaLa Speaks Foundation Strategic Plan (2024–2027)

Turning Pain into Passion. Saving Lives Through Awareness, Education, and Advocacy.

Our Vision A world where no life is lost due to a lack of brain aneurysm awareness, early detection, or culturally responsive support.

Our Mission To raise awareness, amplify survivor voices, and drive systems-level change in brain health through education, advocacy, and storytelling that centers underserved communities.

Strategic Priorities

1. Awareness Campaign – “Know the Signs. Save a Life.” We will implement citywide and digital campaigns to make early warning signs of brain aneurysms impossible to ignore. Key activities include launching billboard and poster placements in schools, salons, gyms, libraries, and churches; producing a survivor-led storytelling series through social media, podcast reels, and short videos; and partnering with local media outlets and STL-based influencers to increase visibility.

2. Signature Program – Silent Sounds, Loud Impact We will expand our signature initiative using music, brain health education, and community engagement to spark life-saving conversations. Key activities include hosting pop-up activations in trusted spaces like schools, wellness fairs, and community centers; blending storytelling with symptom education using culturally relevant tools; and incorporating brain trivia, resource tables, and post-event mental wellness support.

3. Policy and Advocacy – “Your Voice. Your Power. Our Movement.” We will equip community members and survivors to influence legislation and public health policy. Key activities include promoting Ellie’s Law and other federal and state policy priorities; hosting advocacy workshops and calls-to-action through our website; and increasing engagement with Missouri legislators and federal representatives.

4. Community Education – “The More You Know” Toolkit Series We will build and distribute plain-language resources designed for everyday people, not just medical professionals. Key activities include distributing toolkits like “A Road to Recovery,” “The More You Know,” and our “Advocacy Toolkit”; offering workshops at churches, libraries, and community centers; and partnering with providers to address racial disparities in early detection.

5. Organizational Growth and Fund Development We will strengthen our infrastructure to expand reach and deepen impact. Key activities include building monthly donor campaigns and Zeffy-powered fundraising pages; targeting grants aligned with brain health, equity, and disaster recovery; and developing corporate sponsorship packages and board-led donor outreach.

6. Strategic Partnerships We will collaborate with trusted organizations to deliver wraparound support. Key activities include partnering with NAMI STL, Meraki Creative, and medical professionals to ensure emotional and clinical supports; engaging schools, faith-based groups, and community hubs as consistent partners; and offering shared toolkits, co-hosted events, and mutual referral systems.

Monitoring and Impact We will track outreach metrics, survivor engagement, resource downloads, community requests, and qualitative feedback at every touchpoint. These insights will guide improvement and demonstrate value to our donors, partners, and funders.