The Story Behind Inspires
Inspires was born from a journey across cultures, sparked by helping girls in India share their stories and fueled by a desire to build empathy and celebrate diversity during a time of division in the United States. While leading groups through the National Museum of African American History and Culture, conversations about identity, belonging, and shared humanity inspired the words that would become my first self-published book, Welcome.
An opportunity to work with immigrant and refugee students from around the world brought those words to life. Their stories, faces, and experiences became the inspiration for Welcome and laid the foundation for the Story Mandala, What Is Your Story?, and the storytelling initiatives that continue to guide Inspires today.
What began as a vision in 2018 continues to grow today. Over the years, that vision has evolved through books, storytelling initiatives, educational programs, photography, exhibitions, and community engagement. While the projects have changed and expanded, the purpose remains the same: to create spaces where people feel seen, heard, valued, and connected through the power of their stories.
Our Founding Mission
To empower girls around the world to find their own voice and tell their authentic story, while inspiring others beyond themselves to do the same.
Today
Inspires creates welcoming spaces through storytelling, photography, literature, travel, and creative expression. What began as a mission to help girls share their stories has grown into a broader commitment to celebrating the diverse voices, experiences, and perspectives that connect us across cultures and generations.
Through books, educational initiatives, community engagement, and global collaborations, Inspires continues to encourage empathy, foster meaningful connections, and inspire people to discover and share their own stories.
Our Values
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We believe every person—especially underrepresented voices—deserves the tools and confidence to be the authors of their own authentic story. Empowerment transforms self-belief into lasting change.
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By listening deeply to others’ experiences, we create understanding that bridges cultures, backgrounds, and differences. Empathy is the foundation of meaningful connection.
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We celebrate the richness of diverse voices, cultures, and perspectives. Stories from all walks of life make the world more vibrant and inclusive.
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Storytelling is an art form, and creativity opens the door for voices to be expressed in unique, powerful ways. We encourage expression through writing, photography, and other forms of art.
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Our work reaches across borders, fostering relationships between people and communities worldwide. We believe sharing stories is one of the strongest ways to unite the world.
Our Founder
Inspires was born from a journey across cultures, sparked by helping girls in India share their stories and fueled by a desire to build empathy and celebrate diversity during a time of division in the United States. Following my travels to India, I created the Story Mandala as a creative tool to help individuals reflect on and share their own stories. The Story Mandala became a central part of my work, guiding conversations at the National Museum of African American History and Culture and later with immigrant and refugee students at The Newcomers School.
An opportunity to work with students from around the world brought these experiences together. Their stories, faces, and perspectives inspired my first book, Welcome, and helped shape the storytelling initiatives that continue to guide Inspires today, including What Is Your Story?, the I Dream series, and Inspires Foundation.
-Alysia Dempsey, Founder (Agra, India 2024)