Closing the Gaps
with Creativity.
At Empathy’s Edge, we bridge clarity and access.
We help organizations communicate with clarity and communities access the opportunities they need to succeed, leveraging design and storytelling as tools for systems-level change.
Artist. Advocate. Educator.
Meet Zakiya
(Zah-kee-yah)
Founder & Creative
Director
Pushing design and storytelling beyond appearances into tools
for clarity, connection,
and change.
A visionary leader, strategist, and creative force, Zakiya Stewart (she/her) founded Empathy’s Edge to transform how organizations communicate, engage, and make an impact. With over a decade of experience in strategic marketing, education advocacy, and capacity building, she has partnered with nonprofits, businesses, and educational institutions to develop initiatives that foster inclusion, advancement, and opportunity. Zakiya’s work is driven by a deep commitment to community empowerment and storytelling.
She has led initiatives, including:
Award-winning marketing campaigns for architecture studios and social impact organizations
Strategic policy & advocacy efforts in education and transitional housing
Career and economic development programs, such as launching a career center for women in shelters
Capacity-building for educators, school leaders,
and professionals to elevate their impact
Values-Driven Work
Values-driven work intentionally applied to clarify complex information, elevate unheard voices, and direct people to actionable, equitable pathways and information.
Top Five Values
One: Empathy-Driven Innovation. We prioritize human-centered design and storytelling to create solutions that truly resonate.
Two: Strategic Impact. We combine data-driven insights with creative problem-solving to drive meaningful, measurable change.
Three: Collaboration & Community. Strong partnerships and collective action are at the heart of how we engage and create sustainable solutions.
Four: Empowerment & Growth. Whether through capacity-building, coaching, or advocacy, we help individuals and organizations maximize their potential.
Five: Creative Courage. We embrace bold ideas, innovative storytelling, and design thinking to challenge the status quo and inspire transformative change.
…Mission…
Our mission is to expand educational and economic opportunity by leading through design, storytelling, and community partnership.
We do not just make things. We think before we make them. Through reflective practice, empathy, and systems thinking, we shape the work that informs the creative assets we develop, ensuring that brand identities and messaging are cohesive and responsive, so opportunity is accessible and sustainable.
…Vision…
We envision a future where strong educational institutions anchor a protective ecosystem that connects schools, families, businesses, nonprofits, and founders in shared purpose.
In this future, cross sector partnerships are strengthened through design and storytelling that create shared understanding and the communication infrastructure needed for inclusive systems intended to support everyone every day.
Curious about how it all began?
Meet Zakiya at 16
Check out this video and / or read Education Dreaming, the inspiring story behind our mission and vision and see why the work we do matters.
Reach out to explore how you can collaborate with Zakiya and her partners.
