How the Uptown 11 team develops stories: Part 2

One of the voices shaping Uptown 11’s storytelling is Megan Moore, a storyteller who brings empathy, curiosity, and lived experience into her work. Through her collaboration with the Children First Collective, Megan helps surface the realities of San Diego’s child care system – and the families navigating it.

Project Highlight: Stories of Care

Megan’s favorite project is Stories of Care, a social media series that highlights the journeys of parents, providers, and advocates across San Diego. Each story is unique, but together they reflect the urgent need to strengthen a system that so many families rely on.

As Megan put it:

“While each story is unique in experiences, together, they all are telling a story of a system that needs fixing.”

Walking Through the Process

So how does Megan shape these narratives? Her storytelling approach is rooted in connection, and as both a mother and a member of the Children First Collective, she has unique access to families and providers whose voices often go unheard.

Her process includes:

• Following leads from partner organizations like YMCA of San Diego, First 5 San Diego and Child Development Associates.
• Tapping into her personal network of families experiencing child care challenges firsthand.
• Building comfort with parents and providers by starting with open-ended questions like “Tell me about your children” or “What does child care look like for your family?”.
• Casting a wide net in interviews, then narrowing in on one meaningful story while saving others for future conversations.

Moments That Matter

One story that continues to resonate with Megan came from a panel discussion on supplemental income programs. A father shared how financial hardship – triggered by child care costs – led to job loss, separation from his children and immense struggle.

He pointed out that while the government pays foster parents $2,000 per child, there was no support available for him as a single parent fighting to stay afloat.

“If all of my problems stemmed from me not having enough money to take care of my kids, why did they not give me, their father, financial support rather than a stranger?”

This perspective shifted Megan’s understanding and reaffirmed the importance of amplifying these stories.

Behind the Scenes

For Megan, the work begins long before a story is written. She focuses on ensuring interviewees feel safe and supported – often speaking with people who have never shared their experiences publicly before.

“It’s never a naturally occurring situation, so creating that comfort level is key.”

Why It Matters

Every story Megan documents is not just a narrative, but a call to action. With each conversation, she learns more about the gaps in the system – and how powerful storytelling can be in driving change.

“Each time I speak with someone it’s a learning experience for me and I enjoy the process more and more as I go.”

See the Stories in Action

Check out the Stories of Care on Instagram or read more on the Children First Collective blog and explore how Megan’s work continues to highlight the realities families face in San Diego.