Welcome to The First Cup
I’m pouring out Connection, Understanding and Perspective.
Hi, I’m Jill Kurszewski - a storyteller who believes that when we share even a small piece of our story, we begin to see one another differently.
The First Cup began in 2024, shortly after my 42nd birthday. After years of working for others, often at the expense of my own values, I decided it was time to take control of my narrative.
Over the years, I’ve worked as a reporter, event planner, fundraiser, marketing and PR director, and foundation director. Each role taught me something different about strategy, but one lesson stayed constant:
Storytelling is everything.
As a reporter, I learned how to uncover a story and tell it clearly. In fundraising and leadership, storytelling became the difference between connection and confusion. When stories are shared with intention, something shifts - people connect, they understand, and they begin to see themselves in the work.
That’s when they’re ready to lean in.
So I’ll ask you what I ask everyone:
What’s your story and how will you use it to change the world?
A Bit of My Story
I’m a sports mom - an unapologetic super fan of my kids.
But before you picture a crazed parent in the bleachers, let me explain…
In March 2020, my son’s squirt hockey team was playing in the state championship. I was decked out in team colors, shaking red pom poms, waving a fat-head cutout, and probably yelling a little too loudly.
If you were sitting behind me, you might have thought, “This lady is intense.”
What you wouldn’t have known is that just one year earlier, my son had been in a serious car accident. The part of the truck where he was sitting was crushed like a soda can. Somehow, miraculously, he survived, recovering with just 18 staples in his arm.
So yes, I cheered like a fanatic that day.
Not because winning mattered, but because my son was alive, skating, and smiling.
Moments like that change how you see the world. They remind you that you never really know what someone else is carrying.
“Not because winning mattered - but because my son was alive, skating, and smiling.”
What if we walked around wearing shirts that told our stories?
Mine might say:
Warning: Tears likely, past trauma, saw God in a moment, or hormones.
Speaking out against the patriarchy is hard work, but somebody’s gotta do it.
I’m not for everyone, and that’s okay.
Until those shirts exist, storytelling is how I make space for understanding.
The car accident. Raising kids. Challenging outdated systems. These experiences shaped how I move through the world and how I approach my work. I know my days aren’t guaranteed, but I get to choose how I use them.
I’ve chosen to help others share stories that disrupt assumptions, build connection and create perspective.
That’s what The First Cup is about.
Why Stories Matter
Moments like that remind me: we never really know what someone else is carrying.
Until we wear our stories on our shirts, storytelling is how I make space for understanding.
I’ve decided to make my days count - by helping others share stories that change hearts and perspectives.
That’s what The First Cup is about.
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I’ve spent my career helping organizations find the story beneath the strategy. I’ve worked as a reporter, fundraiser, event planner, marketing and public relations director, and foundation leader - roles that taught me how words shape trust, momentum, and belief. Across nonprofit, community, and mission-driven spaces, I’ve seen how clear storytelling turns confusion into connection and values into action. Today, I bring that experience together through The First Cup, helping leaders and organizations articulate who they are, why they matter, and how to invite others into their work.
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Mission
To share stories, and help others share theirs, so we can disrupt assumptions and work together to make the world a better place.Vision
A world where people pursue connection and seek to understand one another first. -
Joy
I look for joy in everything. It’s a mindset, not a mood, and even on hard days, it’s a gift that can’t be taken away.Connection
I’m always searching for the common thread - the place where my story meets yours.Disruption
I welcome opportunities to pause, reflect, and challenge the status quo. Let’s flip a few tables together.Being Seen
Sharing your story can feel scary. On the other side is freedom; the ability to be fully yourself and still belong.Time Shared
My favorite moments are spent with my people, trading stories over a good cup of coffee.
“Every story starts with a first cup.”