At the heart of Bryan Davidson’s work with Whisper is a powerful idea: that connection is an essential human need.
Based in the Atlanta area, Whisper is a nonprofit devoted to combating the growing loneliness epidemic among students. Through innovative conversation tools and leadership programs, Whisper empowers students across the country to lead movements of connection in their schools—and they’re just getting started.
Today, Whisper operates in 25 schools across Georgia and Washington, D.C., with plans to expand nationwide.
And with custom packaging from Arka, they're turning their mission into a tangible, movement-inspiring experience.
Turning Conversation into a Movement
Whisper equips student leaders with a wide range of tools—from conversation decks like Sparks, Flow, and Cares to full toolkits and leadership guides. Each resource is designed to make it easy for students to initiate deeper, more meaningful connections with their peers.
"Gen Z can own this, they can take the reins and do this, " Bryan says. “It's very much about training and leading them to do what they want to do, basically. They want to be leading it.”
The next step in that mission was clear: package these tools into a movement-in-a-box experience that students could easily use and share.
Why Packaging Matters
For Bryan and the Whisper team, packaging needed to be more than just functional—it had to make an emotional impact. That’s when they found Arka.
“We put a lot of emphasis on substance, style, and design… We want them to see the box and go, wow, this is cool, this is different. It's kind of like you're making connections and conversations like Apple's type branding.”
Whisper chose a pizza box-style design, connecting to the simple joy of sharing food—an important part of many Whisper events.
“The biggest criterion is we do fund a lot of food in what we do with Whisper, and we do a lot of pizza,” Bryan says. “So it's a way to tie the word pizza, and when you have pizza, you think of Whisper.”
The box features a minimalist black-and-white design that feels sleek, modern, and timeless.
“The box's quality doesn't look like something cheap,” Bryan laughs. “It looks like a quality box where the black and white design kind of just shines through, has that simplistic, timeless look to it.”
The Arka Advantage
Finding the right packaging partner wasn’t easy at first. Bryan knew he wanted something high-quality, customizable, and available in small runs to test ideas before scaling. That’s what made Arka stand out.
“I found you, I thought, this is perfect, and got a sample,” Bryan says. “And then your leader reached out, I thought, this is amazing. What great customer service! These people are all in. Talking about relentless grassroots, I love it. So now all my experiences with you guys have been super positive.”
The ability to order small batches also opens the door to future plans—like sending personalized “movement boxes” to student leaders, influencers, and schools around the country.
A Platform for Growth
With the box design in place, Whisper now has a scalable platform. Inside each box, students find conversation card decks, leadership tools, digital training links, and branded merchandise—all the essentials for launching a connection movement in their school.
And the need for connection is urgent. Whisper’s work responds to rising rates of isolation and loneliness among students—challenges that have only intensified in recent years.
What’s Ahead for 2025
Looking ahead, Whisper is preparing for major growth. While they initially set a goal of reaching 500 schools in five years, Bryan believes they can scale even faster—with the right systems, leaders, and tools in place.
“It’s not just about scaling a product and content, but scaling an incredible way to grow leaders. Because when you pour into people, things explode like no other. We're trying to scale that and monetize that and systemize that at another level, so we don't lose our heart in the way that we pour into people.”
The team is also exploring new ways to distribute and monetize the movement boxes while keeping access affordable for students who need it most.
Advice for Other Entrepreneurs
Reflecting on his journey, Bryan encourages other entrepreneurs to start simple, create tangible products, and trust relationships over short-term gains.
“I encourage you to really base it on the power of synergy,” Bryan says. “It’s in the relationships, not just on the money or just on the opportunity. Your life really is relationships… people matter.”
Building businesses rooted in real connection, not just opportunity, is a principle that continues to guide Whisper’s growth.
How Arka Supports Movements Like Whisper
At Arka, we know that sometimes a simple box can spark something extraordinary. For organizations like Whisper, packaging isn’t just a container—it’s a catalyst for connection, leadership, and community.
Whether you’re scaling a nonprofit movement or launching your next product, Arka helps you create packaging that tells your story—and invites others to join it.
Ready to create packaging that builds connection? Start designing with Arka today.
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