Storytelling tools for community change

Storytelling For Community Change: Tools You can Use 

Storytelling — the single most powerful communications tool organizations possess

Andy Goodman

flickr: steature

Who we have and are working with

Intentionally and Strategically

•Find Stories•Craft Stories•Use Stories

Ways to use story

• Sustainability/fundraising• Recruit/ motivate volunteers• Engage community members• Media interviews• Testimony/education visits with elected

officials• Engage new partners• Show success/lessons learned to funders

But , not all stories are powerful.

Passion

Powerful Stories1. Passion

2. Character

3. Conflict

4. Transformation

Sea Monkey Story

flickr:bycp

Mother Theresa

“If I look at the mass, I will never act. If I look at the one, I will.”

Powerful Stories1. Passion

2. Character

3. Conflict

4. Transformation

Audience should ask

What happens next?

How will this end?

Vulnerable is good

Wikipedia

Create tension

Barrier

Powerful Stories1. Passion

2. Character

3. Conflict

4. Transformation

Flickr: farleyj

Powerful Stories1. Passion

2. Character

3. Conflict

4. Transformation

Stories for a Purpose

Endings

Pivot

Action

Portrait

Flickr: cliff1066

Wide Angle

Flickr: Zol87

Portrait Wide Angle

Flickr: cliff 1066 Flickr: Zol87

Pivot

EndingsPivot

Action

Lori Silverman

“Think about what you want people to do.”

Nate’s Question

Tell Powerful Stories for a Purpose

1. Passion

2. Character

3. Conflict

4. Transformation

5. Pivot

6. Action

Your Turn

Hannah’s Story

Story Use Planning

Finding the story

Emotion StrategyStory

Sally Clark, Seattle City Council

“Without understanding people’s passions & their motivations and their personal story, it’s so sterile and it is…just us looking at pieces of paper & 3-ring binders, and that’s not who we are, we are a community.”

Ways to use story

• Sustainability/fundraising• Recruit/ motivate volunteers• Engage community members• Media interviews• Testimony/education visits with elected

officials• Engage new partners• Show success/lessons learned to funders

Natasha Freidus, Community Narrations

A lot of folks don't think about story as a resource. But in low-income communities, story is one of the primary resources that people actually have.

Stories take many forms• Oral• Video (Storybooth)• Video (Produced community

story)• Photoquote• Written• Artistic

Story Use Plan

Goal Audience Story Storyteller Action

Goal

Audience

Story

Messenger

Action

Goal Audience Story Storyteller Action

Goal Audience Story Storyteller Action

Let’s Practice• You’ve got an inspiring tobacco quit

story. • A popular program is facing a severe

budget cut.• New policy is up for a 1st reading at a

council meeting. The 5-member council is split 2-2 with 1 undecided.

How do you find stories?

“Story Spotter”

Want to learn more?

Pair Share

What have you learned about telling and listening to stories?

What are your most useful take aways from this session?

Flickr: born1945

Questions? Comments?

“Because there are stories only you can tell”