Stories Change Power

TOMORROW! Register today: https://lnkd.in/eiFP_zwV Advocates, communications professionals, academics, and higher ed leaders will leave with actionable next steps to effectively connect with policymakers. As always, *everyone is welcome* regardless of field or level of experience. #FreeWebinar #Academics #Academia #Policymaking #Advocacy #Advocate #Changemakers #EffectiveCommunication #HigherEd #HigherEducation #ProfessionalDevelopment

For three years, our founder drove across the plains (both enameled and fruited), saw life along the shining seas on both sides of our country, and experienced something that seems to be in short supply these days: TRUST. Sharing that experience in a recent blog, Piper notes the "decline in trust has profound implications: anything that fuels polarization and undermines social cohesion makes it harder to effectively address our collective challenges:" https://lnkd.in/e2jtW8hX We'd love to hear from you... do you sense a fraying of "the invisible thread that connects us?" Is it impacting you personally? Professionally? If you're an advocate, what does this mean for your work? And how can we help? #Trust #EffectiveCommunication #Advocacy #Polarization #Depolarization #BridgeBuilding #BuildingTrust

This Storytelling Sunday, we're talking about SENSES. Engaging your listeners'/readers' senses can better transport them into your story. Include vivid sensory details to provide an emotional experience. 📝 Tip: When recounting a moment, describe what you saw, heard, smelled, and felt. How did the air feel? How did your body feel? Did you smell anything around you? What was going through your mind? Were there sounds that you remember hearing? Details make your story come alive for people who are re-experiencing it with you. ❓ Have a question about storytelling? Let us know! #StorytellingStructure #EffectiveStorytelling #Advocacy #StorytellingSunday

#ListenUp! In case you missed this episode about autonomy, freedom, and what uncertainty does to how we think - and act - add it to your queue: https://lnkd.in/gUCieetC You'll learn how the difference in how you say something leads to how it is received. (And if you're working on calls to action, you'll appreciate why our ears perked up around 46 minutes in.) We tip our hat to Ben Rosenberg, Ph.D. of Dominican University for these helpful insights. #Podcast #HiddenBrain #CommunicationResources #EffectiveCommunication #Advocacy #PolicyChange #AdvocacyResource

It's November 7, 2024. An unprecedented presidential race has ended, and those votes are tallied. From our two major political parties, one won the presidency and the other has conceded this election. We encourage you to remember while our political differences can feel overwhelming, they don’t have to define us. Nor should they limit us. There's room for ALL OF US in rebuilding trust and shaping our shared future. Here are 5 possible next steps toward the just and peaceful future we all want and deserve: #1 GET CLEAR: Specifically identify values important in your life. Sure, you know them on some level, but have you named them? (At Stories Change Power, we’ve got 8: https://lnkd.in/eupd5ehX Feel free to use as many as you’d like!) Rather than leave it to chance, be clear about how you want to show up. We can agree this election was contentious, yes? So how will YOU be part of helping “turn down the heat?” #2 GET CURIOUS: Make it a priority to better understand -really understand- “the other side.” While direct interaction can be a goal, perhaps start by checking out other news sources. (Tangle News is a great place for that.) Whether media stories or personal stories, listen to understand, not to respond. In times of division, it’s easy to assume we know what others think or feel. But true progress starts with understanding—not agreement. And let’s be clear: listening to people whose experiences differ from yours can be HARD WORK. It’s worth it. That work is how we learn, grow, and find common purpose. #3 GET TO STORYTELLING: Stories are the foundation of connection. Period. Consider sharing YOUR story. Be safe while remembering “safe” isn’t the same as “comfortable.” Writing, speaking, or posting… your story helps others learn and be brave enough to share theirs, too. (From #2, we need more than stories that confirm our beliefs. Seek out those that challenge your assumptions.) #4 GET INVOLVED: Get involved at the local level - that can be on a particular advocacy issue, but not necessarily; as you’ll see in the documentary Join or Die, simply joining a club with people you wouldn’t likely meet otherwise improves your life and strengthens your community: https://lnkd.in/d_jHDt6m #5 GET ENERGIZED: Which is to say “rest when you need.” Advocacy work ain’t easy, especially after a contentious election. Let’s look out for our health, including mental health. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup: https://lnkd.in/eNZvYUBK This moment can feel divided and daunting. Please don’t forget what’s still possible: "We the People" have power to build the future we want together. Every time we choose understanding over judgment, we are taking a step in that direction. These are just 5 steps to get started. WHAT WOULD YOU ADD? #NextSteps #Community #Storytelling #Advocacy #StorytellingSunday #JoinOrDie #Documentary #CivicEngagement #CivicRenewal

Are you an academic who wants your work to shape policy that promotes a just and peaceful world? Join us Friday, November 15, to hear how from Dr. Laura Perna of University of Pennsylvania's Penn Alliance for Higher Education and Democracy (AHEAD) and Dr MaryEllen McGuire of Postsecondary National Policy Institute (PNPI). (Psst, advocates and everyone else very welcome, too!) Register today: https://lnkd.in/eiFP_zwV #AcademicResearch #Academia #HigherEducation #HigherEd #Advocacy #Advocate #FreeWebinar #PolicyMaking #RightMessage

Welcome back to Storytelling Sunday! Today, we're talking about the structure of story. Whether you want to call it a 3-Act Structure, 5-Section Approach or anything else, just remember these two things: 1) A story has a beginning, middle, and end (even if just an "end for now") and 2) There's a CHANGE along the way. 📝 Tip: Start with a compelling hook that draws in your listeners. Build tension in the middle with challenges or conflicts - this is the heart of your story. Then resolve the story with a conclusion that demonstrates what changed along the way (or needed to!). ❓ Have a question about storytelling? Let us know! #StorytellingStructure #EffectiveStorytelling #Advocacy #StorytellingSunday

"The great thing about social movements is that everybody gets to be a part of them." Jim Wallis is credited with saying that, and Clare Ashcraft shed light on how true it is today in strengthening our democratic republic. In less than an hour, in addition to AllSides' resources, we touched on the work of Braver Angels, Julie Rose's podcasts (Top of Mind and Uncomfy), Living Room Conversations, More Like US, National Governors Association, and StoryCorps, and the support of USA TODAY to promote an informed public that is civically engaged and "disagrees better:" https://lnkd.in/eEa5wcnN Who else would you add to the list of individuals and organizations in the movement to build trust and bridge divides across the country?

If you're feeling scared today for reasons other than Halloween, our CEO just shared a message to remind you of your own power. Yes, she mentions cobwebs, but not for the reason you'd think: https://lnkd.in/eHzJHTns #EmotionalWellness #Election #ElectionAnxiety #Citizenship #CitizenIsAVerb

What is the difference between FIXING and HELPING? In advocacy, it can be the difference between thriving and burnout. Take a listen to our latest webinar for actionable steps from Krista Padgett, PCC on avoiding burnout: https://lnkd.in/gq-Z_KCg #EmotionalWellnessMonth #FinalFriday #FreeWebinarSeries #WorkplaceWellbeing #MentalHealth #WorkplaceCulture #OrganizationalCulture #WorkLifeBalance #SelfCare #Burnout