Storytelling for Impact

Stories should have a short fuse and quick burn, evoking emotions, including anger, to highlight the need for change.
Stories that inspire hope are crucial to encourage people to join the journey toward positive change.
Memorable stories are repeatable and compelling, prompting listeners to share them with others.

Consider what makes a story compelling enough to be shared beyond the immediate setting.
Determine the right moment for a story to achieve specific objectives.
Understand the audience and what will motivate them to share the story.

Storytelling can be used to build relationships, share work, and raise awareness.

The Time for Change, a nonprofit, uses Instagram to share stories.
They visit high schools, conducting motivational assemblies, sharing information, and holding listening sessions and focus groups.
Youth-led capture of these assemblies and sharing the fun and impactful activities gains traction with other high schools.

Presenting stories through the lens of youth is effective in reaching more youth.

It's important to put young people at the center and amplify their voices.
Creating zines captures narratives of how art and culture contribute to well-being as prevention efforts.
Youth shared hundreds of zines during advocacy efforts at the Capitol, connecting with other youth involved in arts and wellness advocacy.

Engaging the arts creatively can resonate with audiences.
TV shows often use creative techniques to address important issues in an easily digestible way.

Stories can fall into multiple categories, but focus is important.
Nonprofits often tell stories of how people benefit from their programs, but there are other types of stories to consider.

An origin story explains how an organization got started and why it was created.
Featuring a specific protagonist, like the founder, humanizes the organization.
It provides context about the organization's purpose and vision and what it hopes to achieve.
Uniqueness: Highlight what makes the organization's approach unique.

This type of story addresses the problem that the organization is trying to solve.
It makes the issue more approachable and understandable for the audience, especially those with limited context.
Avoid relying solely on stats and data, which can overwhelm the audience.
Use stories of people and communities to help people understand the problem.
Include a clear call to action, inviting the audience to join in addressing the problem.

This type of story focuses on the vision for the future the organization wants to create.
It illustrates what the future looks like as a result of the organization's success.

The Intercept partnered with AOC to create a comic book about the Green New Deal.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) shares her story of entering Congress and the inspiration she drew from the diverse class of politicians.
The Green New Deal was met with skepticism due to its ambitious scope, but it was necessary to address climate change.

In 1977, a scientist named James Black presented research showing that burning fossil fuels could lead to significant global temperature increases.
ExxonMobil conducted research confirming global warming but chose to deny and create doubt about climate change.
Politicians supported fossil fuels, leading to increased production and consumption of oil.
Fossil fuel companies profited while the public bore the costs of environmental disasters.
Hurricane Maria in 2017 devastated Puerto Rico, highlighting the impact of climate change.
Climate scientists warned that emissions needed to be cut in half within twelve years to avoid catastrophic consequences.

Addressing climate change requires a transformation of the economy and society.
Despite the challenges, it's important to remember past successes and work together to overcome impossible odds.

Consider different types of stories to tell as communicators around social issues.