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Are You Ready to Change the World, One Story at a Time?

Stories are the building blocks of humanity and of one of the most powerful tools humans have to connect with each other, locally and globally. Our survival as a species is, and always has been, dependent upon our ability to share, learn from, and listen to each others' stories. If we didn’t have stories, we’d have no need for art, poetry, song, or theatre. Stories are paradoxical. They can construct or deconstruct our realities. The stories we choose to tell are as revealing as the ones we choose to deny. Stories are the ultimate equalizer. Stories can be a form of resistance in the face of extreme oppression. They open up safe spaces for acts of injustice to be exposed, examined, and rectified. Stories inspire us to take action. Stories are what align our internal mission, vision, and values with the path we choose to follow. Stories are at the heart of change, growth, resilience, and survival. It's time the world heard your story.
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Storytelling on Camera

Television news interviews are a wonderful opportunity to share your organization’s story. Being on camera---whether in a special feature segment, a documentary, or even in your own YouTube video---is a chance to strengthen public perceptions about what your organization does and how it's making a difference in the community. The next time a journalist wants to put your story on the news, seize the opportunity! Here are some simple tips to help you shine in the spotlight. Be prepared. Have a protocol in place that identifies who from your organization is responsible for acting as the company's spokesperson or “chief storyteller.” Have a “deputy” spokesperson in place too so that there's always someone on hand to answer questions from reporters, journalists, and high-level officials. Be open and accessible. Remember, every encounter with the media is an opportunity for positive public exposure. Don’t hide from reporters when they call. Get out there in front of them....
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Stories Keep It Real

"Act right now! Your donation of $20 will buy school supplies for 250 children in need!" Have you ever heard a claim like that on a late-night television fundraising drive? Did you really believe the charity's claim that they were able to do so much with so little? Probably not. If you want to steer clear of making similar over-simplified and unrealistic claims in your fundraising materials, write a story instead of a flashy headline. Storytelling keeps you accountable to your donors. By framing your call to action as a real life story you’ll keep yourself from making unrealistic claims. Why? Because in order to tell a believable story, you must be able to conjure up compelling and accurate plot points and link the story details together in a logical format. Take the claim above: Imagine you are the CEO or senior public relations person for that organization. Can you tell a real-life story that actually illustrates how $20.00 once bought school supplies for 250 chil...
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Weaving Your Communications Strategy Into a Story

A successful communications strategy is much like a well-written, well-told story. As with all compelling narratives, your communications strategy should have: a beginning that sets the stage for the challenge ahead an action-packed middle filled with exciting tales as your organization passes major milestones a satisfying conclusion where all the pieces come together and your organization’s journey concludes with a happy ending. Now, imagine sharing this story with your stakeholders over the period of one year. Your case statement is the introduction to your story. It’s what draws stakeholders in by clearly stating the challenge your organization is faced with and why it urgently needs to overcome this challenge. Your case statement defines what’s at stake and explains what resources and support your organization will need to meet this challenge.  It must also create a hopeful vision of what will happen when the obstacle is finally overcome. Next is the action-packed mi...
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