Explore this set of resources – toolkit, film and discussion guide – to understand and build narrative power across institutions and cultural spaces
Topic: Story & Narrative
Story & Narrative
Humans use stories to make sense of the world. When we’re engaged in social change work we come up against collective stories that maintain the status quo. Such stories are used to justify power imbalances, exploitation and destruction. To make positive change we need to intervene narratively: amplifying an alternative world view, bringing hidden characters to light, and holding out a brighter future.
The resources in this topic include frameworks, templates, tools and messaging guides to help you tell powerful stories.
Narrative Change: Start Here
How do you change the narrative? Here is a collection of resources to get you started including best practices and case studies.
Empowering & Supporting Storytellers: Tools for NGOs & Advocates
A guide collated by the Commons librarians for NGOs and storytellers, emphasising the importance of ethical storytelling practices.
A Guide to Hope-based Communications
A hope-based communications strategy involves making five basic shifts in the way we talk about human rights.
Exploring Narrative Practices for Broad-based Movements in Contexts of Democratic Decline
In the face of rising authoritarianism, what stories and tactics drive collaboration within and between movements?
Narrative Spices: An Invitational Guide for Flavorful Human Rights
A guide to inspire reflection and creative thinking about narrative change work and practices (or spices) in human rights.
Liberation Stories: Building Narrative Power for 21st Century Social Movements
From an international cast of leading activist communicators, a timely and instructive handbook for telling stories that change the world.
10 Keys to Mobilise Strategic Communications Coalitions
10 lessons into how to effectively build, organise and maintain a coalition to support and deliver narrative and policy change goals.
How to Measure Narrative Change
Here is a flexible framework for measuring narrative change efforts that organizations can creatively adapt to their unique work.
Housing Narrative Lab
Narrative resources and messaging guides on shifting mindsets and supporting solutions for housing unaffordability / insecurity and homelessness.
Building Narrative Power
Explore this set of resources – toolkit, film and discussion guide – to understand and build narrative power across institutions and cultural spaces
Narrative Change: Start Here
How do you change the narrative? Here is a collection of resources to get you started including best practices and case studies.
Empowering & Supporting Storytellers: Tools for NGOs & Advocates
A guide collated by the Commons librarians for NGOs and storytellers, emphasising the importance of ethical storytelling practices.
A Guide to Hope-based Communications
A hope-based communications strategy involves making five basic shifts in the way we talk about human rights.
Exploring Narrative Practices for Broad-based Movements in Contexts of Democratic Decline
In the face of rising authoritarianism, what stories and tactics drive collaboration within and between movements?
Narrative Spices: An Invitational Guide for Flavorful Human Rights
A guide to inspire reflection and creative thinking about narrative change work and practices (or spices) in human rights.
Liberation Stories: Building Narrative Power for 21st Century Social Movements
From an international cast of leading activist communicators, a timely and instructive handbook for telling stories that change the world.
10 Keys to Mobilise Strategic Communications Coalitions
10 lessons into how to effectively build, organise and maintain a coalition to support and deliver narrative and policy change goals.
How to Measure Narrative Change
Here is a flexible framework for measuring narrative change efforts that organizations can creatively adapt to their unique work.
Housing Narrative Lab
Narrative resources and messaging guides on shifting mindsets and supporting solutions for housing unaffordability / insecurity and homelessness.