Blog: Class #3 Recap - Storytelling
The Sustainable Steel Community Cohort (SSCC) held its third session in August 2024. This class focused on storytelling and explored the power of narrative strategies and personal stories as advocacy tools.
Welcome and Class Recap
Ariana Criste, who leads the steel campaign communications at Industrious Labs, co-facilitated the class alongside Lee. The class began with a recap of the previous sessions, and participants, now more familiar with one another, shared some speakers and figures who inspire them—ranging from Barack Obama to Simone Biles and even personal heroes like pastors.
Community Organization Presentations
Following up on the previous class, additional community organizations shared their work with the cohort:
Indiana Conservation Voters: Executive Director Chris Chyung discussed their work on advocacy and renewable energy in Indiana.
Just Transition Northwest Indiana: Susan Thomas shared her journey into environmental advocacy, focusing on her work to create a sustainable, healthy future for the region.
These presentations sparked lively discussions, with cohort members eager to learn more and participate in community and statewide efforts.
Storytelling Module
Ariana introduced the class to the neuroscience behind storytelling and its influence on cultural and political change, citing examples like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), whose storytelling efforts led to policy changes. She then walked the cohort through the Public Narrative framework, developed by Marshall Ganz, which aims to build grassroots power through storytelling. The framework consists of three parts:
Story of Self: One’s personal journey—why they were called to this work, sharing their values and experiences that drive them.
Story of Us: Connecting their story to a broader community, focusing on shared experiences and values that unite them with their audience.
Story of Now: Addressing urgent challenges and outlining the necessary action to create change, offering a hopeful vision for the future.
Cohort members engaged in exercises to refine their "Steel Stories," crafting narratives that connect their personal experiences to clean steel advocacy. They incorporated data from previous presentations, recognizing the powerful blend of stories and facts.
Storytelling in Action
At the end of the day, several participants shared their stories with the group and received constructive feedback. Cohort members were encouraged to continue to build their storytelling muscle, integrating data with narrative to make a greater impact.
Conclusion
The third session equipped cohort members with a valuable storytelling framework, helping them communicate their values and motivate others to take action. The next class will focus on campaign engagement and community advocacy, building on the storytelling foundation laid in this session. Stay tuned for more!
