Storytelling is a powerful tool for community organizing, as it can inspire, motivate, and connect people around a shared vision and action. But how do you find and train potential storytellers from your community? Here are some tips to help you cultivate a culture of storytelling in your community.
The first step is to identify who in your community has a story to tell that relates to your cause or issue. You can do this by listening to people's experiences, challenges, and aspirations, and asking open-ended questions that elicit their emotions and values. You can also look for people who have a natural flair for communication, who are passionate and articulate, and who are willing to share their personal stories with others.
The best way to do this is through 1-1s. Effective community organizing is based on relationships and if you are truly interested in activating people through telling their stories, you need to do the work to build trust, mutual respect, and identify the person’s self interest. You want to be genuine and provide avenues for them to harness the power of telling their own story, not exploit individuals for the greater cause.
The next step is to invite potential storytellers to join a storytelling workshop or training session, where they can learn the basics of crafting and delivering a compelling story. You can explain the purpose and benefits of storytelling, and how it can help advance your community's goals and interests. You can also provide some examples of effective stories from other community organizers or movements, and show how they use storytelling techniques such as structure, conflict, and resolution.
The third step is to train potential storytellers in the skills and practices of storytelling, such as how to choose a relevant and relatable theme, how to structure a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end, how to use sensory details and emotions to engage the audience, and how to connect the story to a call to action or a larger message. You can use exercises, feedback, and coaching to help potential storytellers develop and refine their stories, and encourage them to practice and rehearse their stories with each other and with different audiences.
The fourth step is to support potential storytellers in sharing their stories with wider audiences, such as at events, meetings, rallies, or online platforms. You can help them prepare for different scenarios and challenges, such as how to deal with nerves, distractions, questions, or objections. You can also provide them with opportunities and platforms to showcase their stories, and celebrate their achievements and contributions to the community.
Additionally, be prepared to debrief the experiences with individuals who may be sharing difficult stories. While it is extremely empowering sharing your experience in different venues, it can be triggering for some individuals. Ensure your movement is equipped to assist individuals in releasing these intense emotions to reduce burnout in the long run.
The fifth step is to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of the stories and the storytellers, both on the audience and on the community. You can use surveys, interviews, feedback forms, or observations to measure how the stories influenced the audience's attitudes, emotions, behaviors, or actions. You can also use reflection, debriefing, or peer review to assess how the storytellers improved their skills, confidence, or leadership. You can use the results to identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement, and to plan for future storytelling activities.
The final step is to sustain the momentum and enthusiasm of the potential storytellers, and to nurture their ongoing development and involvement in the community. You can do this by creating a network or community of practice among the storytellers, where they can share their stories, experiences, challenges, and learnings. You can also provide them with continuous learning opportunities, such as workshops, webinars, podcasts, or books on storytelling. You can also recognize and appreciate their efforts and achievements, and invite them to mentor or support new potential storytellers.