The Opportunity Agenda

It’s bittersweet to say goodbye to this class of Narrative Innovators Lab fellows. While we will certainly miss the joy and community we cultivated together, we are so excited to see how their narrative interventions will continue to blossom and create change for good. ?? The Narrative Innovators Lab is a major undertaking. We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to: ?? Creative Advisors Elena Ketelsen Gonzàles and Caron Atlas for their thoughtful feedback? ?? STAMP Event Co. for seamlessly coordinating this event? ?? StoryCorps for inspiring us with their space? ?? Ace Hotel / Atelier Ace Brooklyn for sheltering our fellows this week? ?? TOA staff for making this incredible program come to life ?? Our NIL fellows, past and present, for sharing their creativity and passion ?? And to supporters like YOU that make the NIL possible! Help us continue the Narrative Innovators Lab by donating to TOA today. Thank you for your support and generosity! DONATE: https://lnkd.in/g6dsZDcF

This past weekend, I had the profound honor of participating in and speaking at the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama. ? Standing on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, I reflected on the extraordinary courage of the civil rights activists who marched in 1965—facing brutal violence in their pursuit of voting rights, racial justice, and democracy for all. Their bravery, indignation, and tenacity shaped the course of history, and their fight is not over. As we witness the surge of voting restrictions following the dismantling of key provisions of the Voting Rights Act, the Trump administration's efforts to undermine diversity, equity, and inclusion, and rollback equal opportunity protections, I am reminded that the struggle for justice is far from over. I am deeply inspired by those who paved the way and those who continue to carry the torch—more determined than ever to keep pushing forward.

On the third day of the NIL Closing Event, we heard the final round of narrative intervention pitches devised by our incredible fellows. We are so grateful to our Creative Advisors Elena Ketelsen Gonzàles and Caron Atlas for once again providing thoughtful and insightful feedback, offering their expertise and curiosity to strengthen the fellows’ projects.?? Through a unique combination of arts and advocacy, our fellows’ work bolsters movements for social change. We are so proud to see how far their projects have come, and we can’t wait to see their impact in the world. ?? ?Learn more about this class of NIL fellows and follow their work to watch their narrative interventions unfold! https://lnkd.in/gF2tcHEm

Day 2 of the Narrative Innovators Lab closing event! ?? Today our fellows began presenting their narrative intervention pitches in a space that encourages creativity, risk taking, and growth. Presenters received feedback from our incredible creative advisors Elena Ketelsen Gonzàles and Caron Atlas as well as their fellow cohort members. From advocating for undocumented students in higher education to sharing untold stories about our immigrant elders through food, our fellows are embracing the challenge to shift the narrative toward justice and opportunity for all. ??

So honored to get to know and work with these humans and The Opportunity Agenda ??

Welcome back to our Narrative Innovators Lab! ?? For the past six months, our Communications Institute and Culture & Narrative Fellows have been on a journey together to devise narrative interventions that will help us build toward an inclusive democracy that works for everyone. ?? Tune in this week for daily recaps as we close out our 2024-2025 NIL fellowship program and give our fellows a final send off as they bring their narrative and cultural visions to life! ?? Learn more about the NIL: https://lnkd.in/gF2tcHEm Miriam Alarcón Avila Nasir Anthony Montalvo Alaide Vilchis Ibarra Anthony Baber Ariana Busby Enitan (Enni) Aigbomian Monica Andrade-Fannon

We are hiring! As treasurer and long time board member this is a great opportunity to partner and do work that makes a big difference!

We're featuring a *classic* on today's #StorytellingSunday: ?? BLACKFISH ?? Why? In the words of documentary filmmaker Louie Psihoyos: "Films can have a huge effect on human culture. I call them weapons of mass construction. You drop a bomb and people get killed. You make a film and you create allies. And that’s the goal. That film is made to create a tipping point." In January 2013,?Blackfish?premiered at the Sundance Institute Film Festival. That July, this documentary featuring "a bruised and battered killer whale at its center" reached theaters. Based on audience response, CNN secured rights and premiered the film on October 24, 2013. More than 24 MILLION people in the United States and Europe watched. CNN later aired an encore broadcast and the film was released on Blu-Ray and DVD. The public response was extraordinary. By the end of 2014, "the?Blackfish?effect" had had a significant impact on SeaWorld’s profitability. In early 2015, articles around the world attributed financial losses to the impact of the documentary. Stories. Change. Power. Read the full story in The Opportunity Agenda's "Shifting The Narrative" report: https://lnkd.in/eFbcKFyB

We’re honored to partner with The Refugee Advocacy Lab to build the narrative capacity of our movements to ensure welcome and opportunity define how we treat people seeking safety. Be sure to check out their incredible resources and tools to support this work! With everything from strategic messaging advice to tips for telling stories powerfully and authentically, Refugee Advocacy Lab has something for everyone seeking to shape the conversation. https://lnkd.in/gpNMRSp6

"It’s important to recognize that the false and harmful stories told about immigrants time and time again in the news and online serve a purpose. By design, they’re used to dehumanize our families, friends, and neighbors and bolster support for mass deportation." The Opportunity Agenda shared a new narrative guide we can use to interrupt the narrative of dehumanization and deportation by highlighting the countless ways immigrants contribute to and strengthen our economic, social, and cultural life in the United States.?