About the Course
"Narrative is radical, creating us at the very moment it is being created." - Toni Morrison
Stories shape and influence systems, policies, culture, and how we see ourselves and each other. Consider how storytelling in mass media, social movements, academia, the arts, and other cultural spaces has shaped your thoughts about concepts such as opportunity, fairness, freedom, or representation. In this course (self-guided or cohort-based), we invite you to engage in a critical reflection process to analyze stories and narratives through various equity-centered frameworks.
- Reflect on the power of narratives: Think critically about how storytelling has historically been used to reinforce and challenge systems of oppression and inequality.
- Learn about equity-centered storytelling frameworks: Learn about five equity-centered storytelling frameworks: Healing-Centered Engagement (Ginwright, 2022), Encoding/Decoding (Hall, 1993), the Storytelling Project Model (Bell, 2010), Asset-Based inquiry and storytelling (Coopenrider, 1980; Brown, et. al, 2005; Shorters, 2019), and Critical Hope (Duncan-Andrade, 2009).
- Practice analyzing narratives through an equity lens: Examine stories and narratives in various formats (audio, visual, text, etc.) through an equity-centered storytelling lens.
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Identify your next steps in your equity-centered storytelling journey: Reflect on your storytelling journey and articulate what impact you want to have by engaging in equity-centered storytelling.
The Equity-Centered Storytelling course is one of three courses you can complete to receive a Certificate in Asset-Based Storytelling.
Reflect on Your Journey
"The Equity-Centered Storytelling course equipped me with tools to ponder and ignited hope to foster a deeper world understanding beyond my own single story. By acknowledging our roots, celebrating diverse heritages, and standing alongside one another, we pave the way for a better future, expanding the narratives of all individuals and ending inequitable narratives. This course has been a profound and enriching experience."
— Ann DeFabio
Bridge Theory & Action
"I really loved Storytellers for Change's Equity-Centered Storytelling Course. If you're not in school, there aren't a lot of opportunities as an adult to really unpack learning frameworks. This course did exactly that, giving our team the opportunity to explore four different storytelling frameworks. It supported our learning, but it was also an incredible support to us in putting narrative theory into action. I really appreciated getting to apply the lessons to multimedia case studies, and it was also really incredible to get to think through our own team's own personal stories along the way."
— Seth Beattie
Amplify Equitable Narratives
"This course taught me so much; I'm telling everyone I know! I believe that storytelling is essential to equity work because it's how marginalized and historically silenced communities can reclaim their narratives and legacies. This course has provided me with new tools and frameworks to advance equity work through storytelling!"
— Crystal Ellington
Course Curriculum
Course Overview Webinar
Watch this pre-recorded webinar to learn why and how we designed Equity-Centered Storytelling. This webinar discusses the course's objectives, content, and more.
You can access the webinar at this link.
Scholarships & Professional Development Grants
Economic Justice: Each quarter, we offer a limited number of scholarships and discounted rates for youth, grassroots non-profits, and professionals who have limited access to funding to support their leadership development.
To be considered for a scholarship or grant, please complete this form.