1. I Have a Dream: Move People to Action with Your Personal Story
Public Narrative Workshop
#AAUW @AAUWpolicy

2. Show of hands…
Who here has heard of public narrative or story of self before?
Who here thinks they have a story to tell that will move others to take action?
Who here has no idea what we’re talking about when we say story of self?
Who here still needs some coffee and doesn’t quite feel awake yet?

3. Stories are incredibly personal
Stories are incredibly personal. So let’s set some guidelines for how we want to operate today, also known as norms.
Get audience to call some out.

4. Roadmap: Where We’re Going
Story of Self Example
Story of Self, Us, & Now: What is Public Narrative?
Story of Self, Us, & Now: video example
Exercise: Developing your Story of Self
Taking it back home
Here’s a roadmap of sorts for what we are going to cover.
Click to make each agenda item appear.

5. [Insert picture of presenter for this slide, where the presenter tells her personal story]
Presenter tells a personal story [insert picture of presenter]
NOTE: If there is only one presenter, than this person should tell their story of self, us, and now at this point in the presentation. If there are two presenters, then this person can just tell their story of self, followed by the next presenter, who will tell her stories of self, us, and now.

6. [If applicable: Insert picture of second presenter for this slide, where the second presenter tells her personal story and links it to a story of us and now]
If applicable: second presenter tells her personal story and links it to stories of us and now [insert picture]

7. . So what did I just do there?
I told you about myself, I talked about us collectively here in this room together, and I asked you to take action with me.
Each of us has a compelling story to tell – each of us has a story that can move others to action.
As you learn this skill, you will be learning to tell a story about yourself, the community you organize with, and your strategy that motivates others to join you in creating change.
And I promise we are not making all of this up. Everything we are going to talk about today is based on decades of successful organizing and comes from the teachings of Marshall Ganz, who organized alongside Caesar Chavez during the farmworkers movement, and who is currently a professor at Harvard. .

8. I have a compelling story to tell!
So we know that you have compelling story to tell, but what makes up that story and why tell it?

9. Why do we
tell stories?
Why might we tell stories? What does storytelling do? What was the purpose behind the fairytales and fables we were told when we were little?

10. ...and teach us how to make choices
Stories teach us morals, lessons, and values. They teach us how to make choices.
So what does that all mean in terms of telling stories to motivate others? .

11. Two ways of seeing the world…
HOW
WHY
There are 2 ways we understand the world – Click through our head and through our heart. Click The How and the Why. The Strategy and Analysis. The Story and Motivation.
To organize and mobilize others, leaders must employ both the head and the heart of those they are trying to reach. Click
In other words, they engage people in interpreting why they should change their world (their motivation – their problem) and how they can act to change it (their strategy – the solution and the action Click they can do about it).
ACTION!

12. Values inspire action through emotion…
Public narrative – or storytelling – is the art of translating values into action through stories.
We don’t think our values; we feel our values. Stories help us feel the emotions that remind us of our values.
Often we don’t realize what we value in the world until we hear a story or witness an injustice that stirs emotions within us.
Because stories allow us to express our values, not as abstract principles, but as lived experience, they have the power to move others to action.
By telling a “story of self” you can communicate the values that move you to lead – and thereby motivate others.

13. Stories have a structure…
All stories have a structure – they have a main character, a plot, and purpose or moral. And the plot involves a challenge, a choice, and an outcome.
What were some challenge, choice, and outcomes in a movie you’ve seen or a book you’ve read? (Who saw Breaking Dawn or the Hunger Games?) What were the challenges, choices, and outcomes? [Go through the example with participants]
Well, those are the components that make up Story of Self. You are main character, the plot is your life, and the moral is why you are here doing the work that you do.
At some point you had a choice to make – to do something or not do something – and you chose to do something – that’s your story of self.
And that’s a story you can tell in 1:1 conversations, in media interviews, in blog posts, etc. .

14. in relationship with you
Invites others to be
in relationship with you
Invites others to join
your community
Invites others to
Take ACTION!
Story of Self is the first of 3 components of Public Narrative. For today, we’re going to focus on the Story of Self. But once you’ve mastered Story of Self, you can move on to the Story of Us and the Story of Now.
Click Story of Self is what invites others to be in a relationship with you. It conveys to them your values and interest in why you do what you do.
Click Story of Us invites others to join your community – to join AAUW, you branch, your coalition. The Us is always the us in the room.
Click Story of Now invites others to take action – to write a letter to the editor, to attend a lobby day, to attend an in-district meeting, to join your branch as a member. The Now is the concrete action they can do.

15. So what does it look like when you combine all three – Self, Us, and Now… .

16. What stood out? What was the self? Who was the us? What was the action?
Was their a challenge, choice, and outcome with the story of self?
Notice how descriptive the stories were. Did hearing that move you to want to join him? Do you understand what his values are?

17. Story of Self Reminders
It’s communicating the values
that call us to lead.
Challenge, choice, & outcome
Everyone has a compelling story to tell
Choice you made reveals your values
It’s a story, not your resume
You are the main character
Engage as many of 5 senses as possible
Be descriptive
Click
Your story doesn’t have to be devastating. The key focus is on our choices, those moments in our lives when our values moved us to act in the face of challenge.
When did you first care about being heard? When did you feel you had to act? Why did you feel you could act? What were the circumstances, the place, the colors, sounds? What did it look like?
The power in your story of self is to reveal something of those moments that were deeply meaningful to you in shaping your life—not your deepest private secrets, but the events that shaped your public life.
Learning to tell a good story of self demands the courage of introspection, and of sharing some of what you find.

18. [Insert picture of presenter for this slide]
Another story of self example

19. Story of Self Exercise
And now we are all going to practice our own stories of self.
The worksheet we are passing out right now will help you begin to craft your story.
Break into small groups. These can be the tables you are currently sitting at. But be sure to make the number of people in each group even. Choose a timekeeper. It’s very important to keep exact time and cut people off during this exercise.
On your own, spend 10 minutes develop your story of self. Use the below worksheet. You may have multiple stories of self. Pick one and develop it.
Share your story of self with a partner. You will have 2 minutes to tell your story. Your partner will then spend 2 minutes giving you feedback. You will then switch and have your partner tell her story and you will provide him/her with feedback.
As a small group, go around the group and have each person tell their story. You will have 2 minutes to tell your story. Your group members will then give you feedback for 1 minute.
Click before beginning the exercise.

20. Story of Self Exercise: Coaching Questions
Challenge: What were the specific challenges? Did she paint a vivid picture?
Choice: Was there a clear choice? How did that choice make you feel?
Outcome: What was the specific outcome? What does that outcome teach us?
Values: Could you identify the values and where they came from? How did the story make you feel?
Details: Were there parts that had especially good details or images?
Here are some questions to ask yourself and use for coaching each other.
The challenge. What were the specific challenges the storyteller faced? Did she paint a vivid picture of those challenges?
The choice. Was there a clear choice that was made in response to each challenge? How did that choice make you feel?
The outcome. What was the specific outcome that resulted from each choice? What does that outcome teach us?
The values. Could you identify what the storyteller’s values are and where they came from? How? How did the story make you feel?
Details. Were there sections of the story that had especially good details or images? Sights, sounds, smells, or emotions of the moment.
Pick 1-3 (depending on time left) good personal stories and have them share. Have everyone give feedback.

21. Story of Self: Taking it Home
Tell your Story of Self
As part of a press conference
At an in-district meeting
In an op-ed, LTE, or blog post
During a 1:1 conversation
When making an “ask”
Ask others to tell their Story of Self
Train others on Story of Self
So how do you take this skill home?
Click Tell your story of self. You can use stories in almost any setting!
Click In press conferences. Click At an in-district meeting with your members of Congress. Click In an op-ed, letter to the editor or blog post. Click In a one-to-one conversation Click And when making an ask of someone as part of a well-structured one-to-one conversation.
Click Also, ask others to tell their story of self. You can’t ask others to follow you if they don’t understand why you are called to lead; you must be able to tell them your personal story and connect it to your collective experience and the sense of urgency – and you must encourage others to do the same so they can be effective leaders.
Click Lastly, train others on how to use and teach story of self. This PowerPoint and all the workshop materials are available on the AAUW website for your use.

22. Questions?