Earlier this February 2022, we were invited to speak at a conference called Frank: A gathering for people who change the world.

‘Science tells us that stories are the most powerful tool changemakers have, and that the most affected are the most effective storytellers for changing hearts and minds. And when we experience a powerful story, it can feel as though we have experienced those events for ourselves.’

‘As the social change sector has increasingly embraced storytelling as a change strategy, significant ethical issues have emerged. Those who share their lived experience might feel that their stories have become commodities, they are “banked” and used to advance organizational agendas. Those who lived the stories may have lost control of how and where their stories are told, or feel as though that single story defines them for the world.’

‘How can the social change sector uplift peoples’ lived experiences, ensuring that these individuals are at the center of decisions about how their stories are told and the contexts in which they are shared without retraumatizing or exhausting them? And how can people who live their cause care for themselves and manage the daily responsibility of that experience?’

‘How do we protect ourselves and others from being defined by stories others tell about our experiences?  What can we learn from our field, communities and scholarship that can help us tell stories and build the world we wish existed?’

The New Fables team were thrilled to be invited to speak to this years theme, along with several changemakers invited across the world. You can read about the speakers and watch their talks online - all under 10 minutes.

Perspective plays a large role in the narratives we tell about spaces, places, and people.

In the social innovation world, defining people by their problems happens too often from people who don’t belong to the community they want to support. Our New Fables member, Farrah Nazir encourages listeners to look beyond perceived deficits to allow stories of strength to emerge. These stories of strength illuminate the presence of abundance within communities that can be overlooked by limiting narratives that breed a lack of trust and fear.

Watch Farrah’s contribution to Frank Gathering below.