Your narrative and culture change roundup! đ˘
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Happy Monday everyone,
Let me start by welcoming the 60+ new people who have signed up to receive In Other Words since the last edition. You are very welcome and I hope you find something each week that piques your interest.
I have been completely overwhelmed by the response to the Transforming Narrative Waters paper I published a few weeks ago and included in the last newsletter. Itâs so encouraging to hear that the message of the paper resonated with so many of you and Iâm really excited by the conversations it has generated. (Want to chat? Feel free to drop me an email anytime).
Iâm trying to think carefully about what comes next, to make sure itâs not just a paper for a paperâs sake. If you have ideas on how some of the recommendations could be supported to come to life, do let me know. Iâd love to work with others on this :)
In the mean time, let us take a look at whatâs been happening in the narrative and culture change space in the early days of 2022âŚ
With hope,
Ruth x
THE LINKS
Articles, reports & podcasts.
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Desire 2022, a poem from PopTech and recommended by Hadiya Masieh
Transforming Narrative Waters: Growing the practice of deep narrative change in the UKÂ In the last newsletter, I published a paper I wrote in 2021 on deep narrative change. If youâd like a flavour of what the report includes, check out this twitter thread I posted, or this even better one by Alice Sachrajda, who has an impressive ability to distill complex information into twitter-friendly chunks. If youâd like to read the full report, you can find it here. [Twitter]
Coordinates of Speculative Solidarity An incredibly well-written piece exploring the use of empathy in humanitarian communication and well-worn tropes of "noble sufferer"  and âoracle or heroâ. The author, Barbara Adams, offers a call to action to explore new forms of storytelling (what she wonderfully calls âsolidarian storytellingâ), which helps us to recognise our interdependence and prioritise justice over maintaining the status quo. A must read for anyone interested in narrative! [UNHCR]
Amitav Ghosh: European colonialism helped create a planet in crisis Author, Amitav Ghosh, argues for a return to a widespread recognition of the Earth âas a living being to be listened to, understood and respectedâ. A key part of many narrative movements is how to embed this simultaneously new and old narrative into popular consciousness today. [The Guardian]
More Common Sense, Less Ideology: Modern Communications Lessons from the Critical Race Theory Debates A brilliant piece by Frameworks Institute CEO, Nat Kendall-Taylor, providing some clear guidance to those involved in progressive movements about the importance of understanding and engaging with peopleâs concerns and hopes. [The Communications Network]
The Citizen Story Jon Alexander writes here about his journey from the world of advertising and âpreaching the consumer storyâ, to co-founding the New Citizenship Project and helping to nurture and accelerate the shift to the Citizen Story. If youâd like to pre-order Jonâs book you can do so here (and enter code CITIZENS at checkout to get 15% off). [The Empty Square]
Nudges: four reasons to doubt popular technique to shape peopleâs behaviour Ahh nudge theory - a favourite of democratic governments the world over. This short piece by Magda Osman examines some of the pitfalls of nudging. Often thought of as a stepping stone to ever-more ethical behaviour, it reminded me of this report by the Common Cause Foundation exploring behavioural spillover. [The Conversation]
How to write about Africa in 8 steps A brilliant resource by Africa No Filter exposing the unethical and stereotypical narratives reinforced in much development communications today, and offering guidance on how to do things better. [Africa No Filter] [Recommended by Nike Jonah]
Donât Look Up: what themes resonated and where the film reinforced harmful climate narratives A great exploration by the Climate Resilience Project, into the Netflix-topping film, Donât Look Up, in terms of the narratives it reinforces and what it fails to say. [Instagram] [Recommended by Isobel Crabtree-Condor]
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UPCOMING EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
Things for the calendar.Â
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*Job Klaxon * Learning Consultant for Comic Relief and Unbound Philanthropy
The folks behind the Power of Pop Fund are looking for someone to come onboard to develop a MEL framework and theory of change for the programme.Â
44 days of consultation work spread across 3 years
Maximum rate of ÂŁ650 a day
Deadline to apply is 20th January
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Open call for artists and art collectives
Future Everything is looking for artists to develop online artwork responding to the theme of money and the environment to be exhibited as part of the Mozilla Festival in March 2022.
The artistic fee is ÂŁ1,000 inclusive of all development costs, materials and expenses
Deadline to submit a response to the brief is Sunday 30th January
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Action for Happiness is seeking a new Trustee
Support the AfH team to promote a happier world, by creating a culture that prioritises wellbeing and kindness.
3 year term
Voluntary role
Application deadline is Monday 31st January
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Take part in the Artist Open Call!
The World Reimagined are looking for a UK-based visual artist working in the mediums of paint, photography, drawing, mosaic, sculpture or collage, to submit designs for one of the fibreglass Globe sculptures to be exhibited in UK cities to build understanding of Britainâs role in the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
All commissions are paid, with an additional budget for materials
Deadline for entry is 5pm on Monday 31st January
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Values 101: Growing public demand for change
Join me and my colleagues at the Common Cause Foundation on this 5 week workshop series to explore human values and how they can be engaged to generate broader and deeper commitment to pro-social and pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours. We are running the series in February and then again in May. The February course only has a few spaces left, so if youâd like to join be quick!
5 x 2 hr weekly sessions throughout February and May
Tickets priced on a sliding scale from free to ÂŁ225
Zoom
Words to Live By
Clever people saying clever things.
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