With this list, our goal is to build the capacity of change agents, ourselves included, for understanding what memes travel far and wide with the most impact. If we know our work is to #changethestory, how do we deploy increasingly-effective memes that shape politics and culture towards the justice we all so desperately need?
Read More“Voting”, as meme then, is a capsule that holds a ton of underlying assumptions. The story of voting contains ideas about what valid and full participation look like and what exactly constitutes democracy.
Read MoreThe reality of the Borderlands set in on our first walk around town. Cristóbal (CSS Trainer based in Nogales) and Marla from KBI took us to the memorial site of Jose Antonio, a Mexican teen who was murdered by the Border Patrol from the U.S. side of the fence, while he played with his friends on a Mexican street corner.
Read MoreIt's an annual Center for Story-based Strategy tradition to create a list of the Top Social Justice Memes for the year!
Read MoreDeep in my knowing is a core truth: that love is not something to mistrust, that we must fight for each other instead of competing against each other. To my fellow imagineers, story-nerds, and powerful community, please join me in welcoming Shana back to CSS!
Read MoreI was asked to put together a short 3-minute animated video to introduce story-based strategy. Originally it was going to be one of those graphic note-taking type videos. Through the process of making the video the concept and design of the project changed dramatically and the final result was a stop motion animation short film. This project is a bit meta, we are using story-based strategy to explain what is story-based strategy and then within the animation itself, the storyline is that of a community using story-based strategy to win.
Read MoreHow is the network of CSS learning? I also wonder how might it learn (harder) better, faster (stronger). And all of that is within the broader context of CSS’ mission: to build power through imagination and create shared narratives that support the movement of movements to ensure a Just Transition.
Read More“It has been a long and fulfilling journey. I’m ready to pass the marker and rejoin the circle…” — Christine Cordero, Outgoing Executive Director
“Story-based strategy has profoundly shaped who I am. I’m ready to pick up the marker and lead.” — Bernice Julie Shaw, CSS Co-Director
Read MoreI am working with CSS on developing a training practice for the newly re-implemented regional trainings. CSS is bringing back the 1-day regional trainings to bring together organizers and communicators to learn the basics of story-based strategy.
Read More"I would describe story-based strategy as a crash course on fully understanding the power narratives have on our society. I believe it can be one of the most useful tools in any organization's Communications and Digital department arsenals."
Read More“I found myself tracking what was being foreshadowed by the art, asking what the underlying assumptions were surrounding Black Panther as a superhero and looking to really pin down what the central conflict was in the art piece. These tools helped me assess the narrative potency of the work I was creating. “
Read MoreI’m a Black, queer communications strategist, facilitator, systems thinker, and teacher/coach. I hate it but the term “Renaissance [person]” seems to fit well. Who I am and what you know me to do totally depends on when we met 😅.
Read MoreStory-based strategy is a way of understanding that the work to fight injustice & advance movements for change also includes changing the narratives that we hear and tell in a way that allows us to be clear about where harm is coming from, who has the solutions and leadership, and re-imagine what might be possible for our lives, communities, and world.
Read MoreOur annual Top Social Justice Memes considers memes used or created by our social movements to challenge the status quo, and the mass memes shaping politics and pop culture. Memes spread meaning through story via symbols and practices. More than mere internet graphics, memes are transmitted through writing, speech, gestures, images, rituals, and other phenomena. 2017 was an amazing year for stories and memes! This year we found ourselves noticing a pervasive turn from the basic NO of protest, to a values-driven YES to the world we are fighting for.
Read MoreMake a difference by supporting the movement-building work of Center for Story-based Strategy. #GivingTuesday is your chance to support change-makers from across the country by supporting our inspirational and capacity-building trainings.
Read MoreIt's an annual Center for Story-based Strategy tradition to put forth a list of the Top Social Justice Memes for the year! Nominate your favorite memes of the year, today!This list considers memes used or created by our social movements to challenge the status quo, and the mass memes shaping politics and pop culture. For us, memes spread meaning through story, via symbols and practices and are transmitted through writing, speech, gestures, images, rituals, and phenomena.
Read MoreFrom climate change fueled disasters, to attacks on immigrants and neo-fascists in the streets, Trump’s agenda of hate, destruction and greed threatens us all. Fortunately historic numbers of people from all walks of life have joined the resistance. AND, fortunately one of the widely used manuals for teaching organizers about narrative, messaging and strategy has just been released in an updated, expanded 2nd Edition.
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