Storytelling for systems change: Hearing stories meaningfully

The story so far

How could stories be used to communicate the impact of community-led systems change work more effectively?

While rethinking how stories are told is part of the answer, we also need to create the conditions for them to be heard meaningfully by decision-makers.

That’s why in 2022, the curious folk from Dusseldorp Forum, Hands Up Mallee, and the Centre for Public Impact came together to deepen our understanding of how those engaging in systems change could be better supported, by having their stories told and heard. This resulted in our report, Storytelling for systems change: Insights from the field, which contains key insights about how stories can be used:

• To change the system, and evaluate and showcase the changes occurring in communities. 

• To encourage new perspectives, build understanding, and challenge traditional power dynamics. 

• As a form of healing.

The report has been downloaded more than 1,000 times and viewed over 9,000 times by people across the globe, with many interested in getting involved. 

This report was intended as a foundation, spurring new opportunities and conversations. At the end, it reads:

‘’While this report marks the end of this phase of work, it is not the end of the story. This report is a chapter – a seedling – from which more chapters and branches will grow.”

So, we hosted digital campfires for storytelling for those working in community-based systems change in Australia. Like a campfire, these sessions were intimate, providing an opportunity to share, learn, and connect with like-minded people. We explored how to use storytelling in evaluation and the ethics of storytelling, and built a supportive network of people who want to use stories well.

The next phase: Listening to understand

Now, we are excited to share the latest phase of this work. Though it’s just beginning to bud from a seedling that emerged from our first report, we are turning our attention to the importance of creating the conditions for stories to be heard by those who need to hear them. This involves exploring:

• How stories are currently perceived and used by governments and funders to understand, evaluate, and engage with community-led systems change work.

• Whether governments and funders connect with the idea of stories as a form of intervention - a lever for change in their own right.

• The opportunities and barriers to governments and funders hearing and valuing stories about community-led systems change work.

• Practical tools, training, and processes to build government officials' and funders' capacity and willingness to engage with and value stories.

As with our first chapter, we will be doing a lot of listening. We will speak to government officials, funders, academics, and other relevant practitioners.

In order to hear from a broad range of perspectives and voices, we have invited people from all levels of government and philanthropy to join group listening sessions. We will explore:  

• How do governments and funders currently use stories in community-led systems change work? 

• How might they be used differently?

• What are the barriers to hearing and valuing stories about community-led systems change work? 

• What does good storytelling look like?

Do you work in or with government? Are you interested in how stories are used (or not used!) in a government context? We're hosting two group listening sessions to explore this question and more. The insights and conversations will contribute to our next storytelling report 1/2

— Thea Snow (@theasnow) May 22, 2023

Watch this space!

We’re incredibly excited to continue this work. As part of our commitment to working in the open, we will publish blogs, launch a report, and explore other engaging channels to communicate what we’re hearing and learning. If you have any suggestions on how you would like to stay connected with this work, get in touch and subscribe to our newsletter.