What Movies Teach Us About the Power of Storytelling
Does your organization have a healthy storytelling culture? Is there space - in meetings, conversations, newsletters, donor appeals - to let them stretch out, breathe, marinate, and be absorbed?
There’s no doubt that nonprofits are taking storytelling more seriously today than just a decade ago. The advent of social media and YouTube, as well as the technological advancements that have made photography and videography more affordable, have allowed social justice organizations to explore creative ways to use these tools to advance their campaigns and mission.
However, somewhere along the way, for many organizations, the spirit of storytelling culture has gotten buried beneath disconnected fundraising practices and the systematizing, cherry-picking, and outsourcing of story production.
As professional changemakers, we often lose sight that the best stories are birthed naturally and cultivated over time to perfection. This means remembering that anyone in our orbit can be a storyteller - a community member, a volunteer organizer, a staff person, even a donor - as well as remembering that it is critical to create space for stories to be shared spontaneously, not just relegated to specific storytelling committees or story collection forms.
Most important, however, in creating a healthy storytelling culture within our organization is demonstrating a good listening culture. Too often, managers and staff discourage impromptu story tangents in meetings, dismissing them as time-wasting distractions. This type of behavior can severely undermine a healthy storytelling culture. But, when we show ourselves to be good listeners by giving our peers, colleagues, and community members the value of our time to hear what they have to say, we communicate that their voices, experiences, and stories are embraced as an important part of our daily work as an organization.
Some of my favorite classic movie quotes below may help you remember how powerful storytelling can be, and while these lines may have been first crafted by screenwriters just know that similar lines of inspiration also flow out of regular people every single ordinary day - people like you!
“And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” - Coach Carter
“There’s a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.” - The Matrix
“In times of crisis, the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers.” - The Black Panther
“We walk away from our dreams afraid we may fail, or worse yet, afraid we may succeed.” - Finding Forrester
“To see the world, things dangerous to come, to see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other, and to feel. That is the purpose of life.” - The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
“My people, my people, what can I say; say what I can. I saw it but didn’t believe it; I didn’t believe what I saw. Are we gonna live together? Together are we gonna live?” - Do The Right Thing
“Hate put me in prison. Love’s gonna bust me out.” - The Hurricane
“Doubt is useful, it keeps faith a living thing. After all, you cannot know the strength of your faith until it is tested.” - Life of Pi
“Oh yes, the past can hurt. But you can either run from it, or learn from it.” – The Lion King
“You know that feeling where everything feels right? Where you don’t have to worry about tomorrow or yesterday, where you feel safe and know you’re doing the best you can? There’s a word for that, it’s called love.” -Akeelah and the Bee
