Part 5: Best Practices
You have a story. Now how do you tell it in a way that moves people and moves campaigns? In this final module, Bev and Marcela share what they have learned across decades of organizing, research, and advocacy about what makes a narrative effective and what gets in the way.
The best practices here are simple, but they take practice. Lead with what is true. Use we, not just I. Connect your experience to the bigger pattern it represents. And keep listening because campaigns evolve, and the stories that power them need to evolve too.
Key Takeaways:
Lead with authenticity. Real voices and lived experience are more powerful than polished messaging.
Use "we" not just "I" because collective agency is the point
Connect your individual story to the bigger systemic issue it represents
Campaigns evolve so keep listening, keep updating the narrative as new stories emerge
Being heard starts with making space for others to be heard too
Reflection Prompt: Think about a conversation you could have this week with a coworker, a union member, or a community neighbor where you could share your story and invite theirs. What would you say to open that conversation?
Download Resource
Storytelling Best Practices Card — A pocket-sized reference card summarizing the five core principles of effective narrative building from this course. Designed to be printed, shared at union meetings, and kept handy during organizing conversations. Includes a quick self-assessment: is my story authentic, collective, connected, current, and inclusive?