Creating Compelling Member Stories as Part
of Your Outreach and Recruitment Strategy
January 25, 2012
www.serviceandinclusion.org
Toll-free hotline: 888-491-0326 (voice/TTY)
National Partnerships
Gentle Reminders…
All phone lines are muted. If you would like to make a comment or
ask a question, please use the Text Chat or Question fields.
Please ask questions, share ideas, and comments:
• Don’t be shy, please speak up
• “Raise hand” icon
The session will be recorded.
Introduction
Maria Paiewonsky
• Institute for Community
Inclusion, University of MA
Boston
• Use storytelling methods
and digital media tools to
promote the voices of
individuals with disabilities
Webinar goals
• Participants will:
– Connect the importance of storytelling to their own
work
– Apply the elements of a good narrative to create stories
with members
– Use inclusive media tools
– Review examples of stories
– Brainstorm ideas for developing new stories
Why storytelling?
• First-hand accounts compel listeners
• Stories draw out the tensions and emotions of an
experience
• Stories have the potential to engage people in meaningful
discussions
• Puts a face on the work of empowering people with
disabilities
• Audiences universally love a good story
Stories for Non-Profit organizations
• Lots to say but emotional impact can come in the form of a
short story
• A “connecting narrative moment” pulls the audience in to
see the humanity of every day experiences of people in
service
» Andy Goodman: Good Ideas for
Good Causes.
What makes for a good story?
Examples from National Service Sites
• Assisting an elderly Katrina survivor to salvage his flooded
home
• Having the chance to serve and use skills in early
childhood development
• Volunteering with the Red Cross- “Red Cross Volunteer
Takes the ‘Dis’ out of Disability”
Digital Story:
Motivational Power of
Magnets
Do you think this story, ‘The
Motivational Power of Magnets’,
was effective?
Encouraging Members’ Stories
• Suggesting topics
• Writing stories
• Creating stories with digital media
• Using digital storytelling sites
• Organizing and pacing with PowerPoint
Suggesting topics
• Personal stories- how service has personally influenced
person through an unexpected interaction, an
accomplishment, a response to their work.
• “What I Do” stories- what I do, how I got here, what event
most affected my decision to do this, how my work is
impacting others.
• Discovery stories-how did you learn to do specific service,
who helped you, what have you discovered about yourself.
Who affected my decision to try college
My grandmother was
everything to me. She was a
strong lady. I was raised by her.
She wanted me to be smart. Get
an education. She didn’t want
me being left out. She didn’t
want me out in the streets, being
a bum. She didn’t want me to
have nothing to do. If she saw
me in college now, she’d say,
“that’s my grandson. I’m proud
of him”
What Kind of Story?
A. Personal stories- how service has personally influenced
person through an unexpected interaction, an
accomplishment, a response to their work.
B. “What I Do” stories- what I do, how I got here, what event
most affected my decision to do this, how my work is
impacting others.
C. Discovery stories-how did you learn to do specific service,
who helped you, what have you discovered about yourself.
Writing (Digital) Stories: Seven Elements
1. Point of view: what’s your essential point
2. Dramatic question: setup leads to a payoff
3. Emotional content: sharing feeling of vulnerability,
confidence, acceptance, rejection
I took this picture in my
grandmother’s house. That’s
my Dad. He graduated from
school. Then my brothers
John and Bill did. I am the
last brother. Now I’m
graduating too. He’s very
proud of me because I am
going to graduate too.
Writing (Digital) Stories: Seven Elements
4. Voice: providing authenticity
5. Soundtrack: setting tone or mood
6. Economy: less is more with words, images,
soundtrack, voice. Even 100-250 words effective
7. Pacing: deciding on the rhythm that will engage the
audience.
Authenticity, Economy
It’s frosty at night. I have
blankets, but some nights it’s
so cold I tuck the blankets
underneath me and curl into a
ball. I’m lucky I have a van
to sleep in. At 6 a.m. its cold.
I put on two pairs of socks,
two pants, two thermals, a
shirt and two coats.
Billy, 23, homeless
It wasn’t until after I started
this job that I realized I was
driving over them. Literally.
Every day, I was driving over
their shelter, their lives.
– Hank, counselor for
homeless clients
Using digital media
• Allows storyteller to paint a picture for listener
• Images and video can be made accessible for viewers
• Storytellers interpret images
• Listener has different ways to understand story
SHOWeD
“I can’t wait to get out of here. Then I won’t be special ed anymore”.
Examples of Digital Tools
• Digital camera: Point and shoot; cell phone, smart phone
• Video camera: pocket video camera, cell phone, smart
phone
• Audio recordings: digital recorder, apps such as
AudioNotes, Voice Memo
Recommendations
• Storytelling toolkit:
–
–
–
–
–
Permission slip to take photo
Brief explanation of purpose
Digital media
Directions
Contact information if problems (business card)
Sharing Digital Stories
• Photo books
Sharing digital stories
• PowerPoint
• Use slides to create story
board
• Insert photos, description
• Record audio (Insert,
Audio, Record Audio)
Sharing Digital Stories: Voicethread
Voicethread
Open Discussion
Do you have any questions about creating
and sharing compelling stories?
Resources
The Center for Digital Storytelling:
http://www.storycenter.org/
VoiceThread: http://voicethread.com/
StoryCorps, Do-It-Yourself Instruction Guide: http://storycorps.org/record-yourstory/
7 Elements in 4 Minutes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NipDAd3_7Do
Andy Goodman. Good Ideas for Good Causes:
http://www.agoodmanonline.com/about/index.html
National Service Inclusion Project
Share stories:
http://www.communityinclusion.org/
surveys/nsip_story/
Thank You
Maria Paiewonsky
Institute for Community Inclusion
University of MA Boston
(617) 287-7697
Maria.paiewonsky@umb.edu