What is public narrative?

Public narrative is a leadership practice that enables people to act on shared values and join together in collective action. By telling our story of self, story of us, and story of now, we can articulate the origins of why “I” care (who am I), why “we” care (who are we as a community), and why “now” (urgency), and motivate people to join us. Learn more about public narrative here.

Watch Video

A short video of Amal Beydoun telling her powerful story of self.

Coaching Questions

When do you hear a Challenge, Choice, and Outcome?

● Story of Self: Noted different challenges she was facing. Teen mom.
● Challenge: orphaned and teenage parent.
● Chose: strength
● Outcome: she found confidence and agency; she regained her power
● Choosing to be a survivor, overcomer rather than victim.
What is her source of hope?
● Her child, wanting better for her child than she was experiencing.
● Believed she was no longer going to allow circumstances to control her life.
● Her child saw something in her that she didn’t see in herself.
What details, images, moments bring the story alive?

● Vulnerable in her story.
● Child’s look at her “eyes looking up at her”.
Source: Formerly Incarcerated Convicted People and Families Movement (FICPFM) Fellowship Training Resources about Organizing and Public Narrative – Session 2 (Day 2) Workshop Slides – Slide 25