“There are two ways to share knowledge; you can push information out, or pull people in with a great story” –Unknown

"Stories are the antidote to bias....From my years as a social justice activist, I know very well that we need credible facts from media institutions combined with the powerful voices of storytellers. That's what pushes the needle forward in terms of social justice." -Sisonke Msimang

Stories in Action Workshop series
Iteration 1: Urban Cohort & EDT 190
November - December 2016

​Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
There is power your truth, in the story that brought you to the work that you do with us in the Urban Cohort.  Please join us in finding, sharing, and uplifting our journeys within the Urban Cohort.  Learn how the power within your story can act as a catalyst to inspire and empower others to find their own paths toward social justice.

Workshop facilitators:
Stephanie Baer, Tammy Schwartz, Michelle Wallace 
If you are a participant needing to complete a survey, obtain the password from Dr. Baer, and click here.
Finding Your Story: Participant information
Community Connection: Participant information
Videos used in first workshop:
“What’s Your Sentence?” -- Then watch examples here.

Terms used in first workshop:
Thesis statement: This is an intentional statement (one sentence) that takes a position on something. It is meant to be the central focus of your story.
Elaborated thesis: This takes your thesis statement and develops it into 1-3 paragraphs that tells your story. Use the visual map you created as a guide to form your ideas. Remember: Chronology, central message, clarity

Understanding a story structure:
character - conflict - spark - change in character - take away message
Preparation for workshop 2:
​Stories in Action - Community Connection
  • Write up your story (elaborated thesis). Aim for 4-5 minutes as you come to a more final script
  • Review TED talks (see links to the right)
  • Practice telling your story to anyone and everyone. Consider the advice you’re given and take notes. You want your story to be relatable, understandable, and meaningful.
  • Gather any imagery you might need to tell your story Remember, this will be for a short, succinct powerpoint that supplements (not repeats) your story
Questions? Concerns? Comments?
​Feel free to contact Dr. Baer anytime.
Amy Cuddy: Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are
TED Talk given in June 2012

Ash Beckham: We're all hiding something
TED Talk given in September 2013
7 techniques for storytelling:
Each technique is linked to an example TED talk. These techniques were outlined by Akash Karia.
  1. Immerse your audience in a story - the very first thing you say is important. Think about the details that invite an audience in (sounds, smells, visuals…).
  2. Tell a personal story - fewer things are more captivating than a journey, finding out how others have dealt with adversity, being in the middle of a good story that the audience knows is personal and powerful...
  3. Create suspense - telling a story chronologically and building up to a climax; starting the audience in the middle of the action and then go backwards to reveal how we got there; begin with a revelation and then go back to explain its origins.
  4. Bring characters to life - giving a 3-dimensional picture of character...finding commonalities, but also what makes them exceptional; providing details
  5. Show, don’t tell - transport the audience to a scene - show with gestures, movements, descriptions, voices, dialogue over narration
  6. Build up to a S.T.A.R. moment (Something They’ll Always Remember) - this can be a dramatization, shocking statistics, provocative images​
  7. End with a positive takeaway: After analyzing 200 of the best TED talks, presentation expert Akash Karia found that the most effective presentations not only had a conflict and a climax, but also a positive resolution. On the path to triumph, most characters in these stories received what he calls a “spark,” a key piece of wisdom or advice that helped them overcome their obstacles and change for the better. This key takeaway message was then packaged into a short, memorable phrase or sound bite that could easily become viral on social media platforms like Twitter. For example, in the previously mentioned talk on domestic abuse, the presenter concluded that instead of blaming victims, we should “recast survivors as wonderful, loveable people with full futures.”