Storytelling Superpowers: Using Narrative to Build Justice
Stories shape how we understand the world — and how we act in it. In development and climate spaces, storytelling has too often centered institutions rather than communities, reducing people to “beneficiaries” in reports, campaigns, and fundraising appeals. At the same time, authentic, community-driven storytelling is emerging as infrastructure for resilience, livelihoods, and justice — from climate education to grassroots media and film distribution.
This session will explore how storytelling can shift narratives around climate and justice, reframe the public imagination toward just transitions, and ensure dignity, agency, and equity in whose voices are heard — and how.
Speakers
Anshul Tewari — Founder & CEO of Youth Ki Awaaz, India’s largest citizen media platform amplifying youth voices for social change.
Lorreen Ajiambo — Associate Director & Global Lead for Strategic Communications at IDinsight, using storytelling and influence to drive social impact.
Manisha Gupta — Founder & CEO of Start Up!, building ecosystems and accelerator programs for social entrepreneurs and grassroots movements.
Sydelle Smith — Co-Founder of Sunshine Cinema, Africa’s first solar-powered impact cinema network, training youth as facilitators for community film dialogues.
What to Expect
Center dignity in communication – Discuss practices for amplifying participant voices in development reporting, fundraising, and research.
Explore storytelling for resilience – Examine how stories can strengthen climate education, safe learning environments, and community action.
Surface narrative power – Debate who gets to tell stories, how distribution shapes justice, and how cultural equity links to economic justice.
Reframe climate narratives – Consider how campaigns, films, and cultural strategies can build momentum toward Net Zero and just transitions.
Why Join?
Rethink storytelling as infrastructure for resilience and justice.
Learn from models like community-driven cinema and grassroots media.
Contribute your perspective on how narrative shifts can drive systems change.
Walk away with practical strategies for dignified, equitable storytelling in your own work.
Who Should Attend
Communications and development professionals seeking more ethical storytelling practices.
Climate and justice advocates using narrative strategies to shift systems.
Community media leaders, filmmakers, and cultural organizers.
Funders and policymakers interested in the power of narrative to accelerate change.