NARRATIVE

CHANGE:

A Workshop

PART I:

1:00 pm EST - 2:30 pm EST

​

PART II:

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm EST

Wednesday,

April 26, 2023

• Explain the goals and objectives of the workshop, including the focus on gun violence and its impact on communities.
• Conduct an icebreaker activity to help participants get to know each other and feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas.

I. Introduction and Connection (20 minutes)

II. Understanding Narrative Change (30 minutes)

• Define narrative change and its importance in shaping social norms and beliefs, particularly around gun violence.

• Discuss the power of storytelling and how it can influence people's attitudes and behaviors.

WHAT DOES

GUN VIOLENCE COST

(watch video)

• Provide examples of successful narrative change efforts related to gun violence, such as media coverage that centers the voices of survivors and affected communities.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/25/us-gun-violence-reporters-shootings

• Analyze the dominant narratives around gun violence in the US, including the role of the media in shaping these narratives and the underlying assumptions and values they perpetuate.

III. Analyzing the Dominant Narrative on Gun Violence (60 minutes)

• Shaped by underlying assumptions and values that can be traced back to America's history of gun ownership and its unique cultural relationship with firearms
• Perpetuated by the media and other cultural institutions

What are the dominant narratives around gun violence in the US?

• Perpetuated by the media and political leaders who emphasize the importance of the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms
• Assumes that gun ownership is an integral part of American culture
• Any attempts to regulate or limit access to firearms are seen as an infringement on individual liberties

Dominant Narrative # 1: Guns are essential to American identity and freedom

• Perpetuated by the media and politicians who suggest that mass shootings are the result of an individual's mental health issues
• Assumes that gun violence is a result of individual pathology rather than systemic issues related to gun ownership

Dominant Narrative # 2: Gun violence is a result of mental illness

• Perpetuated by the media and politicians who focus on gun violence in urban areas
• Links gun violence to issues such as poverty, gang violence, and drug trafficking
• Assumes that gun violence is a problem that primarily affects communities of color and that solutions should focus on policing and law enforcement

Dominant Narrative # 3: Gun violence is an urban problem that primarily affects communities of color

• Cannot be overstated
• Sensationalizes incidents of gun violence
• Focuses on individual perpetrators rather than systemic issues
• Frames gun ownership as a cultural issue rather than a public health issue

Role of the media in shaping these dominant narratives

• Prioritize individual freedoms over public safety
• Downplay the role of systemic issues in gun violence
• Reinforce racial and socioeconomic disparities in its impact

Underlying assumptions and values perpetuated by these dominant narratives

• Education and advocacy can play a critical role in challenging these dominant narratives and promoting a more comprehensive understanding of gun violence.

Changing these narratives requires a broader cultural shift towards a more nuanced understanding of gun ownership, gun violence, and its impact on society.

• Discuss how these narratives impact different communities, particularly those who are most affected by gun violence.

• Listen to and discuss the podcast from The Guardian titled "America's gun debate: Why we're getting it so wrong.

Brainstorm ideas for a counter-narrative that challenges the dominant narrative and promotes a more equitable and just worldview regarding gun violence.

IV. Developing a Counter-Narrative on Gun Violence (60 minutes)

• Grief for gun violence victims is universal, yet only certain tragedies receive national attention
• Black and brown families mourning victims of daily gun violence are often overlooked
• The focus on gun control laws overshadows evidence-based prevention efforts

The Inequality of Mourning Tragedies

• Assault rifle bans and universal background checks may not decrease the majority of shooting incidents, such as suicides and community violence
• Evidence-based prevention efforts, such as city-level support programs for high-risk individuals, hospital-based violence intervention programs, and effective policing strategies, are rarely discussed on a national level

Ineffective Solutions to Gun Violence

• The NRA's influence has declined, but Republican opposition to gun control remains unchanged
• Criticizing the NRA only inflates its importance

Misplaced Focus on the NRA

• Media coverage of mass shootings fuels irrational fears
• The focus on school shootings ignores the more common occurrences of domestic violence and neighborhood shootings
• The multibillion-dollar school security industry has hurt vulnerable children

Media's Role in Mass Shootings

• Euphemisms like "Black on Black crime" and "gang violence" warp descriptions of daily experiences in communities of color
• Shootings in Black and brown communities are often written off as gang violence
• Honest discussions about gun violence in lower-income communities of color are needed

Lack of Nuanced Vocabulary

• More than half of all gun homicide victims are Black
• Black boys and young men between 15 and 34 account for 37% of US gun deaths
• Addressing gun violence through a lens of racial equality is crucial

Gun Violence as Racial Injustice

• The reality of gun violence in America is changing, with a surge in daily shootings and a new domestic terrorism movement centered on opposition to gun control
• Recycling ineffective ideas prevents us from addressing the true toll of gun violence

Need for Change

• Develop key messages and storytelling techniques that can effectively communicate the counter-narrative to different audiences, including those who are skeptical or resistant to change.

Key Messages:

1. Gun violence affects everyone, regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic status. It's time to recognize the universal impact of gun violence and take action to prevent it.
2. The focus on gun control laws overshadows evidence-based prevention efforts, which have been proven to save lives. We need to shift our attention to effective prevention strategies such as city-level support programs, hospital-based violence intervention programs, and effective policing strategies.
3. The media's coverage of mass shootings fuels irrational fears and ignores the more common occurrences of domestic violence and neighborhood shootings. It's time to change the narrative and focus on preventing all forms of gun violence.
4. Euphemisms like "Black on Black crime" and "gang violence" warp descriptions of daily experiences in communities of color. Honest discussions about gun violence in lower-income communities of color are needed to address the root causes of gun violence.
5. Gun violence is a racial justice issue. More than half of all gun homicide victims are Black, and Black boys and young men are disproportionately affected by gun violence. It's time to address gun violence through a lens of racial equality.

Botham Jean was everything America tells Black men to be: educated, gainfully employed, and active in his community. None of that mattered when a Dallas Police officer mistakenly entered Botham’s home and shot him in “self-defense.” Botham had been eating ice cream and watching TV.

Atatiana Jefferson, a future doctor, had also done everything “right.” Her big dreams ended when a Fort Worth Police Officer responded to a wellness check at her home. Without identifying himself as Police, the officer lurked outside Atatiana’s window before demanding she put her hands up. Fearing an intruder, Atatiana, a legal gun owner, reportedly grabbed her weapon. Within four seconds, the officer had shot Atatiana dead in front of her eight-year-old nephew with whom she had been playing video games.

Breonna Taylor was a 26-year-old emergency room technician with dreams of being a nurse and starting a family. Her life ended suddenly when Louisville police with a “no-knock” warrant entered her apartment in the middle of the night without warning and without identifying themselves as law enforcement. Her boyfriend Kenneth Walker, a licensed gun owner fearing for their safety, fired his weapon before police fired approximately 20 shots into the apartment, killing Breonna.

Storytelling Techniques:

• Use personal stories to illustrate the impact of gun violence on individuals and communities. Share stories of grieving families and survivors, and highlight the long-term effects of gun violence on mental health and well-being.
• Use data and evidence-based research to support prevention efforts. Show how city-level support programs, hospital-based violence intervention programs, and effective policing strategies have been proven to save lives and reduce gun violence.
• Use visual aids such as infographics and videos to illustrate the realities of gun violence. Highlight the disparity in gun violence rates among different communities and the impact of media coverage on public perceptions of gun violence.

Storytelling Techniques:

• Use inclusive language and avoid euphemisms that reinforce harmful stereotypes. Use language that accurately describes the experiences of communities of color and highlights the racial justice implications of gun violence.
• Highlight the need for collaboration and community-based solutions. Show how community members, local organizations, and law enforcement can work together to prevent gun violence and promote safety.
• Identify potential allies and partners who can help amplify the counter-narrative.

• Define the goals and objectives of the narrative change campaign on gun violence.
• Identify the target audience(s) and their needs, interests, and values regarding gun violence.
• Develop a timeline and action plan for implementing the narrative change campaign related to gun violence.
• Discuss the resources (e.g., budget, staff, partnerships) needed to execute the campaign effectively.
• Break participants into groups to develop strategies and action plans for implementing their counter-narratives related to gun violence in their community.

V. Crafting a Narrative Strategy on Gun Violence (60 minutes)

• Each group will share their counter-narrative and the strategies they developed for implementing it in their community in the context of gun violence.
• The other groups will provide feedback and suggestions for improving their ideas.

VI. Sharing and Feedback on Gun Violence (30 minutes)

• Summarize the key takeaways from the workshop on gun violence.
• Encourage participants to reflect on how they can apply what they learned in their own lives and work to change the dominant narrative on gun violence.
• Conduct an evaluation of the workshop and gather feedback from participants on what worked well and what could be improved.

VII. Reflection and Evaluation on Gun Violence (20 minutes)

• Thank participants for their engagement and participation in the workshop on gun violence
• Provide resources for further learning and action on narrative change and gun violence.

VIII. Conclusion on Gun Violence (10 minutes)

NARRATIVE

CHANGE:

A Workshop

PART I:

1:00 pm EST - 2:30 pm EST

​

PART II:

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm EST

Wednesday,

April 26, 2023