Note for hosts

Go to File → Make a copy → Entire presentation to get started.

​

Once you have your own copy, you can customize for your purposes!

• You’ll see notes from us in the “speaker notes” section on select slides.
• Delete slides that don’t apply to your event, including this one. Click the slide tile on the left-hand toolbar and hit the “delete” key.
• Don’t hesitate to email host@swingleft.org for any assistance with the slides or the event in general.

Sharing our stories

Finding your story

We all have a reason for being here: Something bigger than ourselves that motivated us to get involved in organizing at this moment in history—beyond the headlines there are personal motivators that got us off the sidelines and into action.

Reflecting on our personal stories can help us stay grounded in our “why,” get to know each other, and make meaningful connections with other volunteers and voters.

“Public narrative” activity

Your story of self is your reason for being here – why are you motivated to get involved?

The story of us is why we, collectively, are the ones who need to take action – what shared values do we have and how can we make a difference?

The story of now is why it’s urgent – and what are we doing about it?

​

Source: Harvard DASH Open-Access Repository, 2013

Story of self

The power in your story of self is to reveal something of yourself and your values—not your deepest secrets, but the key shaping moments in your life. We all have stories of pain, or we wouldn’t think the world needs changing. We all have stories of hope or we wouldn’t think we could change it.”

​

— Marshall Ganz

​

Source: Harvard DASH Open-Access Repository, 2013

“

Story of self

Your story of self should include a time you faced a challenge, a choice you had to make to do something about that challenge, and the outcome from the action you took.

​

​

Source: Harvard DASH Open-Access Repository, 2013

Story of self

Your story of self will include a time you faced a challenge, a choice you had to make to do something about that challenge, and the outcome from the action you took. The goal is to share a story that reveals some of your core values. Start by thinking about….

• Have you felt pain or hope with what you’ve heard on the news? One way to identify core values is thinking about what brings up emotions.
• If you could solve one issue, what would it be? Why? What was the moment that first made you care about it?
• Politics aside, has there been a time at work, or while parenting, or as a student where you had to make a tough decision that challenged your values? What was that tension, and what did the outcome reveal?

​

Source: Harvard DASH Open-Access Repository, 2013

Story of self

Your story of self will include a time you faced a challenge, a choice you had to make to do something about that challenge, and the outcome from the action you took.

​

→ Brainstorm at least three moments that have shaped your values.

→ Choose one of these moments to keep working with today, thinking about which will work best for this audience (your fellow volunteers).

→ Take five minutes to write notes with your challenge, choice, and outcome.

→ You’ll have about 2-3 minutes each to share your story with a partner.

Source: Harvard DASH Open-Access Repository, 2013

Share out: Story of us

What themes and values did we hear from our partners’ stories?

​

​

Source: Harvard DASH Open-Access Repository, 2013

Story of now

Next steps

​

​

• ​
• ​
• ​
• ​